Poppa C’s Plants: A Legacy of Farming and Family
Since the winter of 1958, when my parents bought the farm, my father has been digging in the dirt, nurturing the land, and cultivating plants. Farming has always been his passion, one that has shaped his life and our family's way of living. Both my mother and father grew up in small towns near Thomas, West Virginia. After they married, they moved to Ohio to start a new chapter in their lives. My father was raised in a coal mining town, where life was hard, and self-sufficiency was crucial. In a family of 13, if you didn’t grow your own food, you bought it from the company store.
This lesson in independence and resourcefulness stayed with him, shaping the way he would raise his own family. He knew the importance of growing food, of providing for yourself, and he carried that knowledge with him when he moved to Ohio. Growing up on the farm, my siblings and I learned the same way of life. We grew our own vegetables, raised our own beef, and relied on the land. It was more than just a way of surviving—it was a way of connecting to the earth and to each other. My father was determined to keep that tradition alive, passing it down to us and ensuring that we didn’t lose the know-how that had been so crucial to his upbringing.
Every spring, my father would start selling the plants he grew in his greenhouse at our family business, Convenient Food Mart in Hambden, Ohio. Over the years, he became well-known in the area for having the best tomato and pepper plants around. People from all over the community would come to buy from him, eager to get their gardens started. But for my father, it wasn’t just about the plants—it was about the people. He loved seeing his customers, chatting with them, and offering tips on how to grow the best crops. The joy he took in helping others get their gardens going was contagious. It wasn’t just about making a sale; it was about sharing something meaningful—a love of growing and a sense of pride in producing your own food.
As the years went by, his reputation grew, and the tradition continued, with each spring bringing new faces and familiar ones to the farm. For my father, it wasn’t just about selling plants—it was about maintaining a connection to his roots and passing that legacy on to the next generation. It’s a tradition that lives on in the greenhouse, in the soil, and in the hearts of all those who come to the farm to buy his plants. Poppa C’s plants aren’t just the best tomato and pepper plants around—they are a symbol of family, resilience, and the enduring value of self-sufficiency. And through these plants, my father’s legacy lives on, helping others grow their own piece of the earth.
