Drew Westberg and Teale Burford, owners of Lola’s Nursery, are both teachers. Residents of Muscatine, Iowa, Teale teaches music at the high school and Drew economics at Coe College (go Kohawks!) in Cedar Rapids.

So what are two teachers doing starting up a tree nursery?

Drew and Teale married in November of 2013. Since then, they’ve had four children and seen the world quickly change around them. In their efforts to become better global citizens, Teale has prioritized cutting down on the amount of plastic the family consumes, wherever possible. The family started composting and planting more native plants in their yard and flower beds. But taking care of a family and working full-time, it was a struggle to feel like they were making a meaningful impact. Then Drew started researching something that seemed much more impactful and financially sensible: agroforestry.

In the summer of 2022, Drew interned at Red Fern Farms, learning from two of the pioneers of the Chestnut industry in Iowa, Tom Wahl and Kathy Dice. Under their guidance, Drew learned chestnut trees were long-lived, required far less water than other nut trees, and were much more profitable than corn on an acre basis. He learned everything he could about growing seedlings, planting those seedlings, and caring for them as they grew. Thanks to the incredible generosity of Tom and Kathy in sharing their knowledge of this business, Drew and Teale jumped in with both feet, knowing they could build a financial resource for their children in the years to come.

Lola’s Nursery, named in honor of Teale's mother Robin, known affectionately as Lola, embodies her legacy of gardening and love for nature. Lola's passion for watching things grow is at the heart of our nursery, inspired by her years of dedication to her garden. Tragically, we lost Lola to COVID-19 in October 2021, but her spirit and love for gardening continue to guide us.

Join us at Lola’s Nursery, where we're not just planting trees, but growing the seeds for a better future.