Let It Grow
By Tammy Thornton
Sometimes you stumble onto a good idea, and it turns into a new business venture. For one local family, an idea has grown into a family affair. Mark Berg had been using his 3D printer to make automotive parts that were difficult to find for the old cars he restores. Berg, a Stockton University professor, decided to combine technology with his creative side and used his printer for more sentimental reasons—a decorative flower pot for his wife, Andrea. Mark’s son Eddie saw the design and bragged, “I can do that way better!” His dad, Mark, couldn’t agree more.
The fourteen-year-old Mainland Regional High School freshman is now a full partner and chief designer for Aritimi Design Studios which makes uniquely artistic 3D pots perfectly suited for succulent plants. According to his family, Eddie is constantly coming up with new ideas that he plots out using computer-aided design (CAD) software to work out his creations. They are then printed on one of the family’s ten printers which seem to be running all day. Pots can take between 5-15 hours to print, and even more time for a large pot.
Succulents growing healthy under grow lights.
Along with a myriad of colorful and uniquely-shaped pots, Eddie is always coming up with new ideas. Aritimi Design Studio sells a line of flower pots that glow in the dark and also pots that change color when exposed to heat or cold. The Bergs have also added small watering containers and coasters for the pots. Recently, Eddie designed a key-chain for the Mainland Regional High School Robotics Club that was sold for the group’s fundraiser.
After getting home from their day jobs (and school), the Bergs work on the pots. While Eddie does all the design work, Mark takes care of production and managing the printers. He says it’s tedious work and one mistake can ruin the entire pot. The family sells the containers already filled with soil and succulents, cacti, or houseplants. They have grow lights in their basement to keep the plants healthy and growing. Andrea, who works as a server at a local restaurant, takes care of the plants and pots up the containers. She also takes care of marketing and plans all the farmer market events, where the pots are mainly sold.
You would never guess by looking at the pots, but they are fabricated from a plant-based plastic that is biodegradable. The Bergs get their filament from an American-based supplier that uses PLA plastic and sustainable materials. They like to say “Made from plants not dinosaurs”. The primary natural raw material used in the 3D printing is Polylactic acid which is a vegetable-based plastic material, often using cornstarch as a raw component.
You can find the Bergs selling their eye-catching pots and plants at the C.R.O.P.S. Farmers Market in Linwood and were recently at the Ocean City Block Party. They are also at the Haddon Heights Farmers Market on Sundays and look forward to the Atlantic City Holiday Bazaar to be held at the Noyes Art Garage on December 4th. You can find more information at
www.aritimidesign.com.
Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.
