Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current, June 12, 2012, Page 9, Image 9

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    community
june12
Gardner’s Farm and Home Supply is Still in the Family
Gale  and  Rick  Gardner  have 
been  operating  Gardner’s  Farm  and 
Home  Supply  in  Vernonia  since  1994.  
Now their son Rich is joining the busi-
ness  with  the  hopes  of  expanding  their 
operation.
 
Rich  recently  moved  back  to 
Vernonia from Fort Bragg, CA  with his 
wife Judy, where he had been working as  
a logger. Now he joins the family busi-
ness and brings his experience with  in-
door growing equipment and hydropon-
ics,  which  Gardner’s  Farm  and  Home 
Supply will be  featuring.
 
Gale Gardner says she  expects  
spring  weather  to  get  cooler  and  wet-
ter in the future and also can see an  in-
crease in locals wanting to grow more of 
their own food.  She projects a need for 
people  in  the  Vernonia  region  to  want 
to start their vegetables indoors  earlier 
in  the  season  and  a  need  for  increased 
knowledge,  skill  and  indoor  growing 
equipment.  
 
And  so  Gardner’s  Farm  and 
Home Supply is hoping to meet that de-
mand with an expanded product line and 
assistance  is  setting  up  home  growing 
systems.  
 
“Actually,  a  person  could  have 
an  indoor  garden  all  year  round,  grow-
ing things like lettuce and tomatoes for 
salads, in just a real small area with shop 
lights,” says Rich.
 
Gardner’s Farm and Home Sup-
ply  hopes  to  instruct  people  on  the  art 
of  indoor  growing,  from  start  to  finish,  
including  information  about    soils,  fer-
tilizers, timers, lights, air movement and 
hydroponics.   They  will  also  sell  all  of 
the above.  
 
“There is a lot to it,” says Rich.  
But Gale says it is easier than keeping a 
separate greenhouse, which is difficult to 
keep warm in the winter.  “Indoor grow-
ing takes up so little room and is really 
not much of an expense,” says Gale.  
 
The  Gardner  family,  who  live  
directly  behind  their  business,  are  very 
self-sufficient, raising all their own meat 
and most of their own vegetables.    
 
“We  eat  what  we  have,”  says 
Gale,  who  notes 
that    husband 
Rick  makes  his 
own 
sausage, 
bacon, 
hams 
and  more.    “We 
haven’t  bought 
meat  in  years,” 
says  Gale.    They 
also  keep  about 
100  chickens    in 
portable cages for  
eggs  and  meat. 
They also grow a variety of berries.
 
Gardner’s Farm and Home Sup-
ply will continue to offer the same prod-
ucts  and  services  they  have  for  years.  
Gale Gardner has lived in Vernonia since 
1972 and  is a third generation upholster-
er.   She  continues to offer her services 
as  part  of  the  family  business,  making 
repairs  and  creating  custom  work  for 
furniture,  and  things  like  seats  for  mo-
torcycles, farm equipment and cars.  
 
They  continue  to  offer  animal 
feed,    high  end  pet  foods  and  wild  and 
Vernonia Community Garden is Open!
 
The  Vernonia  Community 
Garden officially opened to the public 
with  a  ribbon  cutting  ceremony  on 
June 1 st .  The garden is located next to 
the  Vernonia  High  School  behind  the 
district office.  
 
The  garden  currently  has 
container  plots  ready  for  rent.  
Each  plot  includes  twenty-seven, 
14”x16”/10 gallon plant containers for 
a cost of $20 for the season. 
 
The  garden  also  includes  a 
green house, composting bin, covered 
education area and storage shed.
 
Members  of  the  public  are 
invited  to rent a plot for the season and 
help  make  the  Vernonia  Community 
Garden  a  success.    Applications  are 
available at Vernonia Cares and Made 
in Vernonia. 
 
The  Vernonia  Community 
Garden  is  being  organized  by  Penny 
Costley, Allison McLeod and Jill Hult  
as a project through The Ford Family 
Foundation Leadership Program.
 
For  more  information  or  to 
volunteer please contact Penny Costley 
at 503-429-0196.  
2012
9
domestic  bird  seed.    They  still  carry 
electric fencing as well as animal health 
care products.  
 
Garner’s  Home  and  Farm  Sup-
ply says they can and will special order 
supplies and equipment.  “We’re here to 
please,” says Rich.  “We can get pretty 
much anything someone wants.”
 
 
Gardner’s Farm and Home Sup-
ply is located at 19340 Biggs Rd, one
mile north of Vernonia on Highway 47.
You can reach them at 503-429-6481.
 
Allison McLeod, Jill Hult, Penny Costley, and Pat Stacklie celebrate the grand opening
of the Vernonia Community Garden.
Under New Local Ownership
Open Daily
at 6:30 AM
Restaurant
Now Open
Summer Reading Program
at the Vernonia Public Library
Tuesday, June 26th Stories and craft/activity
10-11 am
Friday, June 29th 'Slumber Party' - movie in pajamas! 7:00 pm
Saturday, June 30th
Movie Matinee with popcorn
2:00 pm
Tuesday, July 3rd
Stories and craft/activity
10-11 am
Saturday, July 7th
Movie Matinee with popcorn
2:00 pm
Tuesday, July 10th
Stories and craft/activity
10-11 am
Wednesday, July 11th
Tye Dye Event
6:30 pm
(Pillowcases for the kids will be provided to Tye Dye!
All programs are free of charge.
For more information call the Vernonia Library at 503-429-1818
NOW BOOKING:
Tournaments
Company Parties
Class Reunions
Family Reunions
And More
Men’s Club
Meets every
Wednesday
at 5 PM
Looking For A
Father’s Day Gift?
Gift Certificates
Available
Annual Memberships
$2 Off Green Fees
with this coupon 7 days a week
expires 6/30/2012
Vernonia Golf Club • 15961 Timber Rd. • (503) 429-6811