Brick & Mortar Friends: Sloat Garden Centers

"HOWDY!!!"  to Sloat Garden Centers, Bean Up The Nose Art's featured brick-and-mortar-friend-of-the-week.

See that circle up at the top of the sign? (This sign is at their Kentfield, CA location.)  It says that venerable Sloat has been locally operated for over 50 years.  Whoot!!!!   

Now at 10 locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sloat nurseries started at a Sloat Boulevard corner in San Francisco back in the 1950s.  In 1962, Dave Straus began working at Sloat as a 14-year-old . . . and eventually became owner.  That is some amazing work and spirit.

Not only do Sloat nurseries have terrific facilities, and wonderful plants, pottery, equipment, gifts and other great things for sale . . . but the company also participates in a variety of awesome community programs -- many of which are featured on their excellent website.  

For example, a food drive running from May 21 to 3o . . . where everyone who brings in an unopened can or box of food gets a free 4" veggie plant . . . and is encouraged to plant, grow and harvest extra veggies to donate to local foodbanks.  

The website offers a space where gardeners' groups can advertise their programs.  And a Gardener's Notebook that lets you know what should be going on in your garden each month of the year.  

The website also offers recipes.  Explains a Gardener's Reward program.  

And gives a list of scheduled events and programs at the stores throughout the Bay Area.

And gives you an opportunity to ask the Gardener's Guru questions about your own garden. 

 
That's not all.  Along with great stores, an excellent website, and its community involvement, Sloat also reaches out to folks through Facebook and on Twitter.  (Find them at @sloatgardens.)

And at the Mill Valley, Kentfield, San Francisco and San Rafael Sloat stores . . . you can find Bean Up The Nose Art greeting cards.  YAY!  

We salute you, Sloat Garden Centers, for your excellence, savvy and determination in growing your business over these past 50 years.  For providing beauty and sustenance in your terrific plants.  And for what you give back to the community, and promote through the wonderful world of web information.  (And, of course, for carrying our goodies :)  YOU ROCK!!!

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Bean Up The Nose Art gives a big old gigantic THANK YOU to the Marin Independent Journal for featuring us in today's "Lifestyle" section (and for plugging that on the front page -- wow!!!). You can check it out here.  Thanks so much for this coverage, IJ!!!