SUQUAMISH — The owners of Tucker’s Topsoil don’t see their business trying to compete with the larger rock, soil and mineral suppliers in the area. In fact, they work with one another to cater to the needs of both residential and commercials customers for topsoil, compost, rocks and other natural landscaping materials.

Since September 2005, Ron Ellingsen, Howie Paine and Tucker Westerlund have been operating the business off Suquamish Way, and for getting a late start in the gardening and landscaping industry last year, they have received generous support from the community, especially with minimal marketing.

“It seems to be working out real well so far because (customers) are returning,” Ellingsen said.

However, it also helps that they have deep roots in the community, both with family and through their own individual businesses in the industries of trucking, flooring and construction.

“It’s all a big wide circle,” Westerlund said. “We deliver rock for them, they send people to us.”

The idea to get into topsoil began when Ellingsen and Westerlund were looking for a larger location for their business West Sound Trucking. They found the location off Suquamish Way and invited Paine in on the deal. At the time, he was looking for a new office for his business, Island Floors. Because the site was in use as a brush and stump drop-off, and Westerlund had an interest in going into the topsoil business, the opportunity presented itself.

Today, Tucker’s Topsoil specializes in topsoil, compost, bark, mulch, sand, gravel and speciality rock. It also recycles stumps, yard waste, brush, sod and dirt. Currently, compost is imported to the site to make the topsoil but the men expect to make their own topsoil soon.

Aside from providing materials for customers, they also accept dirt, as long as it’s natural and has no asphalt, plastic, metal or any other non-natural substance in it.

For being far different from their own respective businesses, the men are finding the dirt industry to be interesting and fun.

“It’s different for all of us,” Paine said. “New business is always fun.”

One aspect Ellingsen is especially proud of is the personal service customers receive from the yard manager Ron Carrell, lead machine operator Jerry Lawrence and office manager Kristin Loveland. A customer commented recently how friendly and helpful the business was when she showed up to purchase just enough rock to fill two 5-gallon buckets because that’s all she needed, Ellingsen said.

“It’s been progressing like it should,” he said. “It’s all about honesty and integrity.”

Another advantage the business has is its location — right between Bainbridge Island and Poulsbo. The company tends to serve a smaller clientele, such as weekend gardeners, homeowners and small landscape business owners.

Aside from selling natural materials, the company has a five-year plan to rid the site of the old stumps that were left there from the previous business owners and be good environmental neighbors, Ellingsen said, noting they have been working closely with the Suquamish Tribe and the tribal family, the Lawrences, who owns the land, to improve the site’s health.

As the men have learned more about putting together this type of business, they discovered there is not really any other operation like it in the North End — a place for both residents and commercial outfits to dump stumps and brush or just get a bucket of rocks for a garden. Kitsap County has endorsed the business as a place where residents can take their yard waste in the North End, especially when the annual burn ban is put into effect this summer, Ellingsen said.