About Us

Countryside Farm and Greenhouse Inc. is a family owned and operated business started in 1976 by Jack and Rexine Krause.  We were both school teachers at the time and built a small 20' x 40' glass and aluminum hobby house intending to grow plants for our own garden use.  We decided to sell the surplus plants.  It has become a hobby "run amok".

Always needing more space, a shed was converted into a geranium house and a temporary "lean-to" was propped against the barn.  In 1985 two houses, 20' x 100', were constructed to accommodate the increasing volume of business.

Our son, Philip, joined us full time in the business and built three more houses adjoining the first two.  In 1995, two more were added.  Several hoop houses were later constructed to house perennials over winter.

Of course being in business this long means we have also experienced many setbacks.  The worst one was during the blizzard in January, 1996 when the weight of the snow collapsed three of the greenhouses.

We are constantly growing to provide for our customers' needs and are currently building an area to house garden related products.  We recently started stocking garden art. Haitian metal sculptures for indoor and outdoor use, tree free cards, locally handcrafted stepping stones, clay pieces, woven baskets, gazing balls, bagged soils, peat moss, decorative planters, garden gloves, and fertilizer are just a few additional items available in the shop.

Currently the greenhouse is still operated by family members.  Generally Philip constructs and maintains the buildings and grounds, helps with the plant material, and sets up and organizes the sales area.  Jack handles the daily plant requirements and does the watering.  Rexine does the book-keeping, ordering, sales and customer service.  She frequently serves as a guest speaker on various plant or gardening topics.

The greenhouses are open year round with thousands of spring bedding plants, annuals, perennials, vegetables, hundreds of varieties of herbs and scented geraniums, mums and fifty varieties of of poinsettias. We welcome all of you to come for a visit and see what's growing.