What's "Growing" On at Hillside Greenhouse

Last Day of 2018 Spring Season: June 17th

6/12/2018

The last day of our Spring Season is Father's Day Sunday, June 17th. We're open from 12-5 that day.

We will re-open for our Holiday Season on Friday, November 23rd.

Come see us for fresh greenery, fresh cut Ohio Christmas trees and decorations. Bring the whole family for hot chocolate and cookies every Saturday and Sunday!

Holiday Season Info

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Gardening Therapy at Hillside Greenhouse

4/18/2018

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So it’s April and it’s snowing, as I’m sure you’re all very well aware. Like many of you, I’m itching to get outside. My lawn needs rolled and mowed. I have a few shrubs and trees I’d like to put in the ground. The calendar tells me it’s time to be working outdoors or at least walking through the woods looking for mushrooms. BUT THIS WEATHER!

This got me started thinking about how much people need to be outdoors, and how much better we feel after getting a little “fresh air.” Many customers in the greenhouse tell us how good they feel when they’re out in their garden or flower beds. There’s a real connection between humans and nature. For many of us, this connection is lacking, distorted or gone completely. Our gardens and flower beds are living things that we care for, nurture and watch grow. Turns out, for many folks this can have very real positive effects on their mental health.

A short search on Google Scholar shows there is no shortage of scientific research on the links between gardening and mental health. Here are just a few:

Gardening as a mental health intervention
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The mental and physical health outcomes of green exercise
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Therapeutic horticulture for clinical depression
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There are multitudes of reasons to get outside and plant a garden of one kind or another. Research shows it helps relieve anxiety and helps people cope with depression. Gardening as a group has been a very useful tool in mental health facilities for helping patients communicate and reduce stress. Who wants lower blood pressure? Who wants a better night’s sleep? We all could use these things. The research shows you don’t have to have a green thumb and sprawling manicured gardens to benefit. Even caring for a few herbs or flowers in a pot indoors can be helpful.

Conveniently, at Hillside Greenhouse, we have everything you need to help keep you sane! We can help you pick out some plants and/or seeds and the soil and containers to put them in, if needed. We have tools to make the job a little easier and quicker. Basically, we’ve got everything you need, except the warm weather and rain. Mother nature will come through with that…eventually! If nothing else, when you stop at the greenhouse you can look at and smell all the pretty flowers; it’s a great pick-me-up on these miserable winter-like days!

Hope to see you soon!

Matt Brehm

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Open for the Season!

3/26/2018

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The Hillside Greenhouse of West Liberty opened for the Spring Season on Monday, March 26th.

We have a great variety of annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and hanging baskets. Need a planter? We have it. Have a planter? We can plant it for you! We have everything you need for spring and summer gardening. Our friendly staff is happy to help you pick what you need.

SPRING SEASON HOURS
March-April:  M-Sat. 9a-6p,  Sun. 12p-5p
May:  M-Sat. 9a-7p, Sun. 12p-5p
Memorial Day:  10a-4p
After Memorial Day:  M-Sat. 9a-5p, Sun. 12p-5p
Last Day open for season: June 17

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More About the New Owners of Hillside Greenhouse

10/1/2017

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Alycia and Matt Brehm purchased Hillside Greenhouse in 2016, and are proud to carry on a long tradition. There has been a greenhouse business at this location (302 Zanesfield Road, West Liberty, Ohio) for over 100 years!

In 2015, Alycia made a career change from teaching high school biology to make her life growing and selling plants. Matt and Alycia live near West Liberty where Matt and his father also have a fish farm that raises yellow perch.

Matt and Alycia have two growing boys, and are excited to be a part of the growing small business community in West Liberty!

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What's growing on?!

9/20/2017

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What's Growing On!
Yes, it's pretty corny.
Wow, first blog post. What to say?

Let's start from the beginning. I'll spare you the boring details, but Alycia needed a career change and while shopping for plants one spring, I casually mentioned she should ask if the greenhouse was still for sale. Within weeks she was beginning arrangements for the purchase. My head is still spinning. I had some retail management experience, Alycia had some greenhouse experience, we both have biology backgrounds, surely this would work out! Sorry, no cute story about one of us dreaming our entire lives of owning a greenhouse business. This was simply the right opportunity at the right time and we jumped on it! It's working out!

We've learned a lot over the past two years. Mostly we've learned that even the people that have been in the greenhouse business their entire lives don't always get everything just right, so it makes us not feel so bad about the mistakes we make now and then.

We've learned that a lot of the initial ideas and fun things we wanted to change and do with the business have to go to the back burner for a while. There is a ton of maintenance and rebuilding to be done, and our pockets are only so deep.

None the less, we're trying new things! Can you believe last Christmas season was the first time anyone tried to sell Christmas trees here? We're excited to be open for Christmas again this year and we hope you'll consider us for all of your wreaths, garland and beautiful, fragrant, cut trees!

If you're reading this, you may have noticed our new website, because you're on it! Berry Digital Solutions, LLC has been great to work with. They're just one of the great local business that we've worked with over the past two years to help us keep the place going.

This first blog has probably gone on long enough. Check in here from time to time to get info about what's going on at the greenhouse, what's new, maybe some tips and techniques. Who knows what you'll learn? We certainly have been learning, and it's fun to share with people.

Thank you!
Matt Brehm

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