Bloomingdale's Glenwild Gardens Keeps It Green

If you live in or near Bloomingdale, you surely are famiiar with the sight of Glenwild Garden Center. The business, which focuses on organic growing, got its start 85 years ago.

That's a lot of history: Three generations of the MacKenn family, starting with A.J. MacKenn, have served families in the Tri-Boro and beyond, offering gardening supplies, growing and landscaping advice and more.

And while the center has been in business for a very long time, the information its staff shares is as modern as it gets. With Earth Day just past and the public's growing concern with everything green, organic and sustainable, Glenwild Gardens' knowledgeable staff is poised to have its finger on the pulse of what's happening right now—just by focusing on the principles that Jodie MacKenn Bross' granddad promoted eight decades ago.

Bross was kind enough to help us out with a few questions so that we could shine our Patch Tri-Boro spotlight on a business dedicated to keeping the planet beautiful, healthy and green.

1. How did Glenwild Gardens get its start and become such a respected organic garden center?

My grandfather started his landscape business in 1928.  He and my grandmother added the retail business in 1956 at this location where their nursery was already in place. My father and brother are still here now too.  I deeply believe in living sustainably and doing our part to understand the damage all the chemical use in the past  60 or 70 years has done to our planet and soil (as well as air and water).  By gardening organically, or as naturally as possible, we can help reduce the usage of chemicals and make ourselves healthier.  I try to hire people who believe in the same things, so we can all help educate our customers, and each other, about these issues.  We try new products and use them ourselves.  When they don’t work, we say so and get rid of them.  We never try to force people, either.  Change takes time—I’m patient, and not a fanatic.

2.  How has the economy affected business there? Do people grow more or less when finances get dicey? 

The economy has certainly affected the business, the landscaping side more so, but not as much as the weather!  In harder times, people become more interested in edible plants, rather than ornamental.

3.  What difference does "organic" make? 

That would take a longer time to answer completely than what we have here.  However, briefly, I believe that growing plants organically helps to reduce chemical runoff and pollution (at the farm level and at home).  Chemicals kill the soil and the ecosystem contained in it.   Eating organic plants helps to reduce the chemical buildup in our bodies.  Encouraging composting instead is great for the soil and reduces waste.

4.  Any quick tips for home gardeners preparing for spring and summer? 

Stop in often and ask questions! New things are in bloom every couple of weeks, so see what looks good and try it out.  Invest in your soil—it’s the most important thing in your garden.  Take it slowly, enjoy the process, and don’t be too anxious about the final ‘look’  It’s all beautiful.  It’s all good.

5. Why the Tri-Boro? 

History!  I can’t imagine being anywhere else.  I love seeing the house my dad grew up in every day and walking the property my grandparents and great grandparents walked. I love that people come in and talk about being here as kids. We may not have the most ideal location (like on the highway), but we love our community and neighborhood.  Our family all lives in town, and I like to think we are contributing as a business as well as personally and making Bloomingdale a better place.