Great River Gardens closed its doors for good last week. Owner Joe Riehle named the nursery and landscaping business after the Mississippi River that bordered the farm on Hwy. 169, 10 miles northeast of Aitkin. In the end, the river proved too great for the gardens.
Just days from the closing of the retail location in Aitkin last week, Riehle said this summer’s unusual and historic flood was the final straw for the business that suffered losses at the farm and at the outlet in Aitkin, both of which were located on the Mississippi.
“It was just a hard year … we lost a fair amount at the center [in Aitkin], a lot of crops at the farm and we lost a lot of business,” Riehle said.
Riehle was working on expansion when the floods came late enough in the growing season to do substantial damage throughout the Aitkin area. Riehle believed that damage to gardens also led to a substantial reduction in retail business at the farm and at its three garden centers in Aitkin, McGregor and Crosby.
Riehle said his family has already moved from the area. He held out the possibility that the business may continue but, if it does, he said, it will be under new ownership.
“It might open back up in the spring but it will be someone else’s venture. I’m older now … it’s time for me to move on to something else. I’m not sure what that’s going to be at this point,” Riehle said.
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Great River Gardens started in 1986 and has been solely owned and operated by Riehle and his family since 1991. The 83-acre farm has been home to fruit orchards, asparagus fields, laying hens, annual and perennial gardens, shrubs, trees, greenhouses and high tunnels to grow a variety of produce.
“Our reputation is growing,” the business website states, “Our mission is to make you as successful as you can be in your outdoor growing and decorating effort. We have 25-plus years experience growing plants in the Aitkin area and have selected what we think are the best performing plants for this area to grow and sell.”
In addition to a wide selection of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, fruit, tropicals, water plants and native plants, they also carried supplies for gardeners and landscapers and had a landscaping division that did planting, lakeshore restoration and construction of patios, walls, walkways, water features and irrigation systems.
Almost all of the plants sold at all four locations were grown on the farm. Produce grown at the farm included asparagus, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, sweet corn, melons and tomatoes. People were welcome to tour the farm and pick their own produce. Over the years, the business also sold produce at local farmers’ markets and, through its Community Support Agriculture program, the business ran a subscription service for six months of fresh produce.
The farm used sustainable methods of crop production with compost, mulch, green manures, cover crops, crop rotation and a minimal amount of chemicals.
Flood of support
Asparagus fields aren’t necessarily forever and the effect of losing a signature business rippled through the community last week like so much receding flood water.
Great River Gardens employed 30-35 people during the growing season – 12-15 full-time employees and up to 20 more part-time. Riehle said he’d enjoyed the business and the people he worked with and appreciated the patronage of his customers.
“We are very sad to hear this,” said Aitkin Area Chamber of Commerce Director Matthew Hill. “Great River Gardens has been a huge supporter of chamber events like the Riverboat Days and Fish House parades and the sport and commerce show … Joe Riehle and the business have been active in the community and will definitely be missed.”
“Joe Riehle has been very supportive of initiatives that enhance our community such as the design and building of the Nutriman garden at Rippleside Elementary,” said Amy Wyant who spear-headed the project. “He donated countless hours and materials so that, for years to come, our youth will learn what it means to plant, tend and harvest food. In this age where many kids think food comes solely from a can or box, the experiential learning and knowledge that the garden provides is one of our best classrooms. Joe also added a European cultural flair during Riverboat Days by donating the design and plants to build the Fit City Aitkin Italian garden.”
Stacy Mross, manager of the Great River Garden Center in Aitkin, said the flood hit the center really hard. The center lost about 85 percent of the trees and shrubs and the business was under water for almost a month. Mross said she hopes someone or a group of people will be able to take over where Riehle is leaving off.
“In a good year, business here is amazing,” Mross said. “This is a tragedy for the community to lose not just one but three greenhouses. We have a wonderful staff and a great business. It’s really sad. It will be sorely missed by everyone who lives in the community.”
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