Manda’s Plant Farm always celebrates the return of spring and summer sun, but this year is extra special: it’s their anniversary! For forty years Manda’s has served the Canal Fulton, Ohio community in a variety of ways, growing and changing, and finally blooming into the lively, colorful collective of greenhouses and nurseries, plants, and pots, and more that it is today.
In the 1950’s, Joseph Manda opened Manda’s Bait and Tackle in Portage Lakes, however the bait business could not hold his interest forever. He eventually sold the business to his younger brother, and moved to Canal Fulton. Living in this area, so rich with nature trails and plant life, he became increasingly interested in green and growing things. This interest prompted him to begin a new business venture: Manda’s Plant Farm.
With so many big box stores selling plants these days, it’s wonderful to find a second generation family-owned and operated local business. Jill, Joseph’s daughter, is the proprietor, but if you’ve ever been there, you probably already know that. She takes the time to talk to everyone who comes through her doors, and will help you to choose the plants that are right for your home or business, taking everything from the amount of direct sunlight the area receives to the acidity of the soil into account.
The selection at Manda’s Plant Farm is unbeatable. If you’re looking for flowers, you will find annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets. Vegetables? There are over one hundred varieties. You will also find herbs, heirlooms, hybrids, unique shrubs, and more. Everything is locally grown, and what’s even better is that no chemical has ever touched a single leaf or speck of soil in this greenhouse! Why ruin what nature has gifted to us with unnatural pesticides or other chemical treatments? Manda’s Plant Farm has always been, and will always be, 100 percent chemical free.
Now in its fortieth year, this family business is coming full circle. Located just across the road from Lock 4 park, a favorite Canal Fulton fishing spot, live bait has just been added to the inventory, creating the perfect union between the original bait and tackle shop and the current nursery.
Manda’s Plant Farm may well be one of the area’s best kept secrets, but not intentionally. This unobtrusive collection of greenhouses sits back from the road in the embrace of eighty acres of woods. There’s no giant billboard or garish signpost to grab your attention, but if you keep your eyes peeled as you head down Erie Avenue, you’ll catch sight of an arrow and a creative saying pointing you in the right direction.
When you plan your visit, bring along your bike, your most comfy shoes, your family (including the four-legged, furry members!), or a picnic to take advantage of the beautiful Lock 4 park, walking trails, and bike trails after you’ve completed your plant purchasing!
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and a unique and creative basket from Manda’s Plant Farm would be the perfect gift! If you arrive, and find yourself unable to choose from the incredible variety, pick up a gift certificate instead, and give mom a good reason to stop in, too.
Manda’s Plant Farm invites you to join them in celebrating their fortieth anniversary by visiting their greenhouse and nursery in Canal Fulton, and surrounding yourself with their gorgeous variety of vibrant plants! For directions or more information, find Manda’s Plant Farm on Facebook or call 330.854.2637, and keep an eye out for MandasPlantFarm.com which is coming soon!
Manda’s Plant Farm
6390 Erie Avenue N.
Canal Fulton, Ohio 44614
Phone: 330.854.2637