Maple Greenhouses and Garden Market expanding its business
Making things grow is just a normal part of the operations at Maple Greenhouses and Garden Market in Lowbanks.
That’s why it’s unsurprising that the business itself is getting larger.
“We always wanted to have a garden centre,” said co-owner William Blyleven, and this spring, that dream becomes a reality.
For many years, the business was a wholesale supplier, primarily for independent, family-run garden centres in southern Ontario; it has also been involved in farmers’ markets primarily in the Toronto area, selling produce.
“So, we’re used to the retail part of it. It just fits our family well,” Blyleven said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, they started offering some curbside service, and found an enthusiastic customer base.
“We thought, well, if we’re going to do it, now’s the time to do it,” Blyleven said. “Everybody wants more buy local (options) and everybody’s spending a lot more time at home.”
The garden centre will have a wide range of plants: annuals, perennials, vegetables, tropicals, house plants and nursery stock, as well as products like topsoils and their own potting soil mix.
Blyleven said one of their most unique offerings for the area is hydroponic lettuce, or live lettuce.
“Chain stores carry a lot of it,” he said. “Boston lettuce is a big thing.”
Blyleven said adding the garden centre is a significant expansion of the business, but it’s one they’re hoping to keep building on.
“Our plans are to continue expanding as the business grows,” he said.
Blyleven said his passion for the business goes back to his childhood.
“I was raised on a dairy farm. I wanted to milk cows (but) I couldn’t get into the business,” he said.
So instead, Blyleven bought a greenhouse, over 25 years ago, with his brother-in-law Ken Zantingh and “just kept going from there.”
Blyleven said, “I guess I have it in my blood to grow things. It’s nice, watching things growing, and doesn’t matter really if it’s an animal or it’s a plant; it’s still basically the same thing.
“That’s kind of why we’re in the greenhouse business; we’re basically farmers. If it’s in you, it’s in you.”
Zantingh just retired from the business at the end of 2021, and now Blyleven’s eldest son, Cody, and his family are part-owners.
Blyleven said it was because of the next generation’s interest in continuing the business that they decided to keep growing.
“If the kids weren’t interested, then I think my wife and I probably wouldn’t be interested either anymore,” he said. “But since they are, we’re going to keep going, for sure.”