Cultivating Generations

The Story of a Dream & Gro-Rite Garden

by Justin Lane

1st Generaton

My grandparents, Rule and Mary, spent most of their lives in the quiet embrace of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Much of their legacy was carved into the soil. Gardening was not just a hobby for them, it was a way of life.

They made their living growing produce and selling it at a local stand in the heart of downtown Franklin, NC.

For my Grandpa, growing a garden was second nature. His gardens earned a reputation for being healthy, beautiful, and prolific.

1st Generaton

There wasn’t much my Grandpa couldn’t grow, but he became especially known for growing the finest tomatoes East of the Blue Ridge. You wouldn’t believe how many tomatoes he could grow off a single vine!

2nd Generation

Their daughter and my mom, Sharon, carried forward the green-thumb legacy when she married my dad, Keith. They settled on a 14-acre property in the foothills of NC.

My dad, coming from a family of gardeners himself, plowed the land, nurturing a garden that yielded a surplus of watermelons, tomatoes, corn, peppers, okra, and more.

I can remember my dad bringing wheelbarrow loads of fresh vegetables into the house for my mom to can.

2nd Generation

When I think back on that time, I can still smell the aroma of homegrown tomatoes that would fill our home.

3rd Generation

I didn't realize it at the time, but growing up around gardening left a lasting impression.

As I established a family of my own, carrying the proverbial gardening torch came naturally.

After many years of rotary tilling and traditional gardening, I began to experiment with raised-beds.Like most, life was busy and I needed to find a way to make gardening more manageable and efficient.

3rd Generation

Growing my garden in raised beds changed my whole gardening experience. Not only could I produce an abundance out of them, but my back was also a lot less sore!

The only issue I had with raised beds was that they were cumbersome and time consuming to put together. When it came time to expand my garden and build more, I found myself dreading the process.

A COMPANY IS BORN

As another spring approached, I found myself discussing this very issue with my close friend (turned business partner), Thomas. As we talked it became clear to us that there had to be a better solution.

A company is born

After countless meetings with some of the top design engineers in the country and numerous prototypes later, we finally had our dream raised bed in hand.

Now I know what you’re thinking, what makes this bed so dreamy? Well, now anyone using our beds can assemble it in less than 10 minutes, without the need for tools.

My wife tested our very first prototype and proudly put it together in just 7 minutes from box to bed.

This breakthrough marked the birth of our company, Gro-Rite, a company founded on the principle of making gardening accessible, enjoyable, and efficient.

BEYOND THE BUSINESS

Thomas and I are fathers and husbands, who cherish our families. Our shared values of hard work, gratitude, leaving things better than they found them, and doing the right thing permeate every aspect of Gro-Rite.

On our "About Us" page, you'll find more than just a business story; you'll find a testament to the importance of family and principles.

Gro-Rite, as the name suggests, is more than a company; it's a mission. The mission to create innovative garden products for gardeners, by gardeners.

Thomas and I invite you to unearth the gardener inside you, and embrace the journey of growth and connection with nature.

Join us in cultivating not just gardens but a community that values the earth and leaves a legacy for the next generation of gardeners.

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