Our commitment to

Sustainability

We pride in our commitment to eco-friendly practices that benefit both our customers and the environment. In our nursery and gardens, we’ve never used chemical pesticides and fertilizers, opting instead to protect our plants with the help of beneficial insects and microbes and natural Integrated Pest Management techniques. Our potting mix is peat-free and all ingredients and fertilizers are sourced locally in the Pacific Northwest and are entirely natural, ensuring that our products are not only of the highest quality but also eco-conscious.

Additionally, we’ve invested in electric equipment such as our mower to maintain our gardens and our heavy equipment runs on biodiesel. Our exploration of electric technology to replace fossil fuel-based equipment is ongoing. Our water-saving irrigation practices help conserve this precious resource and we’re also dedicated to restoring wildlife habitats on the land surrounding our nursery.

Why does it matter how your native plants are grown?

You might be wondering—does it really matter how the plants in your yard are grown?

We think it does. Your garden is part of a much bigger ecosystem.Many nursery plants are grown using peat-based potting mixes, synthetic pesticides, and systemic insecticides like neonicotinoids that can have lasting impacts on pollinators and soil health. If your goal is to create habitat, it makes sense to start with plants that are grown with those same values in mind.

That's why we grow our Oregon native plants without peat, pesticides, or neonicotinoids. Instead, we rely on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), encouraging beneficial insects and using cultural practices to grow healthy, resilient plants while minimizing the need for intervention.

We also make our own local potting mix, avoiding peat moss and unnecessary shipping whenever possible. Our fertilizer comes from a nutrient-rich byproduct of a local chicken farm here in Canby, creating a more sustainable growing system from the ground up.Our commitment has always been to grow plants in a way that supports healthy soils, thriving pollinators, and resilient ecosystems—because creating habitat begins long before a plant reaches your garden.

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Locally Sourced Potting Mix

Our Soil Mix: Peat-Free, Local, and Built for Plant Health Our custom mix is 100% peat- and coco coir-free, made with byproducts from Oregon, Northern California, and Washington. Instead of harvesting raw resources, we repurpose what’s already here—keeping it local and sustainable.

Douglas fir bark forms the base, providing structure and long-lasting support for roots. We add coir-processed redwood bark—another forestry byproduct—for added aeration and moisture retention. Finished compost rounds it out, bringing in beneficial microbes and helping roots access water and nutrients more efficiently. Eastern Oregon pumice boosts drainage naturally—no energy-intensive perlite required.

For nutrients, we use composted chicken manure from a Canby producer, along with Oregon-grown alfalfa meal, feather meal, and fish meal. These slow-release ingredients feed plants steadily and naturally—no synthetic fertilizers needed.

We even turn the leftover solids from our homemade liquid fertilizer (“chicken poop soup”) back into the mix, closing the loop and giving our plants exactly what they need to thrive.

Natural Pest Control

We pride ourselves on our commitment to eco-friendly practices, particularly in pest control. We use only natural methods and never use chemical pesticides in order to keep our rivers clean and to protect pollinators and wildlife. Our approach involves utilizing a diverse range of techniques. We harness the power of predatory insects and microbes to hunt down pests before they become a problem. This natural form of pest control aids in maintaining a balanced ecosystem within our nursery and greenhouses and greatly reduces the need to treat pests using other means.

Other non-chemical insect control may include spraying with high pressure water or a shop vacuum to pull pests off the leaves. Our proactive measures extend to disease prevention in both foliage and soil. If pests do show up, we employ natural oils and soaps, which serve as effective alternatives to chemical insecticides, ensuring minimal disruption to the environment. We manage the timing, frequency and application method of irrigation in the nursery to minimize foliar and soil diseases. In the greenhouses we employ ventilation and dehumidification methods to keep plants disease free. Compost tea fortified with beneficial microbes also aids in maintaining plant health.

When it comes to weed management, we take a hands-on approach. We meticulously hand-pull weeds, ideally before they make seeds. If we miss an area before the seeds drop, we implement mulching to smother the seeds or small plants. In addition to hand weeding, we use solutions like horticultural vinegar on wood chip paths or controlled flame torches on non-flammable surfaces such as gravel driveways and paths. By prioritizing natural and sustainable pest control methods, we aim to maintain a healthy environment while simultaneously offering high quality products and services.