When you hear the words 'Local Food', how close to home do you expect it to be? Within the United States? The Midwest? Your home state? The stipulations and expectations of locally grown food vary depending on consumer preference. In reality, as the population increases and we become more environmentally conscious, 'local' should mean grown and harvested close to the homes of consumers as well as distributed over short distances. Knowing where your food comes from and how it is produced is more than important-it's necessary. The need for food, now and in the future, poses one of the biggest threats to the planet.

The benefits of local food cannot go unnoticed and there is something so rewarding about the ability to go to your local grocer or farmer's markets and buy fresh produce. But what if it isn't the right time of year for harvesting fresh, local veggies? In winter, we have become accustomed to poor quality vegetables (especially tomatoes) because they travel great distances to the supermarket and in turn are off-textured and flavorless. The times are changing. We can now have tomatoes with summer-garden-flavor in January. Fruits and vegetables grown in a greenhouse can be harvested and shipped same-day and at peak ripeness for the best flavor and nutritional value.

As a company filled with plant professionals, Johnson's Nursery is taking steps to contribute to The Local Food Movement. Located close to a metropolis that continues to grow, there is also a growing demand for flavorful fresh vegetables in winter, especially tomatoes. During the cold months, when sunlight levels are consistently low, it is more difficult to sustain plant production. However, the combination of our greenhouses, heated by urban wood and sunlight, and a great workforce make it possible for us to sustain production during the coldest months of the year.

Cherry tomatoes on the vine.

Overstock makes its way to local food pantries.

Our tomatoes are grown hydroponically in a soilless media that ensures continual growth for a longer period of time. First, we select seeds proven to perform well in a greenhouse environment. The indeterminate tomato plants will bloom, consistently set new fruit, and ripen all at the same time throughout a growing season. The vigorous plants can be harvested for up to 8 months if maintained properly and fertilized according to plant developmental stage. Then they are trellised to the ceiling to maximize the available space and each flower is pollinated by hand to increase fruit set. Yes, this is as much work as it sounds! From general plant maintenance to harvesting, scouting for pests, and monitoring plant health, a day in the greenhouse is always busy. The key is balance-a balanced environment and timely inputs leads to a stable plant with dependable yields and consistent quality. When grown under these controlled conditions our tomatoes are more uniform in size, shape, and color. And very tasty!

We are entering a defining time in agriculture. The choice is simple, do you want your food to travel 2500+ miles from farm to fork, or under 100? Support something you value-support local food. Area chefs demand better flavor for their dishes and so should you. Consumers' wallets are responsible for changing how food is purchased and, to meet the demand in Milwaukee communities, many local grocers have made the commitment to sell locally grown produce. You can currently find our Johnson's Nursery tomatoes at Sendik's in Brookfield and in Winter/Spring 2018 at area Farmer's Markets. Tom-A-to, Tom-AH-to, however you say it, we are very excited to be able to offer you a sustainable veggie.

June is Wisconsin Native Plant Appreciation
Month  at Johnson's Nursery

Alli-yums!

Ornamental Alliums are closely related to onions, garlic, and leeks. If you dig up a Summer Peek-A-Boo Allium and spread the leaves apart, you'll see them attached to little bulbs, like an onion. This makes Allium one of the easier plants to divide and transplant.

Wild onions have been used since ancient times as a reliable food source, often associated with the poor. While the Children of Israel wandered the desert for forty years with only quail and manna to eat, they lamented saying, "We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost- also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic." Onions and the like grew wild in Egypt. An inscription in the Great Pyramid of Cheops recorded that silver was used to buy onions, garlic, and radishes for the construction workers to eat and keep up their stamina. Onions are also found painted on the walls of tombs and were stuffed into body cavities of mummies (much like a Thanksgiving turkey). This technique was two-fold; they may have believed the odor of the onions would jump start the dead into breathing, also, they were a good way to keep wild animals away.

For more information, read the book Garlic, Onion, and other Alliums by Ellen Spector Platt.

New!  Signs of Spring

Reserve Spring Plants for Gifts

Looking for a gift for the plant lover in your life? Maybe you know someone who needs to renovate the beds around their house. Or maybe you want to give a tree to commemorate a birth or marriage, or as a memorial. Gift cards are great and convenient, but sometimes you want a more personalized option. You can purchase plants for a loved one now, and we will reserve them until spring, whether they are to be picked up, delivered, or installed. We will also print out information cards on the plants(s) so you have something tangible to wrap.