On the Job: Exploring the science of soil

By Brandi Watters, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer

ANDERSON - Soil scientist Tom Adams, 42, and his sister, Vicki Adams, 39, have made a living in the dirt for the past 20 years, using their knowledge of science to help homeowners determine where to place septic systems.

Adams and his sister are co-owners of two businesses, Adams Environmental Corp. and Adams Septic.

Tom Adams said the pair make their own schedules but also know what it’s like to do the dirty work, spending much of their time outside, taking samples from area fields and running from angry animals they encounter along the way.

Tom Adams graduated from Purdue University with a master’s degree in Soil Genesis and lives in Anderson with his wife.

Q. How long have you been at your job?

Adams: 20 years.

Q. What do you like best about your job?

Adams: I’m self-employed so I’m the boss. Other than that, I get to set my schedule. I come to work when I want to come to work but I’m usually getting up at 5:30 a.m. and I’m here till 6 p.m. I can take it off when I need to. I’m working outside. Not in the same place all the time.

Q. What do you like least?

Adams: I spend a lot of time driving to different jobs. I may have three or four different counties that I’ll visit in one day.

Q. What’s the funniest thing that has happened on the job?

Adams: Vicki got chased by a Clydesdale horse. The horse just went crazy. Me and horses, that’s probably about the funniest thing. Every time I’m out in the field with a horse anywhere, it’s bound to do something — bite, kick, chest bump,. Horses do not like me — any hoofed animal. Llamas, I got spit on by a llama.

Q. What’s the most serious thing that has happened on the job?

Adams: I think back in the early 1990s, I did have a client that collapsed on me out in the field and ended up having a heart attack. The person didn’t pass away but that was kind of scary.

Q. What kind of jobs does Madison County need?

Adams: For decades, we were a strong manufacturing base. I think that has seriously been eroded over time but I think it’s the same across the U.S. Little towns and cities need decent paying jobs, something that you can actually make even a meager living on. An $8 or $9 job is just not enough for most households. I would love to see more green technology and businesses pursuing alternative fuels.

Q. What other jobs have you had?

Adams: I worked for the Department of Natural Resources division of water prior to grad school. I came out of grad school and went right into working with another soil consultant, in 1990. I used to work at Master Model and Pattern on 38th Street.

Q. What would be your idea of the perfect job?

Adams: My ideal job, and this is what I would do in a heartbeat if I ever hit the lottery, I would go out west and I would go hunting for dinosaur fossils. I’m not kidding. If I hit the lottery tonight, I’d go out west.

Q. If you didn’t have to work for a living, what would you do?

Adams: Travel. I’ve kind of got a goal, I’d like to see all the national parks in the United States and in each individual state. I’d like to see their state parks.

Q. How do you like to spend your hard-earned money?

Adams: I’m pretty conservative. I’m not very frivolous. I tend to save more than I spend. My wife and I don’t have kids so we usually take a couple good vacations during the year and that’s really kind of splurging for us.

Contact Brandi Watters 640-4847, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com

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