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You are here: Home / Archives for Columns

Strength and wisdom

By Jeff Stone — Posted October 20, 2020

An adage says ‘behind every great man is a great woman,’ but it seems archaic to bring up these days with the budding ascension of so many women as national leaders. My two politically-active and college-aged daughters have watched Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris of California become a viable national force in real […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Politics

What a long, strange run it’s been

By Jim Simnitt — Posted October 20, 2020

One year ago, I assumed the position of OAN president. I likened it to starting a long training run. I felt apprehension about my readiness, but I was excited for the challenge. Boy, I had no idea what was in store. The first major obstacle was like going up the first hill in a run. […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Presidents Message

COVID-19 lessons from plant societies

By Mike Darcy — Posted September 29, 2020

In this unprecedented period of a COVID-19 pandemic, several forest fires with lingering air pollution, and a very dry summer that has stressed all our plants, garden centers have also had to make many adjustments to retain their current customer base. On top of that, they also need to attract new customers. Some garden centers […]

Filed Under: Columns, Mike Darcy Tagged With: coronavirus, Digger, Digger magazine, Mike Darcy, Plants

Complete this picture

By Jim Simnitt — Posted September 28, 2020

The Oregon Association of Nurseries is our trade association that helps keep us working and growing. The volunteer leaders and professional staff that make up the OAN connect us, market our plants, and above all else advocate on our behalf to the politicians and government officials in Salem and Washington DC. I am really excited […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Presidents Message

One industry, one voice

By Jeff Stone — Posted September 28, 2020

Welcome to the Advocacy Issue of Digger. We have devoted most of this issue to showing you how the Oregon Association of Nurseries gets involved in policymaking and advocacy on behalf of the members. We wanted to take you “inside” and show you our mindset as well as the process and methods we follow. We […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, directors desk, OAN, OAN Members, Politics

Our Oregon ‘Field of Dreams’

By Jeff Stone — Posted September 1, 2020

OK. The pandemic sucks, and not just for the reason of a legitimately insidious virus causing a massive loss of life and economic carnage. We are weary and fatigued with COVID-19 as it stretches into its seventh month. For certain, the year 2020 has enough memes to make it a standalone chapter in our lives. […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members

The silver linings of COVID-19

By Jim Simnitt — Posted September 1, 2020

When the pandemic started, it threw our businesses and lives into chaos. It was difficult to follow as scientists continually discovered more about the disease, and we all had to adapt. Social distancing slowed many of our plant production processes, and trips to the grocery store became infrequent. As we come into September and the […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members

Reflections on Farwest

By Jeff Stone — Posted July 30, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the world’s social and economic norms with shelter-in-place orders and social distancing. Unfortunately, it has also turned the business of large events upside down — including the Farwest Show. That’s why you’re holding a Farwest Edition of Digger without a show to attend this year. Oregon growers define the show The […]

Filed Under: Columns, Coronavirus, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Farwest, Farwest Show, OAN, OAN Members

Gardening interest enters full bloom

By Mike Darcy — Posted July 29, 2020

In my last column (June 2020), I wrote about some of the many changes that garden centers have had to make during the COVID-19 pandemic. The good news is that it appears that most garden centers managed to adapt to these new requirements. Since the COVID-19 situation is not abating, an appropriate follow-up would be […]

Filed Under: Columns, Mike Darcy Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Mike Darcy, Retail Nurseries

An important partnership

By Jim Simnitt — Posted July 29, 2020

In 1888, the Oregon Agriculture College (OAC) established a horticulture department with sights on building a single greenhouse and creating its own laboratories to conduct experiments. In the subsequent 132 years, OAC became Oregon State University (OSU) and the horticulture department has grown. When I graduated from OSU in horticulture 20 years ago, there were […]

Filed Under: Columns, President's Message Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Oregon State University, OSU

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NURSERY NEWS

Bailey Nurseries removed dams to build environmental resilience

The new NurseryGuide.com powers up with new features

Terra Gardens owner’s gesture for his mother opens the door to other wheelchair-bound gardeners

OAN announces 2025 Friends of Nurseries award winners

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

AmericanHort president and CEO to step down

In memoriam: Bill Van Belle

Longtime employee buys Heritage Seedlings and Liners

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

August 2026 Digger: Farwest Show Edition

July 2026

June: The Shrubs Issue

May 2026: the Sustainability Issue

April: The Tree Issue

More issues of Digger

Pests and Diseases

Box tree moths pose a threat to Oregon nurseries

Managing Phytophthora: timing, temperature and emerging threats

Managing slugs and snails in Pacific Northwest nurseries

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

Prioritizing nursery pest challenges

More articles

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

2026 Farwest Show issues calls for speakers

Excitement, optimism prevail at 2025 Farwest Show

Dazzling plants, products garner Retailer’s Choice Awards

Youngblood Nursery wins Best in Show booth honors at the 2025 Farwest Show

Glow Sticks Fescue wins top honors from judges at Farwest Show’s New Varieties Showcase 

More Updates from Farwest

The Value of Membership

OAN members see benefits and rewards from serving ag industry organizations

AmericanHort president and CEO to step down

OAN honors industry leaders at 2025 Convention

More member stories

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