Sustainability

When it began it wasn’t just a trendy marketing tool, it was a way of life. Greenhouses and Garden Centers were the original “green” movement. Green plant material, such as trees and perennials, absorb carbon dioxide and in turn release oxygen into our environment. While all trees vary in their size and absorption rates, a single tree can absorb up to 40 lbs. of carbon dioxide each year and release enough oxygen back into the atmosphere for 2 human beings.

Bob and Bonnie Thomsen established their home and business in the beautiful hills and fresh air of Collegeville, MN. Their love and appreciation for the wonders of nature brought them to the area, and it is these underlying values that have guided the growth and actions of Thomsens Greenhouse & Garden Center. At Thomsens, we feel it is our responsibility to think globally and act locally in order to maintain the precious resources that so thankfully have been provided to us.

When thinking about recycling at a greenhouse, the first item that comes to mind is plastic. Plastic pots, plastic trays, and greenhouse plastic are among the most widely used in this field. Thomsens contributes year-round efforts to the environmental front and participates in numerous recycling efforts. Many of the plastic products we use for growing are re-used year after year. Our dedication is such that we invest a considerable amount of time and labor in an annual tradition here at Thomsens; a tradition that our staff affectionately refers to as “doing dishes”. Each year we sanitize, by hand, tens of thousands of trays and containers for (re)use in the upcoming season. It’s not fun, but more a labor of love that lends a personal satisfaction year-round. Unfortunately, we are not able to re-use or recycle all of the containers used in the growing process, however, any container with the “Thomsens” label printed on it can be returned for (re)use. Due to harsh ultra-violet, cold and wind exposure, the plastic on our greenhouse must be changed every few years. We continue to (re)use these large sheets of plastic for many of our other applications, such as winter cover over shrub and perennial stock. When it is unusable to our greenhouse system, we send them to local greenhouse hobbyists for their use.

In addition to plastic, all of the cardboard, wooden pallets and aluminum waste, as a result of our growing operations, is recycled. This equates in the long run to tons of material each year that is being recycled rather than filling a landfill.

We love our surroundings here in Collegeville and with continued efforts to protect our limited resources, both on our part and on the part of the community, we can continue to enjoy Thomsens and our environment for years to come!