A: Yes, absolutely. My grandfather’s family is from the Yorkshire area in England. It is quite a common surname in Great Britain. Actually, there have been Greenhows in America since the 18th century. John Greenhow settled in colonial Williamsburg where he operated a general store.

A: My parents had a house in Groton, but my fondest memories are spending summers with my grandparents in Yarmouth Port. It was a kid’s paradise surrounded by nature. We spent all our time outdoors from morning ‘til night exploring and having adventures. The house was a historic farmhouse dating back to the 1700’s. There was an original barn and some outbuildings as well. Lots of crawl spaces and places to explore.

A: Yes, absolutely. Going into basements and attics is kind of second nature to me based on those childhood experiences. I remember my grandfather being very concerned about the preservation of the property and being vigilant about insect damage. The primary pest was Powderpost Beetles. They bore into seasoned hardwood and consume it from the inside out. He showed me the holes in the beams and uprights in the barn. When he tapped the wood, sawdust would be expelled through the holes, a sure sign of Powderpost Beetles. There were also termites and ants, and mice…lots of mice. Historic wooden buildings are a challenge to maintain.

A: My wife Lauren and I have two daughters. One is in college and the other is a high school senior. We love to go shellfishing, particularly clamming. It’s a great family activity and afterward we enjoy feasting on what we caught together.

A: Lauren and I enjoy skeet shooting together and playing tennis. I also like to fish. Our family also enjoys skiing in the winter months.

A: I would have to say that my summers helping my grandfather preserve and maintain his property was a big influence. Remember those Powderpost Beetles? Knowing how much he cared about those historic buildings and how he would teach me about eliminating those insect threats are still powerful memories. Helping people solve pest problems that threaten their living spaces is a natural instinct. 

I’ve been lucky to be able to start my own business. When I graduated from college, I attended a career fair and took a job with a national pest control company. They encouraged me and I was able to learn about entomology and receive high-level training in the field. I rose in the ranks and was responsible for business that stretched along the East Coast from upper New York State to Richmond, VA. When my wife and I started our family, the business travel became too much so I took the opportunity to start my own business about 20 years ago.

A: It’s definitely our people. There are 30 of us on the GreenHow team, and each one of us is dedicated to customer service. Helping people is paramount to me and I only hire people who feel the same way.

A: Yes, it’s kind of worked out well. I have always been an eager learner and have studied entomology and horticulture extensively. I am a certified entomologist and a certified arborist. My staff is rigorously trained and we all pursue continuing education opportunities to stay on top of the newest “green” and low impact practices.

A: Eastern Massachusetts, and certainly Plymouth, have an environment with a high moisture content. Pest control is all about sanitation and moisture control management. New construction is built with materials that will take a few seasons to dry out. So even brand new homes attract insects like beetles and silverfish. Sprays and devices that are available over-the-counter are only minimally effective. You need to keep vegetation away from exterior walls and use dehumidifiers in basements. Run a bathroom fan for about twenty minutes after a shower to remove moisture in the air and use the fan on your range hood when you boil water on the stove. All of these things will contribute to a drier environment that will be less attractive to insects.

A: I love the positive feedback we get from our customers. Many have been customers for more than ten years. But, I also believe that it is important to get positive feedback from our employees. A team has to believe in their company, what they do, and how they do it for the company to be successful. I am proud to say that we have a great team that believes in our core values and puts them into practice on every service call. I am greatly appreciative to have such a great and committed staff.

A: I particularly appreciate that Stroll is a physical publication. Having the magazine lying on a coffee table, being able to share articles and information with friends in a tangible way is so much more satisfying than sharing a link to a web site or online media. The chance to have face-to-face conversation about something you’ve read while holding the material in your hand as you do so might be considered “old school” by some, but I place a great value on people connecting with others in personal and meaningful ways. It is something I truly believe in and have built my own company based on that very practice.