staff

Welcome!

"Who comes up with the signs and the crazy sales?" Seriously, it's a team
effort, and everyone helps and offers suggestions! If it's in print or on the
website though, JANE has probably had something to do with it! Gleefully
recruited into starting the nursery with Dan ("we're going to do what?! But I
don't know plants!"), Jane soon figured out that her strength was in selling and
talking to people, NOT in accounting. Blessed with a great memory and
above-average people skills, she's taken the marketing and sales to new and
crazy heights, and can also "talk plants" with the best of them (that would be
Dan and Justin). Jane enjoys public speaking to all ages (and has several
interesting plant-related talks available), sings alto in the One Voice Gospel
Choir, has travelled overseas 5 times with the choir(14 countries so far!), is a
resale shopping fanatic, and bakes award-winning cookies, coffeecakes, muffins
and brownies to die for.

Dan

Justin

Aaron

Ginny

Nate

Jane

Who was that flash of dark hair and tan skin (usually accompanied by grease or mud) flying by on the
golf cart, or bobcat, or bulldozer, or running down to fix something? Probably DAN! The mastermind and
driving force behind Lodi Farms Nursery, Dan finds the unusual plants, the best deals on the basic plants,
and coordinates purchasing, shipping, growing, and where all these plants sit in the retail area. He also
keeps all 56 acres of trees growing and happy at our tree farm in Parma, and is active in the state-wide
nursery association. Dan and Rachel keep the office and financial workings running smoothly too. In his
spare time, he sleeps, and occasionally has enough time to go whitewater rafting and kayaking, which he and
Rachel have done in seven states. Dan and Jane also escape every February to Ft. Myers Beach, Florida.

JUSTIN has been at Lodi Farms...FOREVER! This fun-loving, extremely talented, hard-working guy
is family now--at least he's always here, so he might as well be! Justin is responsible for the landscape
division, and not only does the on-site landscape consultations, but draws the designs, assembles the plants,
materials, and staff needed to complete the job--then goes to the job and makes sure it's done right! He's
amazing! Justin, or "J" as we call him, is a devoted dad and husband, has his degree from Lansing
Community College, and is an expert with all phases of landscaping, including construction, plants,
installations, and can answer weeding, watering, pruning and whatever questions we throw at him.
Examples of his handiwork are all over the nursery: the walkway to the greenhouse, the greenhouse floor,
the snazzy new retail counter and countertop, and the waterfall garden are just the start. Justin is also
in charge of critiquing and tasting all the homemade baked goods that appear in the greenhouse. Does he
even have spare time? Not much!

OK, so "Aaron" is his actual name, but everyone calls him "FLAMES" because he usually has a hat with
flames on it. Flames is the amazing guy that will bring your bark, or topsoil, or stones, or trees, and
expertly set it in the exact place you requested in your driveway. He came to Lodi Farms the very day
after our previous amazing delivery guy, George, had left...we hired him that day! Flames not only delivers
and installs our trees, he also fixes the trucks and other equipment, gets the landscaping group what they
need when they need it, has been known to drive the occasional hayride in October, prefers rhubarb bread
over brownies, ignores the cats and is irritated by the dog. He is famous for his well-timed comments on
almost anything, and has the distinction of building both of the Lodi pumpkin catapults...with mixed success!

NATE came to Lodi Farms in 2009 and we're keeping him forever! Nate is the fast-moving,
ever-smiling person you'll see on the bobcat, or golf cart, or loading trees, working on the irrigation, or
general moving--always moving! Ask Nate about his new house if you really want to see him smile! He
survived the first season, including being called "Farmer Nate" by the preschoolers on the hayrides in
October, and "greenhorn" by the landscape staff, and he even survived Christmas and was primarily
responsible for tying all the trees on top of the cars...with very little complaining! Nate is originally
from Iowa, land of sweet corn, and is greatly appreciated by everyone he meets, and is even loved by the
cats. Holly the dog would like him better if he kept bisquits in his pocket. His favorite saying is "HAVE
A GREAT DAY" with his ever-present smile.

GINNY also came to Lodi Farms in 2009 and we're keeping her forever too! She relishes setting up
the beautiful plant displays in the greenhouse, organizes the shrubs and the perennial areas, and has also
organized the "miscellaneous stuff" (read: junk) in the greenhouse, much to the delight of Jane. A gentle,
soft-spoken person with a true twinkle in her eyes, Ginny helps with hayrides and pumpkin groups, AND
all things Christmas(and makes beautiful wreaths and arrangements), is loved by cats, staff and customers
alike, and would prefer her husband NOT know about the pizzas we usually have Saturday afternoons.
Ginny and Holly the dog are still in negotiations. The greenhouse has NEVER looked better--inside and
out! She's a keeper!

Jack

Jack, the ORIGINAL deep mellow voice on the phone at Lodi Farms was the full-time office manager
during the busy, crazy, computer system crashing-often early years, and handled things with calm,
unflappable ease. Jack's calm presence out in the greenhouse was always appreciated by Jane,
especially on Mothers' Day Weekend! He's taking a little time off for family obligations, but he'll be
back soon..we hope!

Rachel

WOW. When did this happen? When the retail nursery was started, Rachel was just about 3 years
old, and spent most of her time clinging to Jane's leg. Growing up in the business, she would spend her
after-school and weekend hours in the greenhouse, and referred to minivans as "friend wagons" and
played with the customers' kids! She held and loved and over-loved all the cats, all three nursery dogs,
and has gone on countless hayrides over the years! "Little Rachel" is now 22, and helps keep the
accounting balanced, when she can, while attending college online and when not riding her horses.

There's a new face in the greenhouse this year! Stop by and meet GARY, who saved the day and agreed
to work here this spring after Phil left unexpectedly. Gary has worked in a variety of jobs, including
computers with the Sony Corporation, has travelled extensively, and has even owned his own tree farm
and nursery. He is the "go-to-guy" for tree questions, as well as any other plant questions. He's very
comfortable looking up plants online, but make him go outside and show you the actual plant if at all
possible! Gary has a great sense of humor, lots of patience, is willing to tirelessly research to find the
right answer, has an uneasy alliance with Holly but is adored by Violet, and tells great stories! He's a
wonderful addition to the greenhouse and nursery staff and we're keeping him forever!

Gary