Our History
Big Lake Organics grew out of the composting program at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. Almost thirty years ago, students started the campus composting program which eventually became part of the Hulings Rice Food Center. By 2020 the demand for both compost collection and finished compost in the Chequamegon Bay region had far outpaced the capacity of the college’s compost infrastructure. In the true spirit of business incubation, the college had proved out the value of a compost business and it was ready to spin-off as it’s own business. That’s where Todd Rothe and Jamie Tucker, co-founders of Big Lake Organics and Northland alumni, stepped in. Launched in 2021, Big Lake Organics set out to divert as much organic waste from the landfill as possible, and turn it into rich, healthy soil that can help to protect our water, stabilize the climate, and grow nutritious food.