By Neil Moran
For Kim and Trevor Kimber, buying a local greenhouse was a natural next step after years of working outdoors and serving their community. The couple, who served in the United States Coast Guard and owned a landscaping business in upstate New York, now serve the needs of gardeners and plant lovers in the greater Eastern Upper Peninsula.
Kimber’s Farm and Creations, located on Mackinac Trail across from the Chippewa County Animal Shelter, opened in 2021. The couple purchased the business from Don Emerson, who previously operated a pop-up greenhouse business in different locations.
“It happened upon us,” said Kim. “I was working with the Community Foundation planting the sponsored flower beds downtown and they were having trouble getting flowers during COVID and wanted to support a local business.”
Kim started to source flowers from Emerson. After some back and forth, Don Emerson finally said, “why don’t you buy the place?”
“It was a pop-up business when we bought it. People thought we were living out of a camper who showed up to sell flowers, and we’re not,” says Kim with a chuckle. “We’re part of the community.”
In a few short years, the business has grown into a well-established garden center, stocked with trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetable plants and garden decor. The couple has established close ties with Michigan-based growers.
“Kim is very knowledgeable with everything we have here,” says Trevor. “And we also have another employee who is extremely knowledgeable about plants.”
When you stop in at Kimber’s, you’ll probably see Karen Carrington tending to the plants in the greenhouses. Carrington has been in the greenhouse business since 1975 and has a wealth of gardening knowledge to share. The couple admits they often learn from customers familiar with gardening in the short-season Zone 4 region.
The Kimbers balance greenhouse ownership with full-time jobs and raising two kids in Sault Ste. Marie. Ethan, 11, and Reagan, 14, both help with the business after school and during the summer by assisting customers, wheeling plants to the checkout and loading cars.
Ethan, who greets customers and wheels cartloads of plants, enjoys his part-time job. “I like walking around and helping people out,” he says.
Kimber’s Farm and Creations opens the first week of May. A break in late July allows the couple to catch their breath and spend time with their children. They open again late August to offer products for fall, including pumpkins, mums, Halloween decorations and flowering cabbage.
The response from the community has been favorable, according to Trevor. “Everything we’ve heard has been positive,” he says. “I think we offer the best variety around. When someone comes in with a request, it doesn’t go unnoticed. If we can’t get it for this season, we’ll have it next season.”
The Kimbers have plans to eventually expand and provide an even better customer experience. “We’re definitely going to expand,” says Trevor. “We’re only in our fourth year. Fortunately for us we have other jobs, so we’re trying to put our earnings back into our business.”
Besides offering new products, they want to make things more accessible; for instance, they may pave the walking areas to make it easier for customers to navigate and also add a covered structure for shopping in inclement weather.
“We want this to be a place where people are comfortable to hang out and just walk around,” says Trevor. “We’re here to earn your business, not just expect you to buy stuff.”
Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 12-4 p.m Sunday. Follow Kimber’s Farm and Creations on Facebook. For questions, call 906-440-1102.