Rush Creek Growers: A “Green” Greenhouse

While many people eat organic food these days, not as many are able to buy garden plants that are grown sustainably and without toxic chemicals. The Circle of Life program puts Rush Creek Growers of Spring Valley, Wisconsin at the forefront of creating sustainable standards and practices, and eventually a certification process, for greenhouse plant production. Rush Creek’s head grower, Sue Baker, is proud to participate in this fledgling project. “Ball Seed (a Chicago-based horticultural company) approached us and several other greenhouse growers in Washington, northern California, and Michigan about a year and a half ago,” says Sue. “They had started using biological pest control in their seed-raising farms, and decided to pursue encouraging non-toxic methods in the garden center industry. They observed that people who base their purchasing decisions on issues of sustainability are frustrated that, when it comes to sustainable garden plants, there’s little to be found in the marketplace.”

Rush Creek was already committed to sustainable practices, and Ball Seed selected them as an exemplary greenhouse to help start this new movement. Sue appreciates Circle of Life’s assistance in differentiating her plants from conventionally grown plants. “Lots of our garden center customers just mix our plants in with those from other growers; nobody would ever know that they were grown any differently. This program makes a point of it.”

Gene Stark agrees that most garden centers have no awareness of organic standards or sustainable practices. “Almost all garden centers mix our plants in with conventionally grown plants,” says Gene, “and they’re fertilized and treated conventionally from that point on. So organic certification hasn’t yet been worth it to us, although our plants are grown very naturally.”

Sue also cites the costs of organic certification, and appreciates the opportunity to promote their uniquely earth-friendly plants through the Circle of Life labeling program. She adds, “Part of the idea of the program is that, just as in farming a conventional farmer can try to raise part of their crop organically and learn what they need to make that transition, so it is with the greenhouse industry. We want to support a movement away from harmful practices.”

Article by Rachel Sarto, originally published in the April-May 2006 Rollin’ Oats Journal.