Edward “Jack” Jackowski and Anita Jackowski at Jack’s Greenhouse and Farm, 10 Woosamonsa Road, off Route 31 in Pennington.
A tough winter means a busy spring for homeowners who like to keep their gardens neat and attractive. Those who have seen their shrubbery beds depleted by the woeful weather of recent months may consider heading to Jack’s Greenhouse and Farm to replenish with locally grown greenery.
Jack’s blooms into view on Woosamonsa Road in Pennington, just off Route 31. Edward “Jack” Jackowski and his wife Anita are going on 20 years in business here, selling flowers, plants and trees many of which are grown on the premises. A cold spring has meant a late start for area nurseries, but Jack’s is getting into full swing just in time for people to start digging in to their yardwork.
As May approached, the greenhouse was bursting with the colors of begonias, geraniums, angelonia and more, in trays, planters and hanging baskets. For the culinarily inclined there is an ample array of herbs, including basil, cilantro and more.
When Jackowski first purchased the land, there was nothing there but the greenhouse, which the previous owner had built in the 1970s. For the first 5 years of owning the land, Jackowski concentrated mostly on fixing up the property. Today he has 13 acres at 10 Woosamonsa Road, and around 11 more acres in the area where he also grows his stock.
Working for himself, he learned farming on the fly. And with his days still stretching from morning until 8:30 at night, he learned that he didn’t need eight hours of sleep every night.
“It was just a lot of trial and error,” Jackowski said.
Jackowski credits farming for giving him his health and his tan. But it also allowed him to quit his full-time job about 10 years ago. He said he learned something new every year, and since he was growing for himself, he was free to make mistakes.
Now, he’s mastered farming enough to the point where he can have something to offer at the nursery every season. In the spring, he sells Easter flowers, nursery stock and annuals; in the summer, tomatoes, melons, peppers and watermelon; fall, mums and pumpkins; and in the winter he sells Christmas trees and wreaths and fills the greenhouse with poinsettas, before closing for January and February.
While larger nurseries purchase much of their inventory from far-off farms, most of what is sold at Jack’s has been tended to by its owners and staff. The Jackowskis say they believe in supporting local businesses.
“It helps the economy the whole way around, especially for somebody like us,” Jackowski said. “We live right here.”
The Jackowskis live on the farm with daughters Jaina and Sarina. Jackowski grew up in Titusville and attended Notre Dame High School in Lawrence. He got his nickname, Jack, while serving in the U.S. Marines.
Jackowski said one thing Jack’s has become known for is its supply of deer-resistant plants. Deer, he said, are a particular problem in the Hopewell Valley, even more so than in nearby towns.
“Deer eat 90 percent of everything out there,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of things they won’t go after.”
The business is also known as Jack’s Nursery and Landscaping—as in the website, jacksnurseryandlandscaping.com. Jack’s will do landscaping for clients whose homes are nearby. Customers have the opportunity to handpick the items to be planted in their gardens and yards.
Jack’s will also have two tables at Pennington Day, which is scheduled to take place Sunday, May 16 in the heart of Pennington Borough.
Jack’s Greenhouse and Farm, 10 Woosamonsa Road, Pennington. Phone: (609) 737-0224.
Reporting by Myles Ma was used for this story.
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