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About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2017)
10 CapitalPress.com August 18, 2017 Childhood business becomes successful life’s passion By SHERYL HARRIS For the Capital Press OAKVILLE, Wash. — Not everybody begins his career at age 10, but Dan Pearson did — with a detour for a college degree and eight years work- ing as a landscape architect. Meanwhile, he worked to build what his mother had named Dan’s Dahlias back when he was that 10-year-old. “My goal was to grow the business to where it made more than my day job. Col- lege was valuable, but I earn more doing this,” he says, gesturing to his small dahlia farm. It started when his fa- ther brought home 30 differ- Sheryl Harris/For the Capital Press Dan Pearson, left, and 9-year-old Collin cut blooms for market. ent dahlias, and young Dan promptly memorized the names. The next year there were 30 more. People stopped by, asking about the flowers, and Dan cut and sold them for Dan Pearson, owner of Dan’s Dahlias, is one of largest dahlia growers in the Northwest. This beauty is “Evening Lady.” $1 a bunch. Today they are $1 a stem. Now, Dan’s Dahlias in Oakville is the largest dahlia grower in Washington state. “I’ve always had a pas- sion for growing things,” says Pearson. “I loved the animals on my parents’ dairy farm, but I preferred growing things.” Pearson sold the family’s farm in 1995, purchased his current 12 acres and added 5 more acres. He grows 500 dahlia varieties, compan- ion plantings — sunflowers, asters, zinnias, statice and hypericum berries — and first-season raspberry vines for greenery in bouquets. Each year he discontin- ues 50 varieties and begins CopenHaven Farms Nursery Anthony and Matt will help you conserve water and energy and put the savings in your pocket! Anthony Tasselli Matt Corcoran is a Drip/Micro Specialist and has trained with Matt the last several years. He has an Ag and Environmental Technology degree from North Carolina State, is fully trained in Irricad Design, plus is a certified Nelson Twig System Designer. is a certified Irrigation Designer with over 30 years of irrigation experience, specializing in Micro-Irrigation, Filtration, and Water Treatment. Matt can provide you a uniform, efficient design that conserves water and energy. “We’re at the root of the business.” Quality Oregon-Grown Rootstock & Seedlings for Fruit, Flowering and Shade Trees. 503-985-7161 • FAX 503-985-7876 www.copenhavenfarms.com N17-1#7 50 new ones from an es- timated 18,000 to 20,000 varieties. Dan’s Dahlias is mostly a one-man operation, but Pear- son has seasonal employees to plant, weed and dig up and divide the tubers. He and his brother do the cut flowers in the fall. Pearson is a found- ing member of the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market Cooperative. The co-op pro- vides flowers to florists and event planners nearly year- round. “As a group, the co-op can give grocery stores a steady supply of flowers for eight months, so they will work with us,” he said. “Florists and event planners get fresh- er produce for less, and we get more than through typical wholesalers; we’ve doubled the proceeds from cut flower sales.” He also sells tubers. “I can sell tubers 10 months of the year,” he said. “About half my sales are on- line.” What are Pearson’s plans? “I’m always searching for varieties with stronger stems, more blooms, and that pro- duce more tubers.” 100% Natural Organic Fertilizer 4-3-2 Environmentally Friendly High Performance - Low Impact Gradual & Steady Release of Micronutrients Convenient pellet or granule form for even broadcasting Perfect for turf, vegetable or flower gardens, shrubs & trees 50# pellets or 40# granules - $12.00 CALL FOR PALLET OR BULK PRICING DISCOUNTS Ernst Irrigation is a full service dealership, including a Supervising Electrician on staff. We can handle it! Website: www.ErnstIrrigation.com Please call today, 503-633-1111 20179 MAIN ST. • ST. PAUL, OR 97137 D. Stutzman Farms Organic Materials Review Institute™ P.O. Box 307 • Canby, OR 97013 888-877-7665 N17-1/#7
