Our Humble Beginnings

A lot of you will remember us, or recognize our name which was the home of Wardell’s Haunted Hayride for nine years. Together with my friends Brian and Karen Taylor we did a hayride during the month of October as a fundraiser for different organizations. During our first two years the proceeds went the Lucas County Children Services, then for two years to Bittersweet Farms for the Autistic, and then the final years to Life Connection of Ohio, which went to the education of people about organ transplant donations. It was a lot of fun, but got to be a little too big needing up to 60 volunteers a night. We decided to call it quits and go out on top as we had a very successful run.
My life in farming started as soon as I could walk to my Grandparents farm. Every chance I got, I spent it riding on a tractor next to my Grandpa and Grandma, hour after hour. By age 7, I was driving a tractor by myself, and any time I had a chance I would head to the farm and help do what I could. As my senior year approached, there wasn’t a place for me to make a living on the farm, so I pursued my second love which was music. After graduating from BGSU in Music Education, I became a band director. I had a fantastic experience at Patrick Henry, but lost my job in 1982 due to the financial state of Ohio. I was the only band director, but the last one hired in the music department, so the first one out. At that point my Grandparents decided to get out of the farming full time, and spend their time traveling.

I was so excited to be back farming, doing what I had always loved. Not too soon after getting started I learned that the future in grain farming here was almost a thing of the past. The land around here was more valuable for development, than farming. I started specializing into vegetables and selling them off a picnic table, and the back of my pick-up along Route 24. In 1987, I put up my first greenhouse to raise vegetable plants for the field. Since there was plenty of room above the plants, we tried raising some hanging baskets. We put them out along the road with a sign and a coffee can for the money. They all sold and away we go. With a start of 480 square feet of greenhouse, I started increasing a little almost every year until today I have over 25,000 square feet in greenhouse area

During the 1980’s I also started something new for me, a family. I got married to Cheryl and was blessed with two wonderful daughters, Lisa and Melissa. They spent many hours in the greenhouse playing ,sleeping, eating, and trying to help. I remember the back pack that held them as I was transplanting flowers and working around the greenhouse. Unfortunately the marriage came to an end in the 90’s, and even though my girls aren’t currently involved in the operation, they are only a memory away.

After growing the flowers, the problem came as to how to sell them. I moved from the road and a coffee can, to a picnic table, then to wagons. That worked okay except putting away the wagons when storms were upon me. It looked like a scene out of The Wizard of Oz with flats of flowers flying through the air. Enough of that, I finally put up my first market which was just an expanded 2 car garage kit, along with 2 greenhouses for retail. As the lawn and garden boom took off, to keep up on the latest trends and products, it became clear for me to stay at the top of our industry I needed to grow. In 2002 I designed and had the present garden center put up. The old market was taken down on Superbowl Sunday, and by April 1st we were ready to open in the new building. One problem down, and the start of another. The challenge was with the extra space, with all of the new products to hit the market each year, what will my customers want and buy? It was then, and continues today with all the shows we attend to find new products. Our goal is to always be bringing in new and exciting products for our customers to see and hopefully buy.
In 2007 the newest addition to my farm was added. In July I went to West Virginia and picked up three miniature horses. Moonbeam, Moondust, and Moonshadow have given a lot of smiles around Wardell’s. They have become a real favorite of our customers to talk to and pet. Stop by and we’ll be glad to introduce them to you.

Today I still farm around 100 acres, and the market has grown into a full garden center. We operate almost year around with our four seasons of operations, spring, summer, fall, and Christmas Shoppe. We hope that you will stop in and enjoy what we have done over the last 21 years. We would welcome the opportunity to meet you, and show you around. Our business depends on you, so at Wardell’s, you’re welcome and very important to us.