May 6, 2016

Matthew Wass, Tanner Petersen and Dylan Spetz, co-owners of TMD Seeds are capitalizing on a market niche with their native seed-harvesting company.

The only business of its kind in southeast Alberta, TMD Seeds supplies native grass seed to reclamation companies in order to restore disturbed lands in a variety of industries including: oil and gas, renewable energy, mining, construction, wetland restoration and agriculture.

“We are in the business of restoration, not just reclamation. We are bringing back the land to what it once was, and to the state it was originally meant for,” says Spetz. “Native seed harvesting is increasing in demand as the number of reclamation projects grow. It is highly recommended by experts due to its improved ecological function. We definitely see the potential for our company and the opportunity to expand.” 

TMD Seeds will serve both southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. 

The company founders are all from Medicine Hat College’s environmental reclamation program and participants in the Entrepreneur Development Centre’s (EDC) Summer Company.



(Image) Tanner Peterson, Dylan Spetz and Matthew Wass, TMD Seeds

According to Spetz, their background in the farming community, along with education and guidance from the college and the mentors made available through the Summer Company program, have helped them get to where they are today.

“When we first brought in our business plan it was five pages and 1000 words, through a few rounds with the EDC and Community Futures Entre-Corp, we got it to a place where we were ready to move forward and actually start this business,” says Spetz. “Having all these mentors to help us along the way and to educate us has been the best experience we’ve had so far.”

For more information on TMD Seeds you can follow them on Twitter (@TMD_Seeds) or “Like” their Facebook page.

If you would like to learn more about the Entrepreneur Development Centre's Summer Company program contact Tracy Stroud at 403.504.3585 or tstroud@mhc.ab.ca.