Mum’s the Word for E&C Greenhouse, both literally and figuratively.
Quietly, Corey and Emily Page have started what they hope will be a long-lasting, lifestyle-supporting business on their small Morgantown Road farm.
And, for now, mums are the nucleus of that business. The Pages have grown 400 potted mums during the summer months, and they are now selling them.
It doesn’t take a gigantic income for the Pages to support the lifestyle they enjoy, even though they have four young children to support along with themselves. They enjoy being home. They raise much of their own food, and Corey goes hunting to add meat to the freezer. Emily homeschools the children, and they also “home-church,” conducting their own worship services. She gave birth to little Haley this summer at home.
Emily rarely goes to town except for occasional trips to the grocery or to visit her mom’s booth at the Logan County Farmers’ Market. She is the daughter of “The Bread Lady,” Kris Partlow, and her husband, grape grower Gordon Partlow.
Corey spends much more time away from home than he prefers. He began truck driving professionally 10 years ago when he was 21. He’s been driving for the same company the last five years. “They are good people to work for and they treat me fairly, but I always choose the shortest routes possible so I can be home more,” he says. “I want the farm to become a full-time job.”
What he terms “the farm” is only 5.3 acres, but the Pages are working on utilizing as much of it as possible in growing and producing plants.
With the encouragement and expertise of neighbor Bill Head as his guiding light, Corey constructed a 30’ X 48’ greenhouse in the summer of 2017. He has added another 16 feet to the length this year. Plans are to build two more greenhouses in the near future. The current greenhouse is heated by burning wood from trees furnished him by neighbors.
The biggest step, Emily feels, was digging a well to provide water for the plants. “I looked at the finances and realized we could not make a profit if we watered all those plants daily using East Logan water,” she says. “When we reached an agreement with a well-digging company, that’s when I realized there would be no turning back then. We were in the greenhouse business.”
That well water helped the Pages grow some 7,500 vegetable plants and 3,000 flower plugs and cuttings this year. Plans are for those numbers to grow considerably next year and in the years to come.
The Pages feel there will be much more demand for their plants beginning in 2020. Bill and Rose Head, who have sold large numbers of plants and flowers for decades, plan to retire after one more year. Bill, who is widely considered Logan County’s most knowledgeable plant producer, plans to sell much of his equipment to the Pages, who live almost in sight of the Heads’ home and greenhouses. His guidance will also be a huge plus in getting the business started and growing.
Corey worked on farms as a youngster. He learned a lot from his late grandfather, Garnett Page, and he worked on Jimmy Davenport’s large dairy operation for a period of time. “I’ve always wanted to be a farmer,” he says. “It’s hard work but it’s rewarding.”
Emily does the selling while Corey is on the road. “I enjoy customer service,” the 26-year-old says. “I worked at Piggly Wiggly for three years, for two banks and for Logan Telephone, all in customer service.”
Now she works full-time with the family business and the family—Alexis 11, Gabriel 6, Caleb 3 and Haley 3 months—both as Mom and as teacher.
Much of their time is spent with their beautiful mums now. It’s a learning experience.
“I’ve never owned a mum before,” Corey admits.
“I did. I owned a mum but I didn’t water it and it died,” Emily laughs.
These mums are healthy and seem to be thriving.
E&C Greenhouse & Farm is open Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mums are priced at $8 each, $6 each for orders of 50 or more.