"Going Green"
Being farmers at heart, we've always had a need to do what we can to preserve
the beautiful area we live in. Over the years we've put a number of steps
in place to be as environmentally conscience as possible.
- Everything grown onsite - our family grows everything on the farm
starting from seeds or small cuttings of plants, so there is no trucking of
finished plants before you purchase them in our retail greenhouse.
- Water conservation - for several decades we've watered all the
plants thru "ebb and flow" benching, which means we pump water into the
bench, let the plants soak up the water and then drain it back into a tub at
the end of the bench to save for the next watering. Besides saving a
lot of water, the plants stay healthier since the foliage isn't getting wet
(and susceptible to disease). For the past several years, we've taken
the next step by collecting rain water onsite and using it to water the
plants. For 2008 we have rain collection barrels for customers to use
at home.
- Heating thru renewable energy sources - as everyone is concerned
about the increasing cost of gas for their cars/trucks, we've been seeing
even sharper increases in natural gas prices for heating the greenhouses
over the past decade. Eric and Paul have changed a large
percentage of the heating to boilers (heated by burning corn), but they are
constantly looking for even better renewable energy sources (currently
working on making our own pellets from native prairie grasses, corn stover,
etc.).
- Natural liquid Daniels Fertilizer - everyone comments on how
healthy our plants look. We credit some of that to the fact we use a
liquid fertilizer that is much "friendlier" to plants, since it's a natural
fertilizer and thereby doesn't burn the plant if it's stressed. We
also sell the Daniels Fertilizer in the retail for use at home.
- Soil Mix made with renewable resources - we've been working for
years to get the right mix of components to grow in, and in the past few
years we've been primarily looking at alternatives to peat moss. Our
soil mix is now primarily made with Coir (Coconut fiber) and Rice hulls.
We also make a soil mix especially formulated for container gardening that
can be purchased in our retail.
- Organic chemicals - customers are always asking for "safer"
means of treating bugs and fungus on their plants and we now have a line of
the best organic chemicals on the market.
- Bio-degradable pots & baskets - for a number of years we've used
fiber hanging baskets and perennial pots, but this year we've expanded with
a NEW Rice hull pot for the annuals. Both the fiber and rice hull pots
will break down in a compost pile or landfill within 2-3 years, but
unfortunately they don't break down fast enough to leave the flowers in them
when you plant in the ground. Our goal, beyond getting rid of the use of plastics,
is to find a pot that you can just put in the ground with your plant still
in it and the roots will go right thru the pot, but we're not quite there
yet.
We're never done searching for ways to improve the way we grow or "greener"
ways to do it. We'll be sure to keep updating on what we're doing.
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