edible careers
EDIBLE CAREERS
Washoe Valley couple enjoys symbiotic employment.
WRITTEN BY BARBARA TWITCHELL
As he opens the door to their greenhouse, Gary Laack expresses regret that the structure is not as nice as the newer ones he has built. Looking at this large, beautiful building with its rustic, wooden beams and Craftsman-style ambiance, it is hard to imagine anything better. His wife, Kerrie, shakes her head and laughs.
“I say ours looks wonderful,” she says. “He looks at the buildings. I look at the vegetables that are in them.”
“That’s where the simpatico comes in,” Gary adds with a broad smile.
The Washoe Valley residents appear to delight in a symbiotic relationship that conjoins their interests and has resulted in two fledgling and complementary businesses. He builds greenhouses; she markets organic produce. For these former high school sweethearts who have shared 40 years of marriage, four children, and six grandchildren, it seems rather perfect.
Gardening Inspiration
Gary credits Kerrie’s lifelong interest in gardening as his inspiration for building that first greenhouse.
But it also was born out of frustration, he admits. Watching Kerrie battle the challenges of gardening in Northern Nevada — the wind, late frosts, temperature swings, pests, and short growing season — got him to thinking about solutions. A greenhouse, he realized, was the answer.
A builder of custom, luxury homes since 1982, he eagerly embraced the challenge of designing a state-of-the-art greenhouse that would be the perfect marriage of form and function. His efforts paid off. Enjoying a bumper crop last summer, Kerrie says that the greenhouse has put the joy back into gardening.
Before long, his beautiful greenhouse began to attract the attention of others. Suddenly, potential customers began to materialize. With the recession weakening the custom home market, the timing seemed right. And so began Growin’ Again Greenhouses.
Laack’s fully customizable structures boast post-and-beam-style construction in either rough-sawn Douglas fir or redwood, offering rustic beauty and unsurpassed structural integrity. He takes great pride in his product. But it’s not just about the building, he says. He particularly likes the idea that his greenhouses will encourage people to grow healthy, fresh produce right in their own backyards.
Veggie Delivery
While Gary is hoping to bring the veggies to our back doors, Kerrie has her sights set on our front doors.
Last year Kerrie opened Blue Basket Organics, a front door, organic produce delivery service that caters to the Reno-Carson community and surrounding areas. Having patronized CSAs for many years, she was a fan of the co-op concept and saw a growing need for such a service.
“It just makes sense,” Kerrie says, “the sharing, being able to buy in bulk and getting healthy food, the most for your money.”
It’s an idea that apparently makes sense to a lot of others as well. In just more than a year her customer base has grown to more than 100 people. Clients can opt for a bushel, half-bushel, or peck basket, delivered weekly or bi-weekly to their doorsteps. All produce is organic, seasonal, and locally sourced from area growers.
The Laacks enjoy the knowledge that they are enabling others to eat more healthfully while also supporting sustainable agriculture in the local community.
“We love the idea of helping create a thousand backyard gardens,” Kerrie says. “But a lot of people don’t have the time. So it’s good to have different options.”
So, you pick the door. Knock, knock. Who’s there? Either way, it’s a Laack.
For details, visit Www.growinagaingreenhouses.com and www.Bluebasketorganics.com.
Barbara Twitchell is a Reno-based freelance writer who can definitely relate to the frustrations of Northern Nevada gardening. She now puts a Laack greenhouse near the top of her wish list.
