Heather Lesher Coffin, who owns East Branch Organics in Kane with her husband Tom, poses in front of her garden on Tuesday, Sept. 27. (News Photo – Lauren Yates)
KENNEDY — Before East Branch Organic Landscape and Garden Center became a reality, a suitable garden center was already in the vision of her husband, Heather Lesher Coffin.
But when she first acquired the property from Stewart’s Shops on State 9N/73 in Keene a decade ago, the garden had been abandoned for 10 years and the grass was the height of an average adult.
“It was like finding rubble.” She said.
But beneath the growth was the beginning of the new garden, which now offers landscaping services and a flower CSA, sells everything from annuals and perennials to wine and spirits, and hosts educational and educational events.
Leisher Coffin and her husband and business partner, Tom Coffin, moved to the area 13 years ago from Nantucket Island, where they did landscaping together. They were looking for something different from island life – more room to spread out, better schools for their two young children, real estate prices that didn’t break the bank. They tried Maine for half a year, but Heather said “He didn’t come.” That’s when they tried Ken, a place they’d previously visited for camping and hiking. On their first night here, Heather knew they’d made the right decision. Then, when she found the East Branch property, all the puzzle pieces of their farming future fell into place organically.
East Branch Organics will be featured here at Keen on Tuesday, September 27th. (News Photo – Lauren Yates)
Heather has been surrounded by plants her whole life – her father is a horticulturist, and she spends summers traveling with him to nurseries. One summer during college, she worked as a gardener on Nantucket Island. She studied international relations, but discovered gardening was her future. She started working at a landscaping company on the island, and that’s where she met Tom.
Heather and Tom were inspired by the landscaping company they worked with. “organic” Part of the East Branch, where all of the center’s growing practices are organic. Nantucket Island is a densely developed area with lawns everywhere, Heather said, and it was a common landscaping practice to apply chemical fertilizers to give clients the green lawns they wanted. But Heather and Tom noticed the side effects of those experiences: They saw algae blooms, dead birds, rabbits and other wildlife affected by the chemicals’ toxicity. Later in the early 2000s, when they started their own landscape business, they were among the first landscape companies to embrace organic practices. It is now illegal to use chemical fertilizers on Nantucket Island, she said.
Heather and Tom were also among the founders of Nantucket’s first farmers market, and that’s what inspired them to open Heather’s Garden Center.
“I loved the farmers market so much that I wanted that feeling every day.” She said.
Now, it’s pumpkin and pumpkin season at East Branch Organs. But in the spring, heather is at its peak – the property’s five greenhouses are stocked with plants. In summer, all plants are brought out into the open air for cool and comfortable purchases. In the winter, the East Branch sells Christmas trees and makes wreaths. Then, after the New Year, it’s back to planning for next season.
Heather Lesher Coffin, owner of East Branch Organics, wanders among the plants in the garden’s greenhouse on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Shown in the foreground are lisianthus flowers. (News Photo — Lauren Yates)
Heather’s East Branch has naturally expanded over the years, initially from one part-time employee to 15 team members in the summer. They are still expanding, and Heather is implementing a new event coordinator position.
Now Heather and Tom are venturing into a new business. Starting next week, McDonough’s Valley Hardware in Keene Valley will be the new owners and operators. They plan to continue operating the store as a hardware store, and Heather said they will have additional retail space for garden supplies.
Even when Heather tried not to follow through on her plan and move to Keene, the move still worked out, she said. Before moving on, Heather said she tried. “Pull the plug.” – She decided it would be safer to stay in Nantucket. But after that, everything went wrong. Her kids got sick, her son’s school was late and he said he had to transfer, and the rental house they found in Nantucket had a sewer break. The family decided to go back to Keene’s plan. On their first night here, Heather said she felt like she could breathe for the first time. It was before she knew there was a garden center.
Lesson learned: follow your instincts and make life happen organically.
A variety of lettuces are displayed in the high tunnel at East Branch Organs in Kane on Tuesday, Sept. 27. East Branch has five greenhouses with a variety of annuals, perennials and flowers. (News Photo — Lauren Yates)
