APTOS — Can ornamental plants be grown successfully without pesticides or herbicides?
Yes, say Trent and Linda McNair, founders of Surf City Growers in Aptos.
The couple jumped off the corporate fast-track last year to stay home with their two children, ages 11 and 3, and go back to their roots.
Trent, 37, a graphic designer who grew up in Soquel, worked on DVDs for Apple's software developers' conference. Linda, 37, was trekking over the hill and working from 7 in the morning to 7 at night.
She began to ask herself: "Is this really living?"
So when her mother-in-law bought the former Melody Hill Egg Ranch on Cox Road as an investment last year, Linda and her husband decided they couldn't pass up the chance to start their own business. The couple quit their jobs a little over a year ago.
"We felt there was an opportunity to grow plants for people who are conscious about what they're putting into the ground," she explained.
She wanted to stay away from toxic products that could harm her kids and the household pets.
The reason is simple: Customers don't want plants with bugs on them.
"If the plants aren't perfect, they'll send them back," said Lisa Rosendale of Sierra Azul Nursery in Watsonville, which limits spraying insecticides to once a year.
Surprisingly, the plants from Surf City Growers "tend to be healthier," Lienhard said. "They hold up on the shelves longer."
At his store, Surf City snapdragons sell out quickly; herbs, coleus, violas and coreopsis also are popular.
So how do the McNairs do it?
The secret is "worm castings," or as Linda aptly described it, "worm poop."
Lienhard was impressed by the "Dose A Tron" setup when he visited the McNair's 4-acre farm a month ago. About 1 acre is dedicated to the nursery. Every two weeks, the drip system feeds the plants "manure tea."
Trent tried three brands of worm castings and decided California Vermiculture Worm Gold was best.
Insects smell it and "treat the plant like sour milk," according to Linda.
Her in-laws tried the mixture on roses, giving every plant the treatment except for one. The result: Every plant but that one was free of aphids.
The McNairs kept their costs down by recycling one of the chicken coops into two rudimentary greenhouses. But they have seen the fury of Mother Nature firsthand. They planted in December, put their plants out in the elements, then were horrified to see ice in the spring.
Linda feared their first crop would die but the plants survived, a testament to their hardiness.
Trent's high-tech savvy proved to be a plus. He created a business logo featuring a wreath of yellow flowers around the Santa Cruz surfing museum.
"I think gardening is an art, too," he said.
The Web site he designed allows customers to select plants based on color, watering requirements, sun exposure and height. Or they can pick up a "theme garden," with plants recommended to attract hummingbirds, resist deer or grow in shady conditions, to name a few.
In typical Santa Cruz fashion, the McNairs want to support the community, so they plan to sponsor two community gardens a year. The first will be at the Walnut Avenue Women's Center in Santa Cruz, where they are committed to donate plants for an expansion project.
Initially the couple focused on wholesalers, delivering to Santa Cruz locations once a week or shipping by UPS. But when they invited their neighbors to see what had changed at the old chicken farm, they realized they could also cater to the retail market.
Starting Aug. 19, they plan to open to the public on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Besides ornamentals, they offer non-toxic plants for example, coleus instead of poinsettia, edible flowers and herbs.
"We're taking a risk because we're charging a bit more," said Linda. "Our neighbors don't mind paying an extra 50 cents."
If other growers copy their techniques, she won't mind the competition.
"That's what we want, for more growers to think this way," she said.
Contact Jondi Gumz at jgumz@santacruzsentinel.com.
Surf City Growers
WHAT: Specializes in ornamental plants and flowers, herbs and edible flowers without herbicides or pesticides; more than 80 varieties of perennials and annuals.
WHEN: Starting Aug. 19, open to the public 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at 1975 Cox Road, Aptos.
WHERE: Sold on the Web and at local retailers Far West Nursery in Santa Cruz and Fleur, Aptos Gardens and Hidden Gardens in Aptos.
INFORMATION: www.surfcitygrowers.com or 688-1088.
