Here We Grow
moves to bigger, brighter location
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A local business specializing in plant supplies and all the accessories one could ever want for starting a garden, whether indoor or outside, has moved to a new location to better serve customers.
HERE WE GROW owners Mike and Nicole Lodge have moved their business from 36 North Street to their new store at 30 Parsons Street in Presque Isle. The new facility has better light for starting plants indoors, with plenty of room for parking and displaying flats of seedlings outside. The couple have been busy inside, setting up product displays and are looking forward to a productive growing season in Aroostook County and beyond. 
Here We Grow, owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Mike and Nicole Lodge, of Easton, first opened for business in the Star City at 36 North St. in 2011. With limited space indoors and no outside opportunities to display starter plants outside, the couple decided earlier this year a move was in order. In April a move was made to 30 Parsons St., the former Ferris Oil office building, near the intersection of Park and Parsons — with a view of former Gouldville Elementary School.
“Part of the transition was due to our desire to expand services. We already serve indoor gardeners but wanted to make sure outdoor gardeners have an opportunity to get to know the varieties we have — including numerous pots and containers and a wide variety of nutrients and fertilizers, as well as many different media for soils,” said Mike Lodge.
This year they’ve added starter plants to their lineup, growing everything themselves, starting with seeds from Johnny’s, a Maine-based company.
“We have an enormous variety of tomatoes, peppers, cukes, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, carrots and more,” said Nicole Lodge.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS at its new location at 30 Parsons Street in Presque Isle, Here We Grow offers a wide variety of indoor and outdoor gardening supplies, including nutrients and fertilizers, grow lights and planters. 
Although they can get customers seeds, Mike said they’re focusing more on seedlings than seeds for now.
With more and more people looking for ways to save money, Lodge has seen interest from individuals looking to grow things year-round on the increase.
“People are looking for ways to save money, putting a spare room to use as an indoor greenhouse or a brightly lit windowsill into an indoor herb garden,” said Mike.
“We offer hydroponic and alternative ways of growing. We work with the nontraditional type of customer. But we also have traditional farmers stopping by and asking questions,” he said. “We’ve had farmers doing winter trials for the Maine School of Science and Mathematics — folks looking at what can be started inside in the winter and transferred outside come spring.”
While the business is designed primarily to meet the needs of gardeners, some merchandise is being used in pretty unique ways.
“We’ve had customers with reptiles come in and buy heating mats. They tell us we have the best mats around,” said Mike.
Shelves are stocked with an array of nutrients and fertilizers, with bags of soil and accessories lining the walls. Flats of starter plants rest beneath windows, absorbing natural light – with grow lights available for overcast days.
“If the landlord allows, we’re considering possibly having a greenhouse in the future,” said Mike. “We may use a trailer this year, to display flats of produce starters this year.”
“This is a high-traffic area. We moved here for the exposure. There’s plenty of parking. It’s a great outdoor space, with good light inside and out,” he said.
“We have a certain amount of seedlings for this year,” said Nicole, with Mike noting this year is more “training” for 2013 at this point.
“We want to find out what people are looking for. We want the public to know they can order next year, unlike other locations that order certain plants and buyers have to settle for what’s there. As long as we know in advance, we can get the seeds and plant starters for them,” said Mike. “We get our seeds from Johnny’s, which helps support another Maine business.”
Plans include working with growers, no matter how small or how large their gardens will be and whether they’re indoor or outside.
“We’ll strategize with them and order the seeds they need. We care about people and their goals. We want to help them solve problems and reach their goals,” said Mike.
Currently the store is still operating under the winter schedule: Closed Sunday and Monday; open 12-4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 12-6 p.m. on Thursday; and open 12-4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
For more information, call 207-SOY-BEAN (207-769-2626), e-mail mastergrower@herewegrowhydro.com or visit Here We Grow on Facebook.
