COOK’S GREENHOUSES

 Home Grown Pride is a quilt pattern developed through a combined effort of Sandee Cook, co-owner of Cook’s Greenhouses, and friends Kimberly Schneider, artist and Downtown Johnson City business owner, and Lynn Frierson, textile artist and quilter.  Sandee enlisted her friends’ help to accomplish her goal of representing garden/plant growth and tradition in the design of a quilt square for display at her greenhouse operation in Greene County.  She feels this has been accomplished in that the design depicts home grown American pride, with the basket of growing plants and incorporating a representation of the American Flag.  

Sandee and her husband, Steve, moved to Northeast Tennessee in 2000 and found what they were looking for—some flat land as well as gently rolling hills with a view of the mountains.  Their dream was to have a catfish pond or two, and to build a greenhouse.  Sandee and Steve, and their oldest son, Eric Ensign, built the greenhouse structures themselves, with electrical work done by Future Builders, Inc. of Greeneville. The greenhouse operation began in 2001.  Cook’s Greenhouses offers heirloom tomatoes, herbs (both medicinal and culinary), peppers, annuals and ornamental grasses.  

The Cooks’ goal is to raise premium quality bedding plants for families carrying on the tradition of raising their own food, as well as assisting the beginning gardener in taking control of the quality of their food by educating them in all aspects of gardening.  In the Market Shed next to the greenhouse, free educational workshops are held on soil preparation, designing, planting and maintaining the garden, as well as preparing and preserving the harvest.  Sandee notes, “There has never been a time in history when knowing where your food is coming from has been more important, and home gardeners are taking great pride in producing premium quality food for their families.”

 Safety & Respecting Private Property

When viewing and enjoying the Quilt Trail use caution when slowing or stopping near a site.  Stopping along busy roads can be dangerous and illegal.  All sites are on private property and should be viewed from the public road unless otherwise indicated at the site if it is a business open to the public.   We are indebted to our barn hosts for their generosity.