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March 10th, 2023

3/10/2023

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​     The agricultural class from the high school in Alexandria, Minnesota, along with their teacher Linnay Schweisthal visited our greenhouse on Thursday.  Jeremiah Stark, one of the owners of Glacial Ridge Growers, led the class on a tour of the plant production facility.

     Propagation, seeding, transplanting, and general requirements for a heathy crop were the topics of the tour.  Growing with sound, sustainable, earth-friendly techniques was also part of the discussion.
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     The high school class will soon be receiving small plants from Glacial Ridge, which they will transplant and grow in the greenhouse at their high school.  What a great opportunity to share our love of plants with a new generation of growers!
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Twas the Month Before Spring (Continued)

3/3/2023

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And then in the greenhouse I heard some sounds,
Magical voices sang in tiny, sweet rounds.
Green seedlings were reaching for heavenly light.
We could hear them all grow as they stretched into sight.
 
Tiny perennials and natives reached up toward the sky,
Dicots unfolding, like birds set to fly,
Geraniums and impatiens hung up where it’s warm,
Spikes and greenery, one big showy swarm.
 
Oh, how they shimmered in bold shades of green,
Vigorous plants just want to be seen.
Their roots are emerging and filling their pots
Filling their space, each in its own spot.


The predatory insects are protecting the crop,
Eating the bad guys right down from the top.
The grow-lights are extending the days into night.
Until mid-March when longer days are in sight.
 
The plants are so happy, now freed from their seeds,
They’ll go on to fulfill many gardeners’ needs.
The plants gave off sounds so soothing and low,
They gave comfort to us as we gazed at the snow.
 
Then, I had visions of blossoms and vines
A world of color appeared in my mind.
The visions up lifted our wintry malaise,
Made our tasks go much faster and perked up our days.
 
Then the plants sprang up as fast as a thistle,
Filled up the greenhouses as slick as a whistle.
I heard them exclaim in a colorful ring,
“Happy planting to all and to all a good spring.”

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February 24th, 2023

2/24/2023

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Twas the month before spring and all through the place
Many people were stirring as if in a race.
Hanging baskets were hung on the driplines with care
In hopes spring would find them blooming up there.
 
Young plants were nestled, all snug in their trays
With visions of flowers to fill greenhouse bays.
Muriel in her Birkenstocks, and Barb in her cap
Knew that winter was over and so was their nap.
 
When out by the greenhouse there arose such a clatter,
Jeremiah sprung up to see what was the matter.
I flew to the door like a young frisky pup
To look out of the door to see what was up.
 
The sunlight reflected on the new-fallen snow
With a wintry look in the sun’s bright glow.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
A delivery truck pulling up in low gear.
 
With a driver who looked quite grubby and smug
I knew it must be a delivery of plugs.
So slowly he opened the back of his truck,
He pawed through the boxes and found ours, by luck.
 
He dragged out the box with the UP facing down,
Then rolled it inside like an insolent clown.
We signed his receipt and he went on his way
As he scowled and he cursed the wintry day.
 
As snow that swirls in a cold blizzard wind,
He turned the truck ‘round, fast as wheels can spin.
Up past the mailbox the old truck flew
With a load of squashed boxes and the young driver too.

​(TO BE CONTINUED)
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Emerging

2/7/2023

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​     In our climate here in Minnesota, plants and many other organisms emerge in the spring.  In the greenhouse we are fortunate to experience spring in February.  We are busy sowing seeds every day, which means that every seed flat needs to be accurately tagged.  We now begin to see the newly germinated seedlings fighting their way toward the sunlight.  Watering systems are ready and everything is in ‘spring go’ mode. It is good to be emerging again.
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The Wait is Almost Over – January 27, 2023

1/27/2023

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In the greenhouses drip tubes are all fixed and now await the soon-to-be transplanted hanging baskets.  These basket lines and drippers save on water and labor.
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Meanwhile our heated germination benches are covered and our roll-up germination chambers are set.  These chambers allow us to heat jus the area where the seeded trays are germinated.  This system saves on heat yet keeps the seed warm enough to sprout.
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Spring Soil in January

1/19/2023

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Our spring soil is stored warm and cozy in our soil room.  It is all now in large, bulk totes – eliminating the use of plastic bags.
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Jeremiah is still enjoying our new all-electric forklift, as he fills our flat-filling machine.  The result is many carts of filled hanging baskets that are ready for the plants which will soon be planted.
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The Greenhouse Work Continues

1/13/2023

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Corey is putting the finishing touches on the plumbing in the new headhouses; getting them ready for the 2023 crop.
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Meanwhile, Mamie has masterfully assembled the new shipping carts as we look ahead to the shipping season. 
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Greenhouse Winter

12/29/2022

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​Sundogs are dancing,
The world is all white.
Bright-painted mornings
Of shimmering light.
Plant tags are ready,
The seeder is set,
Greenhouses are cleaned
And the Solstice has fled.
As we wait now for spring
Just a few weeks ahead.

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Greenhouse Holidays

12/13/2022

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     In this time before the Holidays, people rush around to get all the preparations done.  In the greenhouse it is a bit more laid back.  We never seem to run out of projects, yet it is the season for us to slow the pace a bit.
     The greenhouse space is clean and empty, awaiting a new crop.  Our hands are kept busy with projects like upgrading some of the plumbing, fixing and leveling benches, and adding an extra layer of poly to help save on heating energy.  Re-using plastic labels means organizing and filing them.  And of course, the seeding for next spring is now in full swing.  Marilyn, our “chief seeder” is adjusting to our new, more sophisticated seeding machine.  Most of what we do from now on points to the next spring crop.  It is good to ‘think spring’ during these shortest days of the year.

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Preparation

12/5/2022

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​     We all know about preparation as we shop and plan for the Christmas Season.  Here at the greenhouses at Glacial Ridge Growers, preparation is very important as we get ready for the spring of 2023.  Thousands of plant labels need to catalogued and organized in our “tag library.” These plant labels are essential for us to be able to give accurate information about our plants to our customers.
    We are also attending to important tasks, such as cleaning and readying   watering emitters, which put the proper amounts of water on our greenhouse crops.
     Also, our website is now updated with the latest information on our plants, including new items and latest wholesale pricing. Check us out and place your pre-orders at www.glacialridgegrowers.com     

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    Gene R. Stark

    A teacher, farmer, trapper, and greenhouse grower. He writes about the outdoors and the people and culture of rural America..

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Gene R. Stark | Author
Welcome to Fly Over Country, that vast and delicious expanse between our coasts.
​Like many before you, you will enjoy Gene's fresh and original approach to story telling.

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