Gram’s Garden: Growing a family business in the community

Gram’s Garden is carrying on a legacy of gardening in Alaska. The grand opening of their greenhouse in Palmer across from the Alaska State Fairgrounds is Friday, May 2 through Sunday, May 4.

From raising flowers and vegetables, to cultivating a passion for growing things in Alaska, owners Aaaron and Rebecca Rudd are carrying on Aaron’s grandmother Doris Holland’s love for greenhouse gardening.

“I grew up in her greenhouse and she taught me everything from planting to harvesting,” Aaron said. “I've really grown to love Alaska Summers and gardening and decided to carry on that legacy.”

Holland was born and raised in California and moved to Alaska with her husband and two daughters. She was an avid gardener, Aaron explained, and owned greenhouses wherever she lived. As he grew up, Aaron said that Holland would teach him how to garden in her glass greenhouse in Anchorage that she was well-known for her greenhouse in her neighborhood.

“Everybody always flocked to her house to buy their starts,” Aaron said.

Gram’s Garden is located on the same land as Palmer Coffee Co. Aaron explained that the greenhouse and gardening business had been an idea he had for a while and he and his family were looking to expand their garden from their home into something bigger. The Rudd’s enjoy Palmer and wanted to grow their business there.

“One of our mottos we have with our greenhouse is to help keep Palmer beautiful, help keep the valley beautiful,” Aaron said.

The project has been in the works for over a year and a half. They purchased the greenhouse, a large 36 x 90 foot rigid structure with eight foot walls and hard plastic walls and a soft plastic roof, from a family friend in the Butte. They stored it until they were able to purchase the land on the and as soon as they could, they began to break ground on the project. With work from friends and a lot of sweat equity, the Rudd family was able to get the greenhouse buttoned up before winter so they could work on the inside.

Now hooked up with electricity, heat and water, the greenhouse is full of flower starts, roughly 350 hanging baskets and vegetable starts. Aaron explained that his family has been working on the plants for the past month and a half to prepare for the grand opening in May. He said that the whole process has been a learning curve ever since the beginning.

“It’s been really exciting,” Aaron said. “I’ve been growing flowers for a long time, but never on this scale. It’s been a little bit of a learning curve for myself and my family as well. But it’s been really exciting to see everything grow. I love getting my hands dirty and getting them in the soil.”

The Rudd’s will be selling starts and hanging baskets initially. Whenever they sell out, Aaron said they will be done for the season. Depending on how the season goes will determine what they do with the greenhouse and the business in the future. Aaron said they anticipate being open Wednesday-Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

What they are looking forward to most is becoming a larger part of their community, Aaron said. As someone who loves gardening and sharing his passion for growing with others, Aaron and his family are excited to bring a piece of happiness to every customer that visits their greenhouse. He said they’ve already received so much support and interest from the community and are excited to open to the public.

“We’re beyond excited for this season,” Aaron said.

Although his grandmother passed away in 2016, Aaron said he still feels like she’s with him every time he is in the greenhouse. His grandfather, who is 98, has visited the greenhouse during construction and has given his stamp of approval and is excited that Aaron is carrying on the family legacy.

“It’s been a little difficult, just a lot of memories that always come back everyday I step in there,” Aaron said. “It’s been really special and I think she’d be extremely excited for us.”