Defying the Odds and Following a Dream
By Patrice Hartmann, owner of Treat's Greenhouse
I have always loved plants.
After I graduated from DuPage School of Horticulture a division of Ball Seed Co. in West Chicago, IL with a horticulturist certificate in l976, I fell in love with a co student, married him, and moved to his hometown of Atlanta.
His family had purchased a greenhouse range with about 10,000 sq. ft of abandoned old, old, old glass greenhouses. I mustered up the gumption to open them with a sure vision of success… my very first Treat's Greenhouse.
With all the passion I had to have my own business, I filled the greenhouse full of plants with the help of everyone I knew and didn't know. My grandparents dug up some Aloe they had in their yard (they lived in Bonita Springs Florida), and the lady neighbors brought me clippings from their houseplants. My Dad brought blueberry cuttings to me from our Florida nursery. My dream was coming true and my greenhouse was FULL to the brim. Back then I couldn't afford pots - so I grew everything in small styrofoam cups. My husband worked elsewhere to put food on the table.
The greenhouses were a few blocks from the "Strip" in Atlanta, so my loyal customers were hookers. The Sheriff also had a passion for gardening - he convinced me to do some garden stuff, so I did. It was so funny to see the hookers interact with the sheriff; it made me feel pretty special to see how they cared about my business and me. The sheriff always made it a point to come by and check in on things. It was a poor and wild section of town.
I had quite the clientele from the hookers, the sheriff and his staff, and the neighborhood ladies, who would all come over to chat and help me. I was very amazed with the response I had… too bad my husband did not feel that way. He turned to drugs, and lost interest in the greenhouse and me. One blistery cold Atlanta night, the power went out at the greenhouse, which meant the heater did not come on, and I lost it all.
Devastated and pregnant, I closed the doors. I continued living in Atlanta for the next 6 years working for the family dental company. Me in this environment… I should've taken pictures… I had to focus on being a parent, so I endured and learned a lot, but it wasn't fitting me. Needless to say, I left that career behind after six years and moved to Earleton, FL where my parents had a blueberry plant nursery.
I worked there nine years. I had a great experience there and met my current husband. Eventually, the plant nursery in Florida was sold and I reluctantly moved back to Michigan.
I worked for the family plant nursery here for the next 10 years. I purchased a 40-acre blueberry farm that had 2 rental homes on it - I was very proud of myself accomplishing this as a single Mom. I felt like I had made a success for myself… until the mortgage, insurance and maintenance payments came due. My employment at the farm ended in 2000, I then went to work for Family Fare grocery store in Holland as a deli girl.
I loved it there. The only problem was I started my hankering again for growing plants. I wanted to do something different than I was used to at the family nurseries (blueberries and small fruit plants.) So I spread the word I would like to start a SMALL HOBBY greenhouse.
My son was finishing college and I needed something to keep me active. I remarried but my husband lives 20 days in Florida and 10 days here in MI, so I was left home alone a lot. One day out of the blue my brother Jim called me up and said, "Patrice, there is a used greenhouse for sale, in very good shape and I've got a guy to set it all up next week". I had to make a decision right then.
Well the price was right and he talked me into it. So up it went and my smile was back on my face. I remember calling everyone up and saying "You could fly an airplane through here it is so large! I will never be able to fill it but I will have fun trying!" I was good to go, to grow things for my family and friends… and to keep me out of Wal-Mart!
I had a desire to grow herbs and MAYBE some pretty flowers like sunflowers - nothing more. I certainly was NOT EVER, NEVER, EVER going to open for sales. I was way too shy and embarrassed about this passion of mine. I was only going to do it as a hobby. Just to have something to do.
With less than zero money and a brand new VISA I got started.
I gave plants away, grew more, (we are talking less that 50 plants for this huge space). I was very broke running the farm, being Mom, wife, and trying not to put the greenhouse before any of them, but I LOVED being inside. I cried, I prayed and I planted.
It's taken a few years, but I did what it took, and I feel confident now. Day by day I will talk to my customers and make those sales and enjoy it. My husband does not understand the importance of this in my life, I sometimes wish he would, but then I wouldn't have this thrill ride I have, jumping over the obstacles he places ahead of me. I have always felt I could do better than I was. I really wanted to break through the stigma people have about herbs. I want to teach others to love and use herbs without reservation. I feel I can introduce the herbs in a way that was easy to understand and show they are not only culinary use. I am not a naturalist or any hippie type; I just loved the thought and the belief that God created each herb to do something cool. He created rosemary, garlic, thyme and chicken - just knowing how to put a few things together shows just how simple he truly made things for us to use and benefit from.
So I had a motto - a belief of sorts - to help and encourage anyone crossing my path to find a healthy, tasty and nutritious way to live using my herbs. This, combined with all the strength I had got wrapped up with my greenhouse passion. The greenhouse is now full each spring, and as we speak we are building a small greenhouse for propagation. I am still selling out, and looking forward now to meeting my new friends as they walk in my door. I am ready for business.