When Joyce and Jim Connelley became Marshall Grain Co. owners in 2005, they were intent on continuing to serve the community with high-quality, organic products and services.

“We’re a comprehensive organic gardening service company,” Joyce said. “We serve everybody from the do-it-yourself gardener, who wants to get out there and play and dig in the dirt, all the way to the other end of the spectrum, where we're doing full service landscape design and installation for people. We also offer organic maintenance.”

Today, the business has three Tarrant County Master Gardeners on staff and is known for its organic gardening expertise. Organic gardeners can view completed projects from the Marshall Grain Co. design gallery as well as visit the store to browse a carefully curated selection of organic plants, fertilizers and bio-stimulants; insect and disease controls; soil amendments; and mulches.

Not only are all employees knowledgeable about organic gardening methods and products, they use them at home.

“It really makes a difference to the customer when you can say to them, ‘This is how I solved that problem that you're having. This is the product I used, and this is the result I got from it,’” Joyce said.

In addition to providing gardening products, Marshall Grain Co. continues to carry natural foods and treats for dogs, cats and backyard chickens to extend their lifespans and keep them healthy.

Chemical versus organic gardening

A core aspect of the Connelleys’ mission is educating the public on the benefits of organic gardening versus chemical gardening.

“You certainly can grow plants and be successful with chemical gardening. There's no question about that,” Jim said. “Organic gardening is a little bit harder, because it's not quite so formulaic and cut-and-dry. But in the long run, the plants are healthier.”

He uses a story from history to illustrate this point.

“When Rome defeated Carthage in the last Punic War, they wanted to make Carthage uninhabitable. They sowed the fields with salt, because plants can't live in salty soil,” Jim said. “Well, chemical fertilizers are carried on salts, so every time you use a chemical fertilizer, you are putting salts into the soil ... as you do this year after year after year, soil becomes less and less fertile.”

Soil depleted by chemical fertilizers lacks the ability to make nutrients plants need to stay healthy. It’s also more prone to fungus and other problems, requiring frequent treatment and fertilization. But organic systems create a more sustainable environment.

“Over time with organics, you actually end up using less product,” Jim said.

What about the cats?

Cats have always been at the heart of the Connelleys’ business. The couple joked that while people come for the organic plants and gardening expertise, they stay for the cats.

“People [bring] their kids. The parents go off to buy plants and the kids go look for the cats,” Joyce said.

The company newsletter, “Marsha’s Mews,” is named after a beloved cat who passed away. The couple’s three living cats are major contributors to the newsletter.

“I'll sometimes write articles that are ostensibly by the cats,” Joyce said. “It really resonates with people when I do that.”

Over the years, the Marshall Grain Co. team has built a strong local community, and it's not uncommon for locals to stop by for a leisurely stroll around the nursery. The benefits come full circle, enriching the gardens and lives of customers while improving the local environment.

To learn more about Marshall Grain Co. products and services, visit the website and sign up for the free newsletter.

The above story was produced by Community Impact's Multi Platform Journalist Team with information solely provided by the local business as part of its "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.