The Lotus Story

Background and Inspiration

James and Michelle Tolston started to build their vision for Lotus Gardens in 2017. As a child, James spent every summer in Ogallala, NE on his Aunt and Uncles’ farm learning about and tending to livestock and their produce garden. As he grew into an adult, he had always found the process of plant life interesting, always planting his own backyard garden.

Throughout the years of his youth, James witnessed many health issues in family members and several young deaths due to health issues aging from 40’s to young 60’s. These issues drew his attention what was causing these deaths. He noticed the lifestyle of his family’s diet and in 2010 changed his diet to vegetarian.

In 2012 James learned about aquaponics and what the system could produce. Since then, he and his wife, Michelle have fully invested their time, money, energy and resources into building Lotus Gardens, Aquaponics Urban Farm.