I love to grow stuff. I got bit by the
growing bug years ago. My grandmother instilled this love in me when
I was just a small boy. I was about 5 years old when she showed me
how to grow my first impatiens. I was hooked. In the
1950’s I began growing small woody shrubs and trees to sell through
my dad’s fruit stand. It was a hit and my father changed the
name of the store to Al’s Fruit and Shrub.
I passed the bug to my kids. They, along with my wife Deanna,
started the Little Big “E” Nursery. They grew a couple
acres of one to five gallon perennials and shrubs to sell through the
store. They were so successful that the Little Big “E”
Nursery not only paid for all four of their college educations, it also
purchased each a car at 16 and a swimming pool for the backyard.
Years later we have three year round growing facilities that supply
over 80% of all the plant material sold in the three stores. Why do
we do it? We want to be able to supply our customers with the
highest quality plants, the largest selection of varieties, at the
greatest value. We want to make sure you can take home every plant
that calls to you from our tables and not worry if they will
survive. That is also why we guarantee all of our hardy perennials,
trees and shrubs for one year. One of our Woodburn neighbors, Sylvia
Peterson asked to spend a day with me to learn more about the “Grown
by Al’s” brand. You can learn more about her day and the
love that is behind the labor in her article “Grown by Experience
– Grown by Al’s”.
Did you know that Oregon’s #1 commodity is Greenhouse and
Nursery products? There are many local growers, like us, who
contribute to our local economy. In addition to growing, we also
have many great plant breeders who continually supply us and you with
amazing new and exciting plant material. You can’t imagine how
excited I get over new plant varieties. Northwest Garden Nurseries
and Honeyhill Farms Nursery have contributed to many individual Hellebore
addictions this year with a few new releases. Check them out in our
story “Hellebores Galore!”. Plus Kraemer's Nursery
launched a new Andromeda "Fire-N-Ice".
Speaking of growing local, you can’t get any more local than
growing it yourself. There is nothing I love growing more than my
own fruits and vegetables. Right now is the time, just a couple
months after I’ve finished putting my garden to bed, that I start
preparing for the coming season. February is the time to begin
growing your starts from seed. If you want to learn how to get
started read my article about “Starting from Seed”.
Don’t let the size of your space prevent you from enjoying your
own juicy produce. My son, Mark Bigej shares in “Backyard
Orchards” how you can grow a fruit tree in any size space.
Just like my grandmother hooked me, and I in turned hooked my
children, think about getting your children growing. Each month we
offer great hands-on classes for children to learn the fun of gardening in
our Al’s Kids Club. Check out our 2009 Schedule.
It’s a new year with lots of new beginnings, so why not try
growing something new? I always think of this time of year as a
fresh start. Life is beginning to reemerge, and after the winter
we’ve had, who doesn’t have that sweet anticipation of
spring? I hope you’ll visit us soon and help us celebrate a
new fresh year by joining us for our 3rd Annual Escape to Spring!
Happy Gardening,
Jack
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