Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 2017)
8 community august3 2017 Farmwoman’s Nursery: Homegrown History 2007 was a major setback for both Poetter and her business. She originally started her business on her former property on Keasey Road in 2000, but moved closer to town when the barn property became available in 2004. “It was a great time and then December 3, 2007 happened,” says Poetter as she takes a rare moment to relax in the shade of her garden shop. “The flood just devastated the nursery. It washed everything north, down the Nehalem River. Everything. There was three feet of water inside the barn, which was my retail space at the time.” Poetter says that after the cleaning up from the flood, there was no money left to restart the business; she did not have flood insurance and FEMA was unable to assist her small business. “It was really tough to look out at the nursery and see the devastation,” says Poetter. Poetter says she took a job at Tri-Met for several years. But running a nursery was still a goal, so she slowly started to rebuild her business. She started selling bare-root trees in 2009 on a small scale. “That’s really my first love,” says Poetter, “selling fruit and shade trees. I went to school for horticulture and landscape design and Marie Krahn it’s really in my blood.” Poetter slowly straightened out other parts of her life, building a new house on the property next to the barn and continuing to work. For the last three years she has been expanding the business, selling ad- ditional nursery stock. “This is the first year I have shrubs and flowers,” says Poetter. “We grow a lot of our plants here ourselves, like our hos- tas and some of the perennials.” The Farmwoman’s Nursery is now open four days a week, Thursday through Sunday, selling plants specifically for the Upper Nehalem Valley growing zone. The barn is also open for people to see and Poetter has other items for sale there, “...treasures, antiques, and that type of thing,” she says. “ I pick up things at various places and people can come here and shop.” The barn has been restored, with a new roof and remains an attraction on the property. Twice a year in the spring and fall Poetter hosts the ‘Farmwoman’s Barn Sale.’ While the nursery business continues to grow and thrive, Poetter believes the barn and the history scat- tered throughout the property, remain a highlight and makes a perfect backdrop for her nursery busi- ness. Farm and garden implements and decorations are placed throughout the gardens. “People really like to see the continued from front page inside of the barn, and walk through our display gardens and through the nursery,” says Poet- ter. “People just love the barn and I really love the barn, too. Old barns are not being saved and to see one in better-than- original condition is a real treat. The milking stanchions are still there and the old uneven, heavy duty old-growth fir plank floor is still there. The air and the smell of the barn brings back a lot of memories. There used to be barn dances up on the second floor, so there is a lot of history here.” Poetter says she has spoken to members of the Malmsten family who have expressed their pleasure that the barn has been restored and is being so well cared for. Poetter recently added her garden shop, constructed by local builder Alan Hein, to resemble the barn, complete with cupola, which serves as an office and retail spot for the nursery. It’s made from reclaimed wood, reclaimed tin roof and old windows from the barn. The garden shop includes a large front window salvaged from the Oregon- American Mill, and a screen door that belonged to beloved community member Terry Schaumberg. Hanging on the wall is a painting by local artist Dave Anderson, commemorating the Malmsten family – the barn sits in the background behind the family home. Poetter likes to tell the story of where the name “Farmwoman’s Nursery” came from. “In the 1980s I worked for Washington County in their 9-1-1 dispatch center. We had our farm on Keasey Road and I would always tell stories to my co-workers about things that happened on the farm – last night we had to pull a calf out during a birth, the other day the chickens got out, or we were chasing pigs around the farm – things like that. And they dubbed me ‘The Farmwoman.’ And I thought that was a nice name and that I would wear it with honor. Farm women are hard workers, they’re resourceful. I liked it and it stuck. I thought it was perfect. I love animals, I love to work hard, I love being around hay and barns. And I thought it made a great name for my nursery.” Poetter likes people to use her display gardens to get a feel for what her plants will look like before they purchase them. “I like to help people be good gar- deners and be suc- cessful,” says Po- etter. “I want them to leaving know- ing enough about the plants, know- ing where they will best thrive on their property, and how to care for them. If that happens then I feel like I have done my job.” It’s obvious that Lorna Poetter loves what she does and where she does it, and loves sharing it with people. “I want to invite people to come here, to see the old barn, enjoy the gardens, and experience the history of the property.” RIDE INN Massage Therapy Auto injury recovery/medical billing • Accepting: Medical Benefits Cards • Medical Massage Cupping • Swedish Massage • Reiki • Deep Tissue • Reflexology • doTerra Aroma Touch • Trigger Point Therapy • Myofacial Release 503-429-5180 lic#5495 mariekrahn@frontier.com Owned and Operated by Don & Kim Wallace NowOpen!•15rooms•Fullyremodeled 900 Madison Avenue, Vernonia 971-227-0462 503-382-9380 jeromecordell@gmail.com DON WALLACE, PLS Professional Land Surveying 1224 E. Alder St. Vernonia, OR 97064 Phone: 503-429-6115 FAX: 1-866-297-1402 Email: DWallace_KLS@msn.com CORPORATE MEMBER
