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.

WHAT IS CERTIFIED NATURALLY GROWN (CNG)?

Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) is a certification model for small farms that use only natural methods and ingredients. The peer-review inspection process encourages continual sustainability improvements and enables farmers to share knowledge to facilitate those changes. You can be sure that products bearing the CNG seal are grown by farmers committed to reducing the environmental impact in all that we do.

Why does it matter that the plants in my yard are Certified Natural Grown?

You might be wondering—why does it matter that our plants are Certified Naturally Grown (CNG), especially if you’re not planning to eat most of them?
The short answer: because your yard is part of a much bigger ecosystem.

Most nursery plants on the market are grown with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers that can harm the very pollinators and wildlife we’re trying to support—especially bees, butterflies, and birds.
Instead of chemicals, we use a natural Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system These methods help keep plants healthy without putting pollinators at risk. We also create our own 100% local potting mix—no peat moss, no long-distance shipping, no synthetic fertilizers.
Our main fertilizer? A nutrient-rich byproduct from a chicken farm right here in Canby.
Everything we use—our soil mix, pest controls, and fertilizers—has been reviewed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) and is Certificated Naturally Grown (CNG).
CNG is designed for small, community-focused farms and nurseries like ours. It’s rigorous but accessible—allowing us to uphold strong ecological standards without getting buried in bureaucracy.

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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.