Digger magazine

A hearty appetite for edibles

By Tracy Ilene Miller — Posted May 27, 2021

Growers find they can’t grow enough edible plants, and retailers can’t keep them in stock In March 2020, U.S. governors began rolling out stay-at-home orders, including in Oregon, because of the coronavirus known as COVID-19. Not long after, Americans in lockdown turned their attention to edible gardening any way they could — in containers, in […]

Hired help

By Jon Bell — Posted May 27, 2021

What it takes for nurseries to find the workforce talent they need Working in the nursery industry is not easy. Laborers in the fields endure harsh weather conditions and strenuous work that can test their physical endurance. Drivers spend long hours on the road away from their families. Growers and production staff have to constantly […]

Meet the Leader: Joe Dula

By Bill Goloski — Posted May 27, 2021

General ManagerMoana Nursery, Canby, Oregon OAN member since 2012 OAN roles/positions:• Farwest Show committee member.• OAN Board – Container Grower Position #3• Clayton W. Hannon Distinguished Service Award, 2019 Tell us about yourself I grew up in the nursery business. My parents, Joe and Judy Dula, started Dula’s Nursery in Canby, Oregon, in the late […]

Let’s keep them growing

By Mike Darcy — Posted May 27, 2021

I have written several columns on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on garden centers and how they have responded to it. These last two years have been like no other in recent history —not just for garden centers, but every citizen. In many cases, our lives have been adjusted for us and we have had to […]

Sustainability is our calling card

By Jeff Stone — Posted May 27, 2021

It is fitting that this issue of Digger focuses on sustainability. Sustainability is embedded in how our nurseries operate, and it comes standard with all of our products. Last Labor Day, our region and the nearby Cascade forests came under attack from raging wildfires. Communities were destroyed, people were forced to evacuate, and the sky […]

Smart stewardship

By Kyle Fessler — Posted May 27, 2021

It’s tough to think about the future when we’re trying to keep up with solving the problems of the day. This is something we face nearly every spring, when the most important thing is getting plants out the door to our customers. We do, however, need to set aside time to strategically plan for the […]

J. Frank Schmidt transitions new Midwest sales representative

By Bill Goloski — Posted May 24, 2021

Doug Danielsen has been hired as a Northern Midwest territory sales representative for J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co., according to a release from the wholesale grower. Ian McLaren is retiring on June 30 after 44 years of service. Danielsen has a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Minnesota Twin […]

In Memoriam: Arda Berryhill

By Curt Kipp — Posted May 19, 2021

Arda Berryhill, who founded and owned Berryhill Nursery in Sherwood, Oregon, along with her husband, Roger, passed away May 13, 2021 at the age of 86.

Puget Sound Plants hires lead buyer, sales

By Bill Goloski — Posted April 28, 2021

Justin Parker has been hired as the lead buyer for Puget Sound Plants, according to a release from the company. He has 20 years of nursery industry experience. In addition to providing production strategies for their business partners, he will be purchasing nursery stock for the Maltby and Olympia sales yards. Aaron Bernhard has been […]

May 2021 – Growing minds: A special issue

By Bill Goloski — Posted April 27, 2021

The nursery and greenhouse industry has a critical relationship with colleges and universities, including the programs that train future leaders, the researchers who drive change and improvement, and the scholarship programs that help students finance their education. This three-part issue dives into the fruits of those labors, as well as lessons from a nostoc control […]