Andrew Majsztrik’s first word wasn’t “mom” or “dad” — it was “lawn mower.” By the age of 9, he began knocking on doors in his New Jersey neighborhood, asking to mow lawns.
“One person was crazy enough to say yes to a 9-year-old, so I ran and got my push mower,” Majsztrik said.
That early entrepreneurial spirit carried into adulthood, shaping Majsztrik’s landscaping business and his farm and nursery.
Majsztrik moved to Northeast Georgia in the late 1990s to attend the University of Georgia and earn a degree in landscape architecture. Following his graduation, Majsztrik founded Vision Landscaping and Associates Inc. in 2000, a full-service landscaping company that was originally based in Watkinsville.
But around halfway into his 25-year landscaping journey, his interest began to branch out.
“I think it was another one of my passions,” Majsztrik said. “I love trees. I love plants.”
That passion sprouted in 2016 when he opened Andrew’s Farm & Nursery, a sprawling nursery that occupies five of the 65 acres Majsztrik owns in container-grown plants. The Arnoldsville farm features over 400 species of plants.
“My focus was lawn maintenance in the beginning,” Majsztrik said. “I quickly got into installs, and I love that part of it so much. But I also was frustrated in not being able to get everything I needed easily.”
The nursery is still growing, but it’s already begun attracting locals and generating interest, especially as spring blooms gave way to a late season rush this year.
“Everything was greening up, blooming, but there wasn’t as much interest, both in Vision, on the installs and maintenance side of it, and also in the plants,” Majsztrik said. “But it’s turned out to be a very good late spring.”
In addition to the nursery, the farm offers mulch, gravel, soil mixes and firewood, providing a one-stop shop for both homeowners and contractors.
Running both businesses while expanding the nursery hasn’t been without its challenges.
“It’s a little out of control, so it’s hard to manage, and especially with not having a lot of employees,” Majsztrik said.
Melanie Parker, an employee, has high hopes for the business.
“What I really hope is that we’ll become a destination where people choose to come to our place because of the personal service they get,” Parker said. “We really pride ourselves on personal interactions with each person.”
Parker, a retired horticulturist with both the Atlanta Botanical Garden and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, is working with Majsztrik to turn the nursery into a hub for community, education and a shared love of the outdoors.
“I would just like for it to be a place where people could come and feel good,” Parker said.
Even with the hurdles of managing a business in its early stages, Majsztrik remains optimistic. He desires that Andrew’s Farm & Nursery will continue to expand its offerings and serve as an educational resource for people interested in the green industry.
“People in the community can come and get knowledge that they need to do their projects,” he said. “And, you know, we help them out. I love sharing my knowledge with everybody.”
More info
Andrew’s Farm & Nursery, at 71 Black Snake Road in Arnoldsville, is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, go to andrewsfarm-nursery.com, call 706-310-1243 or 706-202-7771, or email office@andrewsfarm-nursery.com.