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Biz Kids: Young Iowa Entrepreneurs

July 3, 2017 by admin

bens_lemons_waukee_farmers_market_iowa

Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy. They employ nearly half of our private sector workforce, and in the last 20 years, they’ve created 64 percent of our new jobs.

While it’s wonderful to hear kids speak of becoming doctors, lawyers and engineers, it’s also wonderful to see them taking part in entrepreneurial ventures right here in Iowa. When kids get a taste of what it takes to run a small business, they get an early glimpse into risk, profits and losses, expenditures and costs, customer relationships, and perhaps most importantly, what it really takes to earn a living.

Below are the stories of two local families with entrepreneurial kids. In the first story, you’ll read about how Ben Hughes started his own lemonade business to earn money for a new phone, but ended up getting much more out of it than he expected. In the second story, you’ll read about Iowa lawmaker Rob Taylor and his family of entrepreneurial beekeepers, and how they’re doing their part to support the bee population.

 

And who knows? Maybe Ben’s Lemons and The Iowa Honey Company will find a way to combine forces.

Ben-Hughes-Bens-Lemonade-waukee-iowa

Ben’s Lemons

Ben Hughes was 10 years old, and he was dying for a new phone. Like many parents, his father told him if he wanted one, he’d have to pay for it himself. Ben and his father happened to be discussing this at a Rotary event, and a fellow Rotarian suggested to Ben that he start a lemonade stand. But Ben knew he wasn’t going to make the kind of money he needed to buy a cell phone by selling lemonade on a street corner.

So he started a lemonade stand of sorts, but he took it a step further—he created a booth at the Waukee Farmers Market.

That was three years ago, and he’s been an entrepreneur ever since.

The lemonade recipe is their own. “My dad and I experimented with sugar water, lemon juice and normal water until we found the right combination,” explained Ben. “It’s not an exact science, and we experiment with it. We keep it mostly the same every year and tweak it just a little here and there.”

Ben makes it every Friday night before the farmers market. Sometimes it’s hard to run a business in the summer, but he gets it all done.

He gets valuable family time, too. “My dad and I can talk, and it’s a good bonding experience,” he said.

For Ben, the lessons he’s learned from the lemonade business have been transformational. “It’s made me proud of what I’ve been able to do with the money, and it’s made me appreciate what I buy, because it wasn’t just given to me,” he said.

His parents have noticed changes, too. “He can talk more easily with people, and he’s developed more social skills. He can have a conversation with people he doesn’t know,” said his mom, Shelly Hughes.

My dad and I can talk, and it’s a good bonding experience

He’s honed his sales skills, too; Ben will sell his lemonade as people walk by, convincing them to stop for refreshment.

Ben’s success is a result taking ownership in the enterprise. “He does all the work, and he’s very particular about the setup and how it goes,” said Shelly. “When I’ve gone to help him set up, I apparently don’t do it correctly—he’s very particular,” she said with a laugh.

The business has also taught him about responsibility. “He has to get a permit and pay taxes, and he’s done it all on his own. He’s learned a lot about business, and that running a business comes with hidden fees,” explained Shelly.

This may be Ben’s last year selling lemonade at the farmer’s market. Since he’s going into the 8th grade and will soon be old enough to get a job, he might try his hand at a more conventional way of making money. But fear not, there’s talk of a familial buyout. Ben’s younger brother, Asher, wants to buy the lemonade stand from Ben—and call it “Better Than Ben’s Lemonade.”

Taylor-Iowa-Honey-Company

Iowa Honey Company

Rob and Christi Taylor have been self-starters for a long time. Christi is a physician at Iowa Health, and Rob is an entrepreneur in the automotive industry, as well as a legislator in the Iowa house. The couple knew they wanted to get their two kids, Ben (16) and Will (12), involved in business and agriculture in a venture that would give them a taste of both.

“We wanted to do something that would connect our kids to agriculture and teach them how to run a business,” said Rob.

With that in mind, they decided on beekeeping. “Bees are responsible for a third of the agricultural crops in the world,” explained Christi. “If we lose bees, we’re in trouble.”

The whole family took beekeeping classes at the Iowa State Extension Lab. After completing the six-week course, they purchased their first set of bees.

“Believe it or not, you can order bees online,” said Christi. “The first time we ordered, we used pre-made hives. We were brand new at this, so we needed a hive quickly. From there on out, we’ve ordered wooden kits and put them together ourselves,” she said.

In 2015, they had four hives; in 2016, they had 16, and they now have 29 hives. “In 2016, once we had 16 hives, we decided to teach the boys how to start a company,” said Rob.

They named it the Iowa Honey Company. They built a website, got the name trademarked and had a logo made. They created Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, too.

Their hives are scattered across Central Iowa. “We have two hives in our backyard in West Des Moines, 10 hives at our property in Osceola, another 10 on the farm where my dad grew up, and the rest are in Grimes,” said Ben.

The flavor of the honey produced varies between the locations because the bees feed on different flowers at each location.

The whole family takes care of the bees year-round, tending to them in the summer and making sure they have enough food in the winter. Every Labor Day, they process the honey in their once-a-year harvest.

The first year, they pulled 40-60 pounds of honey out of each hive. Now they’re up to 70-150 pounds per hive. The family is careful to leave enough in each hive so the bees can survive the long Iowa winters, and they also put the honeycombs back in the hives so the bees can keep using them instead of needing to build new ones.

Taylor-Iowa-Honey-Company-Beekeeping

Until recently, the company’s sales have been solely through word of mouth. But this summer, they entered into a relationship with Mayberry’s Coffee Shop in Osceola, which now sells their honey on a retail basis. “They love selling it because some of the honey is from right there in Osceola,” said Rob.

Needless to say, the family has learned a lot about bees along the way. “Bees have different personalities, and you have to handle them differently, depending on the personality of the hive,” explained Will.

He also explained that bees don’t like visitors when it’s rainy or stormy, that they don’t like offensive smells, and they prefer the scent of women and children over that of men.

As for Ben, he’s learned firsthand that bees give warnings before they sting. “They die when they sting, so it’s their last resort,” he said. “They’ll head-butt you first, as a warning. If the worker bees start pelting you in the chest, then they’re not in the mood to be messed with,” he said.

Avoiding bee stings hasn’t been the only challenge faced by the Taylor family. Last year, two of their hives were stolen from their location in Grimes. It made statewide and even national news. Fortunately, they were able to locate one of the hives a month later.

Since the beginning, and through all of its ups and downs, Rob and Christi have been sure to involve the boys in all areas of the business. “We do a lot of it along with our parents—the processing, selling, feeding, and caring for the bees,” said Will. “We build and stain the hives. We do almost everything they do.”

“We sit down at the kitchen table and make all of the decisions about the company together,” said Christi.

“They help make financial decisions, and they get to see costs and expenses, and how they affect profits,” explained Rob.

“It’s been a good experience to learn how to manage a business, but also to get a taste of agriculture. It’s given us a better understanding of both agriculture and business in general,” said Will.

Ben agrees. “It’s helped me realize how hard things in life can be, but also how much support we have around us. Not just from family, but from our community. They support our business and buy our honey, and they like our business and want to keep it going. It’s taught me that anything I want to do—with enough hard work, and enough people around me to support me, I can get it done.”

Filed Under: Features Tagged With: business, city of waukee, entrepreneur, iowa, kid, kids, small business, waukee

Faces Of Waukee: Dr. Chris Zimmerman

May 8, 2017 by admin

doctor-chris-zimmerman-chiropractic-cryolife-iowa-west-des-moines

Where are you from?  

I’m originally from Sac City, a small town in Northwest Iowa.

How did you come to choose your career?  

For as long as I can remember, my family used chiropractic care as a means to stay active and healthy.  From a very young age, I knew I wanted to help others do the same, and to be able to help them do so in a natural manner still excites me.

How do you express the need for chiropractic care to an asymptomatic person?  

Pain is the last symptom to appear in most diseases, including those of the spine and nervous system.  Going to the dentist after you have pain is like going to the chiropractor after you have pain— you waited too long.  The nerves associated with the spine govern nearly every process in the body, so by preventing spinal problems, you can prevent an endless list of other diseases and problems.

Your practice has recently added cryotherapy to your services, which is still very new to Iowa. Tell us about that.  

Whole body cryotherapy is a process in which we expose a person to extreme cold for up to three minutes, which causes a shift in their body chemistry and nervous system.  The cold stimulus decreases inflammation (the root cause of virtually every human disease and pain), boosts metabolism, enhances the healing process, burns calories and fat, increases norepinephrine (which is shown to improve mental well-being), and, over time, tightens skin.  After serving over 2,000 clients, we are very happy with the results we’ve seen, and it’s a much more comfortable alternative to a 20-minute ice bath.

In this issue, we talk about the game of golf.  Care to share how a visit to Zimmerman Chiropractic can help improve a person’s golf game?  

Your score will improve!  I’ve been in practice for over 13 years and my patients who golf tell me that the number one reason they come in for chiropractic care is because it improves their swing and helps them play better golf.  I try to go into the science and biomechanics of it, but they usually care only about one thing—their score.

Filed Under: Faces of Waukee, Lifestyles Tagged With: health and wellness, healthy lifestyle, iowa, waukee logo

Faces Of Waukee: Matthew Klein

May 8, 2017 by admin

matthew-klein-central-bank-waukee-iowa

Tell us a little about your family.

Family is everything to me. My wife Angie is a dental hygienist, and we have two children. Our son Will is 13 years old and a 7th grader at South Middle school in Waukee, and our daughter Charlotte is 4 years old. They tolerate my quirkiness and they’re incredibly supportive!

Tell us about your career.

I graduated from the University of Iowa in 2001 and started out in the mortgage industry in Iowa City.  I had an opportunity in the banking industry to come to Des Moines in 2004 and took the chance. I’ve worked for a few community banks throughout the years and have been lucky to find exposure to different areas within the bank.  I’ve had successes and failures along the way, but have also discovered my passion, which is relationship development and helping people make smarter financial decisions.

You’ve worked in the banking industry for some time now.  What sets Central Bank apart from its peers?

Central Bank is a true community bank that cares about people and the communities it serves.  I think the quality and genuineness of our employees set us apart.  Our employees are committed to providing our customers with a better customer service experience.  It also helps that we offer competitive solutions and pricing for our customers.  I’ve been impressed with our common sense approach to banking and how quickly we can make decisions.

In this issue we talk about golf, and we’re told you have something of a passion for the game.  Tell us about that.

That is definitely true.  I grew up in an athletic, competitive family in the Quad Cities.  My brothers always pushed me to succeed and work harder.  I played golf in high school and worked as a bag boy in college.  Unlike team sports, golf is an individual game.  It’s a mental game and your score can often be determined by your mental toughness as opposed to skill.  It can be a frustrating game at times, but I’ve tried to adopt an “even keel” attitude, which I’ve also been able to use in business.  Golf is a great setting for getting to know a customer or prospect on a personal level.  I’m often asked if I let customers win, and my answer is, absolutely not!  I want to win every time!

Do you have a favorite course to play?

For a challenge, I enjoy playing The Harvester or Tournament Club of Iowa.  My son and I enjoy playing many of the municipal courses, along with Beaver Creek, Jester Park and Otter Creek.  As someone in the finance industry, I’m always looking for a “hot deal,” and sometimes where we play is dictated by that.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: banking, central bank, golf, iowa, waukee

Up To Par: The Solheim Cup 2017

May 8, 2017 by admin

The Solheim Cup -Des Moines Iowa

In the game of golf, patience is key. As golfer Gary Player once said, “A good golfer has the determination to win and the patience to wait for the breaks.” Well, the Des Moines Golf and Country Club has been a good player and patient enough to wait for a big break. After a long bidding and preparation process, it’s preparing to host the 2017 Solheim Cup August 14-20.

The Solheim Cup is a biennial competition between the best players of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and the best players of the Ladies European Tour (LET).  The competition is hosted alternately by cities in Europe and in the U.S., and this year the event will be played on the courses of the Des Moines Golf and Country Club.  They have the distinction of being the first 36-hole facility to host the international event, which means that both the Cup and the Junior Cup will be played on site.

According to Jim Cutter, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, the bidding process began in the fall of 2011, when the club reached out to the LPGA.  Members from the LPGA visited the course in 2012, and then the club submitted a formal proposal in September 2012.

“We worked with the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, as well as the Greater Des Moines Partnership, to put the proposal together,” said Cutter.  “We had to submit details about everything from the size of their locker rooms, power availability, phones, acres of the course—everything you can imagine about the course and the area, including the clubhouse, hotel rooms, flights, access to airports, highways, and average temperatures over the last five years,” said Cutter.

They were in competition with eight other clubs across the country, and then it was pared down to three.  They learned they would host the event in the summer of 2013, and they’ve been preparing ever since.  “It started so long ago, and now we’re only 129 days away [at the time of the interview].  It’s kind of unbelievable,” said Cutter.

ITA Group, headquartered in Des Moines, played a big part in putting the proposal together.  Since then, the LPGA has asked to use their proposal as a model going forward.

This isn’t the club’s first rodeo, however.  In 1999, the club hosted the Men’s Senior Tour.  “The crowd we attracted is still the record for that event,” said Cutter.  With the Solheim Cup, they wanted to bring golf back to the forefront, and it was an opportunity to showcase not only the club, but all of Des Moines.  “It’s one of the reasons we had buy-in and support from the Partnership and the Bureau,” said Cutter.

The preparations are well underway.  The course has undergone renovations in the last four years; they were scheduled regardless of the tournament, but they enhance the course nonetheless.  “We’ve renovated bunkers, tees and greens.  The course was ready for the tournament as it was, but now it’s even better,” explained Cutter.

They’re now in the process of building out the bleachers and corporate pavilions. The buildout will eventually interfere with normal use of the course, but for now, the course is open to members and other players who want to play.

Des Moines Golf And Country Club Solheim Cup 2017

Hosting the Cup is no small feat, as they expect the event to draw 175,000 to 200,000 visitors to the Des Moines area over the week.  Over half of those visitors will come from outside the state of Iowa, and at least 10,000 will come from Europe.  The estimated local impact is $75 million, meaning Des Moines businesses will see the benefit of all of these visitors.  According to Cutter, that figure includes restaurants, hotels, shopping, concessions, entertainment and everything that comes along with a visit to Des Moines.

The Club is not alone in its preparations.  Major corporations around Des Moines will be sponsoring the event, including DuPont, Rolex, and of course, PING.  “There are a myriad of other corporations that are helping put on the event,” said Cutter.

Far from the quiet golf competitions we see on TV, with narrators speaking in hushed tones, quietly awaiting the swing, the Solheim Cup is a little different.  In fact, Michael Whan, the LPGA commissioner, commented about treating this game more like a football game than a golf game in a recent interview.  They expect to see cheering, yelling, face paint and flags waving as fans cheer on their teams.

The reason?  Unlike the tournament at Augusta, where they count every stroke, this is match play, where 12 of the best Americans and 12 of the best Europeans play matches,” explained Cutter.  The first day, there are four matches in the morning and in the afternoon.  Matches can end before the 18th hole.  “Many matches don’t get to the 18th hole, so we want to make sure we start them off right at the tee,” said Cutter. “Fans are free to sing, yell, wave and support in any way they see fit.”

“Because we have 36 holes, we’re the first club to host the regular and the junior competition on the same property,” said Cutter.  In years past, the Junior Cup was played at a different course.  The junior competition will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday of the same week.  The Junior Cup features some of the best players in the 13-18 age range from the U.S. and Europe.

If you’re thinking about attending the event, tickets can be purchased at solheimcupusa.com.  There’s also the opportunity to volunteer, although that chance doesn’t come for free.  However, for the fee and a few hours of their time, volunteers get a ticket to the event for the day, a uniform (which includes a shirt, slacks or shorts, a rain cover of some kind, and a hat) and a meal during their shift.  Not to mention, you get behind-the-scenes exposure to the competition.  More than 2,000 volunteers are needed to rake bunkers, carry scorecards, help in the media tent and a help with a wide variety of other tasks.  

For more information about volunteering, visit dmgcc.org.

 

Filed Under: Features Tagged With: des moines golf and country club, golf, iowa, LPGA, professional golf, solheim cup, womens golf

Broheim’s Indoor Golf & Pub: Brothers, Pints, & Golf

May 8, 2017 by admin

Broheims-Indoor-Golf-And-Pub-Waukee-Iowa

When the temperatures drop and Iowa’s unpredictable weather rolls in, metro golf enthusiasts now have a place to practice their swing at Broheim’s Indoor Golf and Pub in Waukee.

“The golf off-season is our season,” said Jon Goes, co-owner of Broheim’s with his twin brother, Justin.

The NE Carefree Lane establishment opened its doors on Feb. 3.

In addition to a full bar stocked with domestic and craft beers, Broheim’s has five PGA-sponsored golf simulators where single players or groups can play up to 66 different courses. Each simulator is 16 x 16 feet, and is surrounded by lounge chairs and couches. Each simulator can be rented for $45 an hour.

There’s also miniature golf, skee-ball and a big screen gaming system available for customers.

Hours are 10 a.m. to – 2 a.m. daily. The latest tee time is 10 p.m.

Goes said his passion for golf began in 2004 when he relocated to Urbandale from Lincoln, Neb., to help run the family business, Renaissance Granite and Quartz.

He continues to serve as general manager at Renaissance during the day and heads to Broheim’s every evening and weekend, where his brother—a musician by trade —manages the bar and carries out the day-to-day operations.

“He’s the hipster; I’m the golfer,” Goes joked.

His wife, Lacey, a consultative dietician, also helps with marketing for Broheim by managing its social media pages.

Goes credits his friends for getting him into the sport.

Once he and his friends moved away after going to college together in Nebraska, they used golf as a way to get together to do something they all enjoyed.

“You’re outside. You’re with your friends. You’ve having fun. You’re getting away. You’re clearing the mechanism. You don’t have to think about anything except what you’re doing on the golf course. All the stress and pressures of the day just fade away,” he said with a smile.

Part of their “buddy weekends” involved creating fake tournaments. Whoever won the tournament trophy got to take it home, with bragging rights included, until they got together again.

They all took turns creating tournaments. Goes called his the ABC Classic for “Anheuser-Busch Classic,” which he also says is their best-selling beer at Broheim.

But when the weather got cold, the men had nowhere to go. That was until Goes’ friend said there was a pub with golf simulators in Nebraska, and they should have a winter tournament there.

He recalls walking into the business and saying, “I could do this, and I could do it way better.”  

His wife, however, wasn’t keen on the idea right away.  “It took about six years of convincing her,” he said.

The Des Moines market was prime for it. The catalyst was when the Longview Golf Centre—the Urbandale driving range under a giant dome—closed its doors for business.

“That’s when my wife agreed there was a void in the market, and we should start our own golf and pub business,” Goes said.

Broheims-Indoor-Golf-And-Pub-Waukee-Iowa-Brothers-Owners

The name for Broheim’s Indoor Golf and Pub is a play off the Solheim Cup. Goes and his friends are hyper-competitive and sometimes wouldn’t speak to one another after their tournaments. After one tournament dispute in particular, the Solheim Cup was on TV. They got the idea to call their next tournament the Broheim Cup in the spirit of brotherly love.

And the name of the future golf and pub was born.

Goes also decided they needed to do Broheim right.

“The simulators in my bar are all top-of-the-line. They’re the same ones on Golf Fix on the Golf Channel. Famous golfers play on these,” he explained.

Area golf pros like Wade Pettit and Eric Peyton also help improve the games of young gulf enthusiasts during private lessons taught on the simulators at Broheim.

While food isn’t yet sold at Broheim Golf and Pub, customers can order food into the bar. Goes said surrounding restaurants like Saints Pu —about 20 feet away from his golf pub—will deliver.

In time, Broheim will have snacks, a popcorn machine and a hot dog roller— similar to what you’d see on a golf course.

When deciding on a location, Goes said Waukee was a no-brainer.  “Waukee made sense, because it’s the fastest growing city in the state,” he said.

As part of his role as general manager at Renaissance Granite and Quartz, Goes looks at housing starts to see where the market is growing, so he knows where their product is most likely to sell. Knowing that families in Waukee typically have some disposable income was another determining factor.

Goes said while Broheim Golf and Pub is a family establishment for parents who want to let their kids test out the simulators, minors do need to be out by 9 p.m.

“I’ve had a couple parents come in and take advantage of the screen-on-screen on the simulators, so their kids can watch TV while they’re playing. A few dads even loaded their Netflix account,” he said.

Goes has been proactive about ensuring Broheim shows support for social and community causes. They’ve donated gift cards to Waukee Teacher Approval and have allowed auctions to be held at the pub to raise funds for the Veteran’s Memorial in the Waukee Triangle as well as events for private charities for families fighting cancer.

With the Solheim Cup coming to West Des Moines in August, Goes is hoping to find a way to partner with the women’s professional golf tournament.

“In the golf world, the Solheim Cup is huge,” Goes said. “I don’t know if the city of Des Moines recognizes the economic boost that’s going to occur. It’s the biggest tournament to ever come here.”

Goes plans to take full advantage of having his key demographic down the street by advertising Broheim’s around lodging and restaurants in the area.

“After (spectators) are done watching golf, they can come in to play a round and have some drinks,” he said.

And Goes plans to be among those watching. “Oh, I’m absolutely going,” he laughed.

For more information on Broheim Indoor Golf and Pub, visit broheimsgolf.com.


Broheim’s is running a special on drinks through myWaukee Deals! Click here to sign-up for our FREE local offers mailing-list to access the Broheim’s deal, along with many other local business offers around the city of Waukee.

Filed Under: Features Tagged With: bar, beer, golf, iowa, pub, simulator, waukee

The Waukee Master Builders need your help!

February 7, 2017 by admin

The Master Builders of Waukee, a middle school robotics team, wants to change the way Waukee residents and the greater Des Moines area deals with garbage.

The seven teammates (four boys and three girls) regularly compete in First Lego League challenges, where teammates practice teamwork, problem-solving, research real-world problems, and practice coming up with solutions and presenting them in front of an audience.

As part of a recent competition, the team came up with an idea for a mobile app called Trash Companion. They designed the app based on feedback from two trash-handling companies and one nonprofit which focuses on litter, hazardous waste, and community organization. All three companies were thrilled to hear about the possibility of a mobile app which will make their jobs easier.

But it’s not just the organizations who are excited about the idea – the residents of Waukee are excited, too. The Builders interviewed 100 adults in the community, all of whom shared their common questions and frustrations around trash and recycling.

The result is the idea for Trash Companion, a simple app designed to simplify the way you deal with waste.

If the app is built, members of the community can easily access pick up dates, find out what to do with hazardous materials, and learn about fees that may be attached to disposing waste. The app will allow users to set reminders, alerting them to their scheduled trash pickup. Users can find out how to dispose of hazardous waste and any fees that might come with it, as well as how to dispose of old electronics. The app will also allow users to schedule curbside and bulk pickup of items and it will include a community calendar with dates for neighborhood-wide waste disposal events.

The Waukee Master Builders need your help to bring this app to life!

In August, they entered the Verizon Innovative Learning app challenge. They won Best in State in the middle school category, and now they’re in the running for Fan Favorite.

If they win, they’ll get $15,000 and a mentorship with MIT experts to make the Trash Companion app happen.

Developing an app is an expensive and timely endeavor, and the Builders could really use your help.

You can contribute by texting the code “ITC” to the following number: 22333. The competition closes on February 14 – time for voting is drawing down.

These kids are doing something that we all wish happened more often in our schools: They are tackling real-world problems and implementing real-world solutions. All it takes is 10 seconds to support them today!

Filed Under: Features, My City Tagged With: builders, iowa, master, middle school, robotics team, waukee

10 Plants That Grow Well In Iowa

April 4, 2016 by admin

Female in the garden

Despite the cooler temps and even the dreaded snow flurries we’ve seen this Spring, it’s time to start thinking about tending to your garden and exercising your green thumb!

Determining what to plant and where to plant it, are arguably some of the toughest decisions most gardeners have to make.

Here are some recommendations on what grows well in Iowa, as well as other tips for growing a thriving garden this year.


green-beans-1018624_640Beans and Peas

Nothing screams green like peas and beans! Peas can actually be planted early and are typically grown on a trellis. Sugar-Bon is a great variety with edible pod and short vines.

Green Beans on the other hand are require warmer soil and can take up to 50 days from seedling to harvesting. Topcrop and Tendergreen are perfect varieties for an Iowa garden.

gaillardia-557400_640Blanket Flower

The Blanket Flower is a rich red or orange daisy-look-alike that blooms from summer well into fall.

These little beauties require full sun and actual attract butterflies!

cabbage-1064621_640Cabbage, Broccoli,
Cauliflower and Brussel Sprouts

The whole cabbage family is perfect vegetation for an Iowa garden.

Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Brussel Sprouts can be started early indoors and then brought outside in the spring.

Head Start cabbage, Green Comet broccoli, Snow Crown cauliflower and Jade Cross Brussel sprouts are reliable varieties.

lily-862847_640Daylily

If you are still perfecting your green thumb, Daylilies are the best flower to start with as they are nearly impossible to kill.

They love daylight, but can tolerate a drought and/or shaded areas.

Opt for reblooming varieties like ‘Lady Scarlet’ for longer blooms.

appetite-1239154_640Lettuce

Who doesn’t look forward to a crisp garden fresh salad.

Luckily, lettuce can be planted early, as soon as the ground can be prepped.

Salad Bowl and Buttercrunch are the perfect varieties to get started with.

sweet-peppers-499068_640Peppers

Peppers truly pack the punch in any garden.

These warm-season vegetables are attractive enough with their rainbow of colors to liven up any flowerbed, but can also be grown in pots.

A tip for growing peppers: Add Epsom salt to the soil as a magnesium source to really boost their health benefits!

poppy-1231375_640Poppy

It’s true, Poppies make you happy! These little blooms almost resemble crepe-paper, but bring a remarkable pop of color to any flowerbed.

Poppies are a low maintenance flower as they only require a sunshine and water.

peony-940885_640Peony

The Peony has quickly become quite the popular flower. This full bloomed beauty thrives well in full sun and well-draining soil.

Peonies will produce fragrant blooms in the late-spring and make fabulous centerpieces for any occasion.

The sweet fragrance can often attract ants. To quickly rid blooms of insects, soak them in mild soapy water.

blog_corn13Sweet Corn

Corn. It’s what Iowa is known for! Nothing says summer in Iowa like a fresh earn of sweet corn.

Candy Store is a sweet bi-color corn that holds its sweetness well after harvesting.

tomatoes-1280859_640Tomato

Arguably, the tomato is one of Iowa’s favorite garden vegetables. It’s a known fact that no other greenhouse-grown fruit produces as well as the homegrown tomato. There is really no comparison.

Tomato plants are also very versatile and can be grown in garden beds, pots, tubs and even upside down.

Water tomatoes regularly to prevent skin from cracking.


What are you most looking forward to growing in your garden this year?

Sources: Midwest Living, Garden Guides, The Iowa Gardener

Filed Under: Food, Health Tagged With: iowa, plants, produce

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