E-newsletter
Cut & Dried Flower Farm News
Award of Excellence Winner!
We win big award for:
'Outstanding Promotional Event'
We are extremely proud and honoured to have recently won a prestigious provincial garden centre award. The Garden Centre Awards of Excellence competition is an initiative of Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, which has a provincial membership of 2,200. Cut and Dried Flower Farm won the 2008 Award of Excellence for 'Outstanding Promotional Event'. Our '15th Birthday Celebration' was chosen as one of three winners announced during an awards ceremony at the Toronto Congress Centre on October 20. A huge Thank You to all of you who were present in April 2008 when we held our open house celebration. Over 200 friends and customers were welcomed to our farm and shared a sunny afternoon of fun, refreshments, giveaways and beautiful plants. Thanks for supporting us and helping us become winners!
Biodegradable Pot Report
Jiffy vs Coir
Our trials this year of two types of biodegradable pots is our own small attempt at reducing waste and bringing attention to the high reliance on plastics by the horticulture industry as a whole. We trialled both a Jiffy pot, made of recycled newsprint and peat and a Coir pot made of Coconut fibre. We grew a wide range of plants in them, including vegetables, flowering and foliage plants. Compared to plastic pots, plants grew equally well in both types of biodegradable pots. The Coir pots were easy to handle in the greenhouse, the Jiffy pots less so as they started to break down earlier. Both types of biodegradable pots showed advantages at planting time, as the whole pot could be planted in the ground, with no root disturbance. We will continue to monitor growth of plants in the ground and containers over the summer before we make a decision in the fall as to whether to use more biodegradable pots in the future.
Let us know what you think
How did your plants do in biodegradable pots and would you be willing to pay more for plants grown in these pots? Email us and let us know your thoughts on this topic. (Unfortunately, the pots do cost more than the plastic alternatives right now). Also, please remember that we will accept all our own pots and trays back for reuse. We have always had this policy and will continue to do this in the future. However, it is important that all returned pots and trays be our own and not purchased elsewhere. Thanks for helping the environment!
Creemore Farmers Market
Have you experienced it yet?
June 5, 2008
The market season has now officially begun and every Saturday morning, rain or shine until the end of June you will find us at our booth at the Creemore Farmers Market. We bring a sampling of our best plants every week, including annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, hanging baskets planters and Roses. Our kids are usually hanging out too and are useful for carrying plants to cars! The market itself is into its 11th season and runs from 8.30 - 12.30 every Saturday until Thanksgiving. The long weekend was the Season Opener and over 100 Basil and Marigold plants were given away as well as free copies of Gardening Life. There are all sorts of vendors and lots of produce later in the season. The market sticks by a strict policy that all items are home produced, locally. We are definitely not a 'flea market'! If you haven't experienced the market yet, be sure to drop by soon and chat with Katie, Chris, our assistant Nicolle and our kids.
Enderlein Roses
Locally Grown Roses Now Available
May 22, 2008
News just in!! Just this morning, we received a large shipment of Roses from Enderleins Nursery. Enderleins are established Rose growers and are located just down the road in Lisle. We are pleased to now offer you a varied selection of Climbers, David Austin, Hybrid Tea and Shrub Roses in addition to our own Explorer and Ground Cover Roses. Enderleins were looking for a local location to sell their Roses as they are continually asked to sell retail, but are strictly a wholesale operation. So drop by and check out our selection of locally grown high quality gorgeous Roses! Very hard to resist!!
Meet our Greenhouse Gals!
May 2008
Most of you already know Darlene McKever who has been with us 9 years and Sandi White who is now into her 4th season. This year, with our increased planter and hanging basket production and our container planting service that is growing in popularity, we are thrilled to welcome Maria Kean to our team. Maria lives locally and is a long time home gardener with some great knowledge to share. Along with Chris and myself, we strive to offer you friendly service, advice and of course a crop of plants that we are all proud of!
15th Birthday Celebrations
April 2008
Thank you to everyone who came out for our 15th Birthday Celebrations on Sunday 27th April. Over 200 customers and friends enjoyed a beautiful afternoon in the sun. Every family received a complimentary Stargazer Lily and regular draws were held for Pansy bowls and gift certificates. The Martin children had their pets on display and held a fund raiser for the Barrie S.P.C.A., raising $102. Kids were treated to free face painting and crafts. Refreshments were served and the unique 'flower' cupcakes shown in the photo were a huge hit, with most guests indulging in one or two! Mayor Tom Walsh of Adjala - Tosorontio Township presented Katie, Chris and children Rosalyn, Daniel and Ben with a congratulatory certificate. Phew! What a fantastic day!!
15 years and still growing!
New greenhouse
March 2008
As I type this, our new greenhouse number 6 is slowly taking shape! Over the past few years, our Custom Container Planting Service has really taken off and it became fairly obvious that we could use more space!! We are planning on using the new space for custom containers and wholesale orders, so it will not contain plants for sale. With the pressure relieved in the other houses we are growing more Hanging Baskets, Planters and Vegetables. In fact, this year we are doubling our production of ready made Planters - available in single variety and mixes. All our greenhouses have names and we are pleased to name our new greenhouse 'Newfoundland' in memory of Betty Jennings who worked here for several years and passed away last year.
