A Taste of Home

I was on Facebook earlier this week, scrolling through the Grass Lake Forum page, when I saw a post inquiring about local businesses that sell outdoor plants. In the comments, a woman recommended Gee Farms. She went on to describe the many things you can get there and stated that she has been going there for 45 years. I was struck by her declaration. I know the woman. We grew up in the same neighboring small town and she is younger than me (although not by much) and after I caught my breath I had to admit that I guess I’ve been patronizing Gee Farms for 45 years as well.

When I was a kid, my mom and dad planted a garden every spring and it was often jump started by a trip to Gee’s.  I wasn’t particularly interested in gardening, but I was always up for the trip when Dad would call into the house, “I’m headed to Gee’s.”  Once there, my folks would wander through the aisles and take their time discussing what they wanted to grow themselves (usually tomatoes, peppers, and green beans) and what they would buy later to can or freeze (corn, peas, and more tomatoes).  I spent my time begging my mom to buy a gazing ball (she never did) or rubbing the belly of whatever dog was wandering around looking for a patch of sunshine in which to take a nap.

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Since Gee’s is a farmers market, as well as a garden center and nursery, many items are seasonal and merchandise changes from one visit to the next.  Over the years we would take a trip to Gee’s to buy hanging plants or rose bushes on Mother’s Day, geraniums for the cemetery just before Memorial Day, and flats of marigolds to plant around the perimeter of the garden.  We continued our trips through the summer buying fresh cucumbers, zucchini and cantaloupe (which my dad always called musk melon).  I clearly remember a time we bought ten pounds of peas in the pod and we shucked peas through the evening as we watched the Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, and Carol Burnett shows.  I think I ate as many raw peas as went into my stainless steel bowl.  But it was a banner day when they bought a doughnut machine.

We often went to Gee’s on Saturday afternoon or early evening and Dad could always be talked into buying some doughnuts for Sunday morning.  If by some lucky chance the doughnut making was happening during the visit I was enthralled and stood staring through the Plexiglas barrier watching the circles of dough sizzle in the boiling oil.  My dad would order half a dozen and the heavenly smell enveloped us as I watched them put the warm donuts – with just a fringe of crunch around the edges – into the wax bags.    

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When my aunts or other out of town guests visited in the summer, we would jump in the car and head out to Gee’s.  It was the closest thing to a tourist attraction our area had to offer.  Most everyone was appropriately impressed and bought something to add to our meal later or to take home with them.  I can still hear my aunt Rose asking the proprietor for assurance that the plant she was buying would ‘be okay’ until she got it back to the Soo.

As MOH and I have a dying pine tree and an overgrown and dying Japanese maple, we took a trip out to Gee Farms today.  After musing about my years of memorable visits, I was amused to see the resident dog wandering about as soon as I got out of the car.  A beautiful weimaraner, I lightly trailed my fingertips along his back as we passed each other.  Still too early for flower planting, I walked up and down the rows of flats, still in the greenhouses, and got a glimpse of things to come.  A very helpful staff member assisted us in selecting a beautiful concolor fir and a purple leaved redbud.  And of course, we bought some doughnuts.  Sometimes you don’t have to be home, to feel like you’re at home.

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