POST POLITICAL DIRTY WORK

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman

Recovering politician turned gardener Betty Vehrs checks one of the many different types of lilies she has growing in her greenhouse off the Parks Highway near Meadow Lakes. Vehrs, along with her family, owns Bella Farm and Garden. She is using the experience to grow out of politics and into gardening. There is life after politics says Vehrs. “Let me tell you. I have been called to run for mayor, and it’s like this. If I never knew anything about it I might say, ‘Gee that sounds interesting,’ but I know what it is like. I do not want to run for anything now.” For Vehrs, running a nursery has been a wonderful transition from politics. “I come to work, get dirty and wash the dirt off when I go home. I love what I do. It is a wonderful passion.” She said the greenhouse operation isn’t all about making money. It’s about being responsible gardeners. “We don’t want to be a giant. We love doing it down to earth and sustainable. We do need to make enough profit to continue but we don’t want to lose that personal touch.” To learn more about Betty Vehrs, Bella Farm and Garden and their organic sustainable operation see www.frontiersman.com for an audio slide show.