Mike Hershberger
Owner and Founding Partner
Year started with Forever Green: 1982
Education, licensing, certification, and specialties: I am a Master Conservationist
Hobbies and Interests: I enjoy hunting, fishing, camping and kayaking, anything to get outdoors, especially if I can take my grandkids along.
Fun Fact: I can’t resist a restoration project. Lucy and I have restored four properties, including adding a pond and 10 acres of prairie to a neglected farmstead. Our current project is restoring two acres of woods overgrown with invasives.
Lucy Hershberger
Owner and Founding Partner
Year started with Forever Green: 1982
Education, licensing, certification, and specialties: Associates degree in Horticulture from Kirkwood Community College. I am a Master Conservationist, have certifications in native plantings, rain gardens, and stormwater harvesting.
Hobbies and Interests: I love spending time with my family, especially our three grandchildren. I enjoy outdoor activities such as boating, biking, hiking, camping, anything I can do outdoors.
Fun Fact: I started my gardening career at a young age pulling weeds for my mom and 25 cents for a bucketful
Cassy Darling
Landscape Coordinator
Education, licensing, certification and specialties: I started at Forever Green on landscape crew installing patios and ponds. I then moved into the Garden Center to work more directly with customers, plants, and greenhouses for multiples years, enjoying all the Garden Center has to offer. After joining the landscape office team as the landscape coordinator, I wanted to work more directly with the landscape portion while using my customer service skills.
Hobbies and Interests: I enjoy being outdoors, playing and watching sports, and spending time with my family.
Fun Fact: I was working at Forever Green as a child and spent many summers watering plants and playing around the store.
Rachel Moody
Garden Center Manager
Year started with Forever Green: 2016
Education, licensing, certification and specialties: Studied Greenhouse and Nursery Management at Kirkwood. Licensed pesticide applicator for Greenhouse, Ornamentals, and Turf Pest Control
Hobbies and Interests: Vegetable gardening, riding my bicycle, cooking, birdwatching, being outdoors, and hanging out with my dog.
Fun Fact: Grew up on a farm and started gardening at a young age with my mom and grandma. I just love being outside! I may be new to Forever Green, but I have worked in the “green industry” for over 15 years.
Bill Hershberger
Irrigation and Maintenance Specialist
Year started with Forever Green: 2005
Education, licensing, certification and specialties: Degree in Landscape Construction and Design, backflow certified, licensed applicator, and Iowa Professional Lawn Care Association (IPLACA) Southeast Iowa Director
Hobbies and Interests: Fishing, Hunting (avid sportsman), and spending time with my family
Fun Fact: Before switching to horticulture, I majored in art.