Rick moved to Maine in 1962 when he was eleven years old and has never thought about leaving since that time. He was educated at the University of Maine receiving a BA in American History in 1976. It was really as a youth growing up in Gorham growing vegetables in the family garden that he got his first taste of horticulture. In 1975 he bought Shady Lane Farm and began to grow food commercially. It was during this time that the idea of Gnome was born. He and his wife Jane raised four children and now have three grandchildren with more expected this year.
In 1997 Rick fulfilled a long time dream of having a book published by co-authoring the book Landscaping Makes Sense with naturalist and landscape designer Richard Dube’. Two years later the Campbell and Dube’ team had written another book, Natural Stonescapes.
Rick also served for six years on the executive board of Maine Landscape and Nursery Association. During that tenure, he was the organization’s treasurer and was the chair of Maine’s the certification program. It was during his tenure that reciprocity to all the certification programs in New England was approved. In 2011 Rick was awarded the association’s highest honor, the Al Black award, in recognition and appreciation of his long-term dedication to the horticulture industry of Maine.
Rick is active at his local church and in his free time plays tennis, fishes, kayak surfs, gardens and especially loves being a grandpa.
