The Ashcombe Difference
Kerri Laudig, part owner of Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouses in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, offers a closer look at the history of the garden center and what makes it so unique.
Tell us about how you started at Ashcombe:
I’ve been with Ashcombe for nearly twenty-seven years. I started working here part-time when I was in school, but I moved into a full-time retail position when I finished college in 1997. I’m now part owner and manage our gift shop and plant areas, including the houseplants, vegetables, herbs, and annuals.
How has Ashcombe grown over the years?
Ashcombe began in 1962 as a roadside vegetable farm. Our founder, Glenn Gross, was an innovator who wasn’t afraid to try something new. He always listened to his customers, which led him to expand the business and what it had to offer. Over the years, we’ve added hundreds of plants to the mix and are now a premier garden center and staple in the community here in Mechanicsburg. We’re a family-oriented business that provides not only a wealth of knowledge and quality products but also an unmatched shopping experience.
What’s your favorite thing Ashcombe now offers?
I help a lot with Fern, an old mini school bus we converted into a mobile plant shop in 2021. From the design, purpose, and merchandise, I’ve been involved with it all. I’m often with Fern on her outings, and I love getting to talk to people in the community and show her off. It’s fun and different from the usual day-to-day, and people are always happy to see us when we’re out and about.
How has community support helped the business?
Glenn was always a people person; he was interested in their stories, and in turn, people were interested in ours. Our customers span generations and often talk about coming to Ashcombe with their mothers and grandmothers when they were younger. We suffered a devastating fire in 1989 that destroyed the retail store, but we continued business in our parking lot while we rebuilt. Our community supported us through all of it.
What are some of the benefits of buying directly from a local grower?
Plants and produce from local growers are going to flourish more than those from bigger stores would because they aren’t being shipped across the county, making them far less likely to already be struggling before you can even get them home. Just as important, buying small keeps the local economy healthy. The support helps us employ people from within the community and fundraise and donate toward areas like our fire department and youth sports programs.
Tell us about your “From seed to sale” slogan:
What sets us apart from other garden centers and big-box stores is that we largely grow in-house. We employ several full-time and seasonal growers who plant all our annuals, veggies, herbs, and hanging baskets. We put a lot of care into each of our products, and we’re able to grow high-quality items because of it. I think that’s part of what’s kept us ahead of the rest for so long. We always carefully choose, plant, and maintain our plants every season, and it really shows.
Unlike a lot of greenhouses, Ashcombe stays open year-round. How do you adapt to different seasons?
Naturally, spring is our busy season, and we’re lucky to have many team members who return every year to help us with the rush. But unlike other garden centers that close after spring, we have a variety of offerings beyond plants that keep customers coming during nonpeak months. Our themed gift shop, seasonal craft classes, and café and bakery make us more of a destination spot rather than just a “store.” We’re always changing what we offer so we can continue to delight people year-round.
With spring right around the corner, what advice would you give to people who are ready to start their gardens?
Early spring is the best time to begin planning your garden, so start shopping for your seasonal seeds and gathering the different tools you’ll need now. I always recommend that people look through gardening catalogs to get inspired. Some of the first things to plant in March are pansies and early veggies like broccoli, lettuce, onions, and potatoes.
However, don’t feel obligated to grow any of those if you don’t want to. It’s important to plant the things your family loves—though it never hurts to throw something new into the mix. For instance, sunflower seeds are easy to grow and always give a big show in summer. And remember that while gardening can be a lot of trial and error, it’s worth it in the end due to the physical and mental benefits and because it can help you create new family traditions.
For more info, visit ashcombe.com