By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Cade Strege is hoping to turn his love of gardening into a new business venture that offers unique flower choices with fresh vegetables to the general public.  ¶  Strege’s Stems opened earlier this summer in rural Henning and offers fresh cut flowers and vegetables in a you-pick environment to allow patrons the opportunity to select what they want to bring home. The idea to start his new business began over the winter when Strege came across information online about gardening that he found quite interesting.  ¶  “I said that looks really cool to do. I didn’t know how to start or what to do so I just started researching it a bit and put a plan together,” he said.  ¶  The Henning High School junior bought some seeds this winter and began tilling new land at his grandparents house in the country just outside of Henning. While he bought some plants, a number of perennials were donated to him this year to help get the young business started. 

While he hasn’t ever had a garden for the masses. gardening has been a big part of Streges life and both his grandparents and his mother have large gardens as well. 

“I’ve gardened at our house forever. (My family) all have our gardens so that kind of got me started with everything and I know a lot because both my mom and grandma are gardeners so I learned everything from them,” he said.

The garden itself is a mere extension of what was already in place at his grandparents, Jim and Judi Streges house, in the past. This year the garden got a little bigger as the younger Strege began to offer fresh cut flowers and vegetables to the general public. 

“They have always had a vegetable garden, but we planted 22 tomato plants this summer instead of 12,” said Strege. “We have more of the vegetables than the flowers this year. Next year I would like to do a lot more flowers.”

If the early results are any indication, Strege has found a niche with fresh flowers and vegetables in the community. He sold out of his asparagus in just two weeks and his fresh picked flowers for things like dahlias, wildflower mix, daises, sunflowers, bleeding heart bush and everything in-between continue grow in popularity as the word spreads about the new garden in rural Henning. 

Since not everyone can have a garden of their own, and in order to keep the flowers and vegetables as fresh as possible, Strege’s Stems offer a you pick feature. Those who want flowers or vegetables can come to the garden and pick their own items, which allows people to not only pick what they want for their home, but also share in the overall gardening experience.

“You can actually come out and pick them yourself,” said Strege. “I wanted families to have the experience to come out and pick them and put their flowers together.”

Strege’s Stems are located at 22799 510th Ave., Henning. For more information, contact Strege at (406) 570-7332.