Growers For All Seasons

For more than 33 years, residents of Jackson, surrounding communities and throughout New Jersey have made I&G Farms, 150 Whitesville Road, their destination. Here they find everything imaginable to help beautify their surroundings.

Irene and husband Gregory (hence the I&G) had no idea that what started by the side of the road at the site of an old chicken farm, would grow into a family business that they refer to as "a way of life."

I&G Farms opens each year usually by the end of March and only closes for a little over two months in the winter.

According to I&G, 99 percent of their stock is grown in greenhouses on the 10.5 acre site, with many plants starting in January so that they are ready around this time of the year. Additionally, I&G owns and rents approximately 70 acres of land that they utilize well.

The Johnstons do a lot of research on the items that they carry and constantly look for unique and unusual things that no one else offers. Information sheets on topics that include what plants grow good in shade or sun, what hummingbirds and butterflies like and what deer do not care for, are available at no charge. Irene and Gregory’s son Jason fields quite a few questions concerning deer and says that unfortunately there are not many plants that deer won’t eat. He does report that they sell a few deer repellant products that people say yield some success.

Produce is sold on site beginning around the end of June. In July, they start planting poinsettias in anticipation of the holiday season. Around Halloween, field grown mums and pumpkins are plentiful and corn stalks are harvested and sold as holiday decor. Since I&G grows their own stalks, you can be sure that they will be fresh, not dry. Red, 6.5 inch plants are the most popular and I&G attempts to try something different with them from year to year although it’s not always easy.

Christmas trees are brought in from a small grower in South Carolina and wreaths and grave blankets are decorated at a "little Santa’s workshop in back."

Year round repeat customers are plentiful and it’s common to become friends and learn about each other’s family. New customers come from as far away as Staten Island and many are planting novices. Advice is offered without reservation and whole heartily at I&G and they take yearly courses offered for area growers that they find very educational and informative.

Like the perennials that they carry, it’s safe to say that I&G Farms will be back for many years to come.