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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-05-17, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1989. Frank Sanders says herb growing is in his blood BY LISA BOONSTOPPEL There’s a giant medicine cabinet in Blyth. It contains medication for such common maladies as stomach aches, headaches, sore eyes and colds. But when you look inside the cabinet there are no pill bottles, no prescription drugs and no shelves. In this cabinet there are dried roots, dried leaves, and a whole array of green plants growing in soil. It’s not really a cabinet, it’s Frank Sanders greenhouse and garden in Blyth. The greenhouse is the final link in a chain of events that began in Langeraar, Holland near The Hague. In this small village, 55 years ago, everyone made a living growing vegetables. Later, floricul­ ture became a successful way to earn money. It was in this little village that Mr. Sanders was taught about the world of horticul­ ture. As time moved on. Mr. Sanders worked for his brother in Aalsmeer. His brother owned a greenhouse and grew carnations and roses among other flora. In Aalsmeer, Mr. Sanders re­ members the incredible sight of 100 acres of flowers under one roof. “You pretty well fell flat on your face from the smell,’’ he said. After four years of greenhouse work, Mr. Sanders left to manage a herb farm. Here he gained the experience that allowed him to start his own business of collecting and growing herbs, in Nieuwkoop a business he’s successful at today. Mr. Sanders came to Canada after one successful summer in Holland growing peonies. That year he sold 10,000 peony plants to Canada. With thoughts of immigra­ tion already in his head, he decided there was business opportunity in Canada to grow his plants, instead of shipping them from Holland. They arrived in Canada in June, 1958. After a five year stint at Lloyd Doors in Wingham and 19 years of dairy farming, Mr. Sanders said he started growing herbs again be­ cause it was in his blood. “I wanted to go back to what I really liked doing, he said, but he adds jokingly, “slowly it’s getting more and more like work.’’ Armed with a lifetime of experi­ ence in the business and a diploma for gardening from Holland, he started collecting and growing herbs at a farm on the 5th concession of Morris. His business began to take off one day while ambling through a health food store. Mr. Sanders started a conversation with the store owner after noticing the selection of herbs displayed on the shelves, many of which he grew. “She asked me for some of the things I grew and that’s how the business started out.’’ he said. Things started rolling by word of mouth Mr. Sanders says. “If somebody wanted something, I would grow it for them.’’ Some herbs Mr. Sander’s grows are anise for colds and relaxing, angeiica for stomach aches, carro- way which he describes as “cold weather cookies and yarroway. Most of his herbs are medicinal but he also sells fresh herbs to restaur­ ants. He says selling herbs is different here. In Holland, the herbs are sold freshly cut, but here, the herbs must be cut and dried before sale. The drying process is mainly done in the dome-shaped green- A hot-bed of health WICKER, RATTAN & BURI Christmas and Country 1 n his greenhouse in Blyth, Mr. Sanders checks these dandelion leaves for dryness. He says if you are ever sick, and you can’t find anything else, eat dandelion leaves, the ‘wayside wonder’. The leaves are drying on a flat that is heated underneath by hot-water filled pipes. house. When drying herbs outside, you have to be home to take them in if it rains or gets real windy. “In the greenhouse the plants dry in two days.’' he explains. Some herbs even turn black when dried outside, he says, so it’s much more convenient to dry them inside. Since the greenhouse is used mostly for drying, Mr. Sander’s backyard is mostly garden. Here he grows the wide variety of herbs. Continued on page 20 Visit our second floor for a huge selection of Wicker, Buri & Rattan. ... We have prices that are sure to please you! P.S. Hard to find pieces are our specialty and we're pleased to order items anytime it's out of stock. 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