Comments on: Episode 110: Annie’s Annuals and Urban Tilth http://www.growingagreenerworld.com Learn, Create and Grow a Greener World Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:50:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Althea http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/comment-page-1/#comment-4340 Althea Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:10:00 +0000 http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/#comment-4340 I live in Illinois and have ordered from Annie's, for the past couple of years. The plants always come super healthy and the selection awesome! Thank you for doing an episode on this company! I have a farm so I rarely get to travel. But going to Annie Annuals, is on the top of my list of places to go one day. It makes me angry when I see people want to right off such an awesome place because of the neighborhood. For the reasons mentioned above, and I seriously doubt you are going to get 'car jacked', or have any problems in broad daylight. I never knew that Annie's was not in not the best neighborhood. And finding that out makes me want to go even more! I personally can't stand cookie cutter America! Annie's rocks! I live in Illinois and have ordered from Annie’s, for the past couple of years. The plants always come super healthy and the selection awesome! Thank you for doing an episode on this company!
I have a farm so I rarely get to travel. But going to Annie Annuals, is on the top of my list of places to go one day. It makes me angry when I see people want to right off such an awesome place because of the neighborhood. For the reasons mentioned above, and I seriously doubt you are going to get ‘car jacked’, or have any problems in broad daylight. I never knew that Annie’s was not in not the best neighborhood. And finding that out makes me want to go even more! I personally can’t stand cookie cutter America! Annie’s rocks!

]]> By: Annie Haven/Authentic Haven Brand http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/comment-page-1/#comment-3366 Annie Haven/Authentic Haven Brand Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:33:53 +0000 http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/#comment-3366 Love the tour through Annie's Annuals Thank You Annie and Growing a Greener World for the wonderful share Annie Haven Love the tour through Annie’s Annuals Thank You Annie and Growing a Greener World for the wonderful share Annie Haven

]]> By: Insider’s scoop at Annie’s Annuals… — Gossip in the Garden http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/comment-page-1/#comment-2513 Insider’s scoop at Annie’s Annuals… — Gossip in the Garden Mon, 31 Jan 2011 03:54:22 +0000 http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/#comment-2513 [...] soiree there last night, in celebration of wrapping up a long, rainy day of filming an episode for Growing a Greener World , and noticed a few things about this place that many of you may not [...] [...] soiree there last night, in celebration of wrapping up a long, rainy day of filming an episode for Growing a Greener World , and noticed a few things about this place that many of you may not [...]

]]> By: Joe http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/comment-page-1/#comment-1148 Joe Sun, 05 Sep 2010 11:27:34 +0000 http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/#comment-1148 Hi Gale. I totally agree. Annies plants and the passionate staff are some of the main reasons we wanted to feature this type of nursery. That and of course the fact that they grow so many unusual and hard to find plants, so we can keep them going. That's important. The issue with the location is really a non-issue to me too. They've been there a long time and all is well. Thanks much for your comment. Hi Gale. I totally agree. Annies plants and the passionate staff are some of the main reasons we wanted to feature this type of nursery. That and of course the fact that they grow so many unusual and hard to find plants, so we can keep them going. That’s important. The issue with the location is really a non-issue to me too. They’ve been there a long time and all is well. Thanks much for your comment.

]]> By: Gale http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/comment-page-1/#comment-1147 Gale Sun, 05 Sep 2010 05:34:40 +0000 http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/#comment-1147 I visited Annies Annuals about a month ago as I was passing along from San Jose to Sacramento. I was able to get a wonderful assortment of unbelievable plants that are healthy and strong. I do not see this quality in any of the big box store, nor in many nurserys. I was impressed! The variety is astounding, and the sample gardens provide a view of the grown plants. The neighborhood may not be the greatest but once you are inside Annies place, it is a world of it's own. The staff obviously enjoys what they do and are quite helpful. I felt safe enough and look forward to going back. It is quite an education to see these plants in real-time rather than on the website. Photos and videos cannot do it justice. I visited Annies Annuals about a month ago as I was passing along from San Jose to Sacramento. I was able to get a wonderful assortment of unbelievable plants that are healthy and strong. I do not see this quality in any of the big box store, nor in many nurserys. I was impressed! The variety is astounding, and the sample gardens provide a view of the grown plants. The neighborhood may not be the greatest but once you are inside Annies place, it is a world of it’s own. The staff obviously enjoys what they do and are quite helpful. I felt safe enough and look forward to going back. It is quite an education to see these plants in real-time rather than on the website. Photos and videos cannot do it justice.

]]> By: Christie C. http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/comment-page-1/#comment-928 Christie C. Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:20:17 +0000 http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/#comment-928 I agree with all things said here, but I would like to add my little experience with chain "do-it-yourself" types of stores. They do carry many plants, in all different sizes, and for a very reasonable price. Unfortunately, most plants are in such a pitiful state that they are almost done blooming by the time you get them planted, or they don't bloom and wither... I feel temptation to buy plants at this type of store, ( in all of their blooming enthusiasm they look promising enough) but it just isn't worth it, for my money. I order my plants from Annie's, I do not drive. Annie's plants always arrive here like I picked them out myself. Christie Colla, Annie's big fan. I agree with all things said here, but I would like to add my little experience with chain “do-it-yourself” types of stores.
They do carry many plants, in all different sizes, and for a very reasonable price.
Unfortunately, most plants are in such a pitiful state that they are almost done blooming by the time you get them planted, or they don’t bloom and wither…

I feel temptation to buy plants at this type of store, ( in all of their blooming enthusiasm they look promising enough) but it just isn’t worth it, for my money.

I order my plants from Annie’s, I do not drive.

Annie’s plants always arrive here like I picked them out myself.

Christie Colla, Annie’s big fan.

]]> By: Joe http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/comment-page-1/#comment-920 Joe Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:30:03 +0000 http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/#comment-920 Well said Silke. It's the sad truth; while acknowledging the state of our economic times, most consumers will always put price over quality to drive their purchasing habits. At least by having places like yours, Annies and the others, there are still options. That's more than can be said for a lot of other business driven out by big box compitition. And this is why we derive such joy in sharing the stories featured on GGW. It is about people and places doing good things for the planet with an empahsis on gardening. We just added you to "our" list of business heros too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Well said Silke. It’s the sad truth; while acknowledging the state of our economic times, most consumers will always put price over quality to drive their purchasing habits. At least by having places like yours, Annies and the others, there are still options. That’s more than can be said for a lot of other business driven out by big box compitition. And this is why we derive such joy in sharing the stories featured on GGW. It is about people and places doing good things for the planet with an empahsis on gardening. We just added you to “our” list of business heros too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

]]> By: Silke Vom Bauer http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/comment-page-1/#comment-919 Silke Vom Bauer Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:12:35 +0000 http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/#comment-919 And lets be real. Who can still afford to run small start-up/visionary businesses in expensive retail hubs? A nursery, such as Annie's, in Berkeley's 4th Street shopping district would have to charge double simply to afford the location. And consumers are not willing to absorb that cost. Unfortunately most consumers have been completely spoiled by Home Depot prices and compare everything else to that level. I own a sustainable flower shop with a small outdoor garden section in San Anselmo, Marin County, and often have carried Annie's Annuals for my customers. They tell me right to my face "we love your place and your ideas, but wel'll go to Home Depot to get our plants". So I salute Annie and Pilar of Sunnyside Organic Seedlings, the old orchid growers and other greenhouse operators of the industrial areas of Richmond as my business heroes. Dance to your own tune at an affordable place and the some of the masses will follow. You won't get rich, but you won't dillute your vision. Silke Vom Bauer Local Flora, Marin's "green" flower shop & design studio And lets be real. Who can still afford to run small start-up/visionary businesses in expensive retail hubs? A nursery, such as Annie’s, in Berkeley’s 4th Street shopping district would have to charge double simply to afford the location. And consumers are not willing to absorb that cost. Unfortunately most consumers have been completely spoiled by Home Depot prices and compare everything else to that level.
I own a sustainable flower shop with a small outdoor garden section in San Anselmo, Marin County, and often have carried Annie’s Annuals for my customers. They tell me right to my face “we love your place and your ideas, but wel’ll go to Home Depot to get our plants”.
So I salute Annie and Pilar of Sunnyside Organic Seedlings, the old orchid growers and other greenhouse operators of the industrial areas of Richmond as my business heroes. Dance to your own tune at an affordable place and the some of the masses will follow. You won’t get rich, but you won’t dillute your vision.
Silke Vom Bauer
Local Flora, Marin’s “green” flower shop & design studio

]]> By: Catalin http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/comment-page-1/#comment-917 Catalin Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:09:10 +0000 http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/#comment-917 Thanks for featuring positive news about Richmond. Great things are growing here! Thanks, Elayne, for the positive response to the previous post. Michelle should come back to Richmond and perhaps actually visit Pt. Richmond (which is not where Annie's is) where I bet she would be comfortable and delighted with her dining and shopping options. There's a lot to Richmond, and we're proud of Annie's, Urban Tilth, and lots of other locally-grown businesses. Thanks for featuring positive news about Richmond. Great things are growing here! Thanks, Elayne, for the positive response to the previous post. Michelle should come back to Richmond and perhaps actually visit Pt. Richmond (which is not where Annie’s is) where I bet she would be comfortable and delighted with her dining and shopping options. There’s a lot to Richmond, and we’re proud of Annie’s, Urban Tilth, and lots of other locally-grown businesses.

]]> By: Annie's Annuals & Perennials http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/comment-page-1/#comment-914 Annie's Annuals & Perennials Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:27:09 +0000 http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/#comment-914 Michelle and Joe - Thank you for the kind words! As you can probably tell, we love our city and we're doing everything we can to provide a safe, happy, critter and human-friendly environment within our gates. What happens outside of the gates, of course, we have no control over. However, I will say that in the 10 years that our employees have driven, bused and biked to our current location daily, we have never once had a problem. Our propagator rides her bike from East Richmond and has never been bothered in her commute. Many of our neighbors are gardeners AND customers who respect our business and love that we are here helping to improve the neighborhood. We provide extremely detailed directions to the nursery on our website, so people can get here in the safest way possible. http://www.anniesannuals.com/info/directions/default.asp and for folks who are too far away or feel too uncomfortable driving here, they can always mailorder plants from our website or purchase them from one of the many independent Bay Area nurseries who buy our plants wholesale. Socially and economically, Richmond needs improvement. Exercising caution is important just about anywhere - especially in urban neighborhoods. But there are also a lot of positive things happening here. Urban Tilth is a prime example. As a Richmond citizen, who is proud to live and work here, please don't write off our neighborhood as "very dangerous." It is - and can be! - so much more than that. Best, elayne takemoto Annie's Annuals and Perennials Michelle and Joe – Thank you for the kind words! As you can probably tell, we love our city and we’re doing everything we can to provide a safe, happy, critter and human-friendly environment within our gates. What happens outside of the gates, of course, we have no control over. However, I will say that in the 10 years that our employees have driven, bused and biked to our current location daily, we have never once had a problem. Our propagator rides her bike from East Richmond and has never been bothered in her commute. Many of our neighbors are gardeners AND customers who respect our business and love that we are here helping to improve the neighborhood.

We provide extremely detailed directions to the nursery on our website, so people can get here in the safest way possible. http://www.anniesannuals.com/info/directions/default.asp and for folks who are too far away or feel too uncomfortable driving here, they can always mailorder plants from our website or purchase them from one of the many independent Bay Area nurseries who buy our plants wholesale.

Socially and economically, Richmond needs improvement. Exercising caution is important just about anywhere – especially in urban neighborhoods. But there are also a lot of positive things happening here. Urban Tilth is a prime example. As a Richmond citizen, who is proud to live and work here, please don’t write off our neighborhood as “very dangerous.” It is – and can be! – so much more than that.

Best,
elayne takemoto
Annie’s Annuals and Perennials

]]> By: Episode 110… « The Compost Club http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/comment-page-1/#comment-912 Episode 110… « The Compost Club Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:58:02 +0000 http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/#comment-912 [...] http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/ [...] [...] http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/ [...]

]]> By: Joe http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/comment-page-1/#comment-911 Joe Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:17:01 +0000 http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/#comment-911 We love Annie's too Michelle as I'm sure you can tell. You raise a good point about the "prime real estate quote" in the context of your reference. My point was that I'm sure she's sitting on some valuable commercial real estate being that close to San Francisco. With so many independent garden centers struggling merely to survive, a lot of them sell out at even a low-ball offers just to get out from under the debt. Annie's clearly has entrenched herself in a wonderful niche and bless her for being able to do so in an industry that continues to get squeezed from every direction. Thanks for your comment. We love Annie’s too Michelle as I’m sure you can tell. You raise a good point about the “prime real estate quote” in the context of your reference. My point was that I’m sure she’s sitting on some valuable commercial real estate being that close to San Francisco. With so many independent garden centers struggling merely to survive, a lot of them sell out at even a low-ball offers just to get out from under the debt. Annie’s clearly has entrenched herself in a wonderful niche and bless her for being able to do so in an industry that continues to get squeezed from every direction. Thanks for your comment.

]]> By: Michelle D. http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode110/comment-page-1/#comment-910 Michelle D. Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:01:19 +0000 http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/#comment-910 Love, LOVE, love Annie's Annuals and admire how she has given back so much to the local and surrounding communities. And the gardens of the Bay Area are so much more horticulturally rich because of her fantastic palette of plants. Minor detail, but to call Pt. Richmond ( Annie's nursery location) 'prime San Francisco real estate', is hugely misleading. It's a very dangerous neighborhood. Last time we drove to Annie's we stupidly took our old vintage convertible there and were extremely anxious as we were being followed thinking that we might fall prey to a car jacking, which is not uncommon in this area. Needless to say, it's not 'prime S.F. real estate' and one should take extreme caution when driving through this area. Love, LOVE, love Annie’s Annuals and admire how she has given back so much to the local and surrounding communities.
And the gardens of the Bay Area are so much more horticulturally rich because of her fantastic palette of plants.
Minor detail, but to call Pt. Richmond ( Annie’s nursery location) ‘prime San Francisco real estate’, is hugely misleading.
It’s a very dangerous neighborhood. Last time we drove to Annie’s we stupidly took our old vintage convertible there and were extremely anxious as we were being followed thinking that we might fall prey to a car jacking, which is not uncommon in this area.
Needless to say, it’s not ‘prime S.F. real estate’ and one should take extreme caution when driving through this area.

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