It was love at first sight for a local grower and her new greenhouse.
While headed home from her eldest son’s track and field meet this summer, grower Deb Foisy stopped by friend and supplier Michiel Verheul’s greenhouse, High Q.
She was hoping to pick up some extra plants, but was told she would have to make a slight detour to another greenhouse to get them.
Verheul had been running a neighbouring business – Fred’s Flowers – as principle grower Lidia Sawchuk battled cancer. Many of his starter plants were being sold out of this location as a fundraiser for the family, and a way to keep property values up as Sawchuk and her husband attempted to sell the business.
“I knew it was for sale,” said Foisy. “I knew the story and we had been on the fence about whether we should move for the last couple years. I told my husband you’ve got to go up there.”
The greenhouse was exactly what the couple had been looking for as they seek to grow their business.
“It’s still out of town, but it’s close to the population, which is what we need to grow our business,” said Foisy.
Foisy and her husband, Cody, have owned and operated Debs Greenhouse out of Yellowhead County since 2009.
The destination greenhouse would bring in customers from as far as Whitecourt, Hinton, Red Deer and Sherwood Park – its popularity stemming partly from its diverse stock, but also its friendly owners.
Not only does the grower partner with leading horticulture company Ball to trial new annual varieties, it provides a family-friendly shopping experience.
“We have four kids, so we totally get that kids can only handle so much shopping. We make sure there’s fun things for them to do,” said Foisy.
The new location, only three minutes from Morinville off Highway 2, provides a great opportunity for expansion. Foisy is already in talks with Alberta Transportation about a 3,000 square-foot expansion to the west side of the greenhouse.
“This facility is set up as a retail facility,” said Foisy. “What we feel is missing is a work area. We would like to set up more greenhouse space that would not be for customers. It would be a place for us to transplant and store equipment.”
The expansion would also help fulfill custom orders. Debs Greenhouse is one of the only greenhouses in the province that has an online store. Planters and hanging baskets are pre-sold throughout the fall and winter and available for pickup in the spring.
“It’s the way of the future,” said Foisy.
The new greenhouse, which will continue to carry the Debs Greenhouse name, will partially open this fall.
Foisy plans to offer classes starting in October. A schedule will be released online in the upcoming weeks, but should include classes for all age groups in areas such as painting, succulent planters and fairy gardens.
Debs Greenhouse will officially open in spring 2017.
