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Plants for All...
Welcome to the Co-op's Garden Shop
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by Julie Harrell
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It's glorious spring and
who can resist the beautiful flowers, luscious strawberries and highly
scented lavender starts that adorn the front of Honest Weight?
Certainly not me, which may be the reason I am drawn each year to work
a few or a lot of hours helping water plants, stock, price and my all
time favorite, "groom" the little babies. We take each plant that's
been hanging around more than a few days, and carefully trim all the
dead leaves from around it, renewing its vigor and providing it with
some TLC before its new owner comes to take their baby home to a new
life. I think the thankful plant gives us back some TLC too! Ah yes,
the Garden Shop. Honest Weight is committed to buying from local
growers, some of whom already know exactly what we want for our members
and customers. Organic starts arrive twice per week from the Farm at
Miller's Crossing. Janet Britt, formerly Buttermilk Falls Organic Farm,
also provides us with a multitude of just the right amount of flats
each week. Our organic providers keep records of the new plants Honest
Weight members and customers purchase the most, and try to support the
Co-op by ensuring that we always have our wide selection of favorite
picks. Want something obscure for your unique ecosystem? Chances are,
Gayle Anderson may know where to get it. She'll also know what type of
soil the proposed garden plant likes, whether it is a fan of sun or
shade, and what you can expect from a first season with your new friend
from the Garden Shop.
It's very tempting to just continue adding more and more plants to your
cart, especially when you can leave your babies at the picnic table
with one of our Garden helpers. Honest Weight is fortunate to have a
regular posse of Garden helpers who arrive just in time each summer to
keep everyone well watered, and they will keep a tally of your plants
so that it's simple for you to continue shopping. Then, when you are
fully loaded up with great products from inside the store, just drop by
the picnic table and get your plants. I hear Garden helpers even
occasionally load your car up if you ask or it seems like you have too
much to handle. Now that's service! Want to order a flat of marigolds,
petunias, tomatoes, basil, leeks or broccoli? Just ask one of our
friendly member workers. Don't know what to do with that blooming bush
you have been eying over in the perennial exotics section? Gayle,
Loralee or one of the Garden helpers has the answer and can tell you
where that bush will thrive. Other options at the Garden Shop include
plants from Burger Farm, John Burger, Greenscapes, George's Market,
R&K Nursery, Hilltop, Bill Kolber, George Brizzell, Charlie
Brizzell, Black Horse Farm, Kristy's Barn, Spiak's, Carol Edwards,
Pigliaventos, McDonough's, and Orlop's Farm. These are all non-organic
so a little less pricey than the still very affordable organic starts.
Gayle gets up at 5 am to be at the Menands's Market at first light on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday so that she can pick fresh plants from the
day's splendor. Gayle says she never knows what she'll get, she just
looks for the best and thinks of what our members and customers have
bought in the past.
Next time you drop by the Co-op, just take a whiff of one of the many
friendly herbs waiting to be taken to their new home in your garden.
Sniff the delicate scent of a newly sprouted pea flower, touch the
wispy leaves of a fern, feel the feathery softness of the hanging pom
pom plants. Now tell me, how can you resist the Garden Shop at Honest
Weight?
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