From a grandfather's fig tree to a platform built for plant collectors everywhere.
My love for growing started with a childhood memory — sun-ripened figs plucked straight from my grandfather's tree. Nothing from a grocery store ever came close to that warm, honeyed flavor.
Years later, a cutting from that same tree sparked a collection. I discovered a world of rare varieties, started trading with other growers, and within months had over 30 cultivars. A collector's habit was born.
I kept wishlists in spreadsheets and scrolled through social media hoping to find someone who had what I wanted — and wanted what I had. Finding a mutual match felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Trust was an even bigger problem. Most collectors buy from individuals, not big-box stores with return policies. You might wait years for a plant to fruit before you can verify it's what you were told. New collectors got taken advantage of, and there was nothing anyone could do.
I acquired over 200 mature fig trees from a local collector — all different varieties. Suddenly my little side hobby was a backyard orchard. I was excited to share, but managing it all was far more work than I anticipated.
I tried Facebook Marketplace, then formed an LLC and launched a Shopify store. The costs added up to over $1,000 per year — decimating the modest profits from what was supposed to be a side hobby. Side-hobby growers shouldn't need enterprise tooling just to share what they grow.
I needed something that could do everything — manage my collection, connect me with other growers, and give me a low-cost way to sell — all in one place. Nothing like that existed. So I built it.
Orchrd started as the tool I wished I had from day one. A place to track every plant, every observation, every care log. A way to discover what other collectors are growing and propose trades. A storefront that doesn't cost a thousand dollars a year to run. And then I decided to share it with growers around the world.
Plants can have multiple valid names. We store all name claims and let the community surface alternatives — never forcing a single “correct” answer.
Every purchase, trade, and transfer is recorded permanently. When you buy a rare cultivar, you can see where it came from and trust the seller's track record.
The platform grows with you — from your first cutting to your backyard nursery. Built for the way collectors actually think about their plants.
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$8/mo or $60/yr