A2o—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 28,1983
BY TRISH WILLIAMS
MAXATAWNY Dale Grim Knowing Grim’s hard working
likes to grow things, since he was a and persistent nature, it’s no
boy growing up on his father’s surprise that the first year’s plants
farm he has been raising livestock grew extremely well under his
and crops. Through the years, his care. What is remarkable is how
love of gardening has helped this little enterprise grew from one
supply fresh vegetables for the ll Xl5 foot greenhouse used to
family and sparked an interest in grow plants for the family garden
growing plants in his children. So it to a profitable wholesale and retail
seems quite natural for this in- bedding sale operation that in
terest to lead the Grim’s to build a volves the whole family,
small greenhouse to start plants The first greenhouse was built in
Everyone in the fai ly
Dale proudly displays a bedding plant as his father-in-law,
Floyd Reichert, looks on.
Joshua and Ruth take an active interest in the operation
and put alot of time into working in the greenhouses.
Acid rain hearings planned
HARRISBURG The largest state, we re hoping to channel the
coalition formed in Pennsylvania immediate concern of thousands of
since the 1960’s announced its our citizens into constructive
intentions this week to hold open action to solve the acid rain
hearings on Acid Ram this sum- problem in our state. Increased
mer. knowledge is the best way to find
sane solutions to our problem,”
The Pennsylvania Acid Rain said Julius Uhlein of the PA AFL-
Education Task Force presented CIO.
plans for citizen hearings to be “Because the damage done by
held simultaneously in Pittsburgh acid rain affects all segments of
and Philadelphia uii the evening of our society, this task force
July 7, at 7:30 p.m. “By planning represents labor, civic and en
these hearings at either end of the vironmental and conservation
Red Rose Alliance auction June 11
GOODVILLE The Red Rose sweater, an iron dinner bell, a
Alliance will hold its Second An- Fraktur, a cast-iron pump trough,
nual Auction on Saturday, June 11 an American Empire bureau over
at 10 a.m. at the Goodville Fire 100 years old with bow front
Hall, Route 23 in Goodville. columns of mahogany wood, and
Offered for sale are many many other items too numerous to
handmade quilts, a 1976 Plymouth mention.
station wagon, a 1975 Volkswagen For information or to donate
Rabbit, a handmade Penn State items, call Don at (717 ) 354-5483.”
Grim’s Greenhouses, a growing enterprise
for their garden and flower beds.
PHONE
717 394 3047
or 717 626 1164
ITS MAGIC
How quickly
You Get Results
1960, as a hobby, and with no vision
of it growing into a business. Then,
as now. Dale was working full-time
for his father on the family’s grain
farm. The greenhouse was built at
the home, be and his wife, Naomi,
share with her parents, Floyd and
Bertha Reichert.
The Reichert’s own the farm
where the two families live. At that
time they had over 2000 laying hens
and field crops of hay and small
grains. But in the evenings,
members of the family enjoyed
working in the greenhouse, nur
turing the plants along. They did
such a good job that neighbors
wanted to buy the healthy plants
for their gardens.
Demand for the plants the very
first year out stripped the
production capacity of the
greenhouse. So the next year a
second greenhouse was added.
Demand continued to increase as
satisfied neighbor-customers
spread the word about the good
plants. Over the years the cycle
has continued to spiral upwards
with demand.
The Grun’s two children, Joshua
and Ruth, have become involved in
the operation and enjoy working in
the greenhouses. Their interest has
helped the growth of the business.
There are now four greenhouses
with over ten tunes-the area under
glass as the original greenhouse.
“The whole family works
together,” said Mrs. Grim.
“Everyone enjoys the work, but I
think Joshua has the greatest
interest. Joshua turned 16 on April
28, on April 30 he started working
for Agway m the garden center, he
couldn’t wait to start working”
Dale has fostered an interest in
horticulture in Joshua. Joshua is
now studying floraculture at his
vo-tech school and hopes to con
tinue with it as a career.
A local Agway representative
who knew Grim and the quality of
the plants he grew, convinced
Grim to grow plants for Agway’s
garden center from Agway seeds.
Now the Grim’s supply to local
Agway garden centers with bed
ding plants. Other retail markets,
such as dairies are also supphed.
About 75 percent of their market is
wholesale, the remainder is sold
from the greenhouse.
Mrs. Grim handles most of the
retail sales from the greenhouse,
and takes many wholesale orders
over the phone.
groups,” stated Larry Schweiger
of the National Wildlife
Federation. Included m the
sponsoring organizations are the
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, League of
Women Voters, American Lung
Association, National Audubon
Society, Sierra Club, and the
Pennsylvania Federation of
Sportsmen’s Clubs. “Between now
and the time of the hearings, group
members will be meeting, plan
ning testimony, and encouraging
local participation in acid rain
projects throughout the state.
Involvement is expected in all
levels of state, regional and
community organizations. This is
truly a state-wide effort,” Sch
weiger concluded.
Acid rain is caused by sulfur and
nitrogen oxides emitted'into the
air, usually by power producing
plants. These emissions mix with
the air, and eventually come back
to earth in the form of nitric and
sulfuric acids in snow, fog, and
most often ram. “While ail the
causes of acid jam might not yet be
accepted by"all members of.the
scientific and industrial com
munity, the problem is here. The
Acid Ram Task Force is a positive
effort at solving that problem,”
commented Walter Pomeroy, Vice
President for the National
Audubon Society.
Still with all work that comes
with a greenhouse operation, all Explorer post at Air Products, as a
the family members are active in secretarial assistant. She plans to
organizational work. Mrs. Grim is pursue a career as a secretary
a 4-H clothing project leader. Both after she graduates.
Ruth and Joshua are active in 4-H, Joshua and- his father serve the
Joshua is a member of the community as members of the
vegetable judging team and has a local fire company. Their common
flock management project with interests add strength to the family
Hampshire sheep. structure. ... ,
Ruth prefers Dorset sheep and is There is no doubt that Joshua
a member of the livestock judging Ruth come from good seed and
team, and carries projects in hmre been nurtured well. The
canning, cooking and gardening, greenhouse enterprise will likely
as well as being a member of teen continue to grow in new dimen
council. Also a member of Ex- sions as he comes on with his m
plorers, she is presently in an terestsinfloraculture.
located in an old shed on the left has fostered the growth and
addition of small greenhouse units.
Naomi Grim keeps watch over the operation during the day
while Dale is at work and the children at school. Many orders
are taken over the phone.
sheep they enjoy working with and showing.
This small 11 x IS foot greenhouse was the original one the
Grim's built for growing their own vegetable plants.
lock ol