Brad Pendergraft has bachelor's degrees in Geology and Art, and a master's in education. He taught night classes in the geology department at SUNY Potsdam for 15 years and Earth Science at Salmon River Central High School for 17 years. Brad moved to the North Country 46 years ago to homestead on 180 acres and built a stone house, raised Black Angus cattle and honeybees. Gardening started his journey into composting. He is a master gardener.