Plug Warehouse

Today was the first "Plug Warehouse" event of the year and I was planning to go but school was canceled AGAIN and I stayed home with my grandson. The plug warehouse is a sale open to greenhouse growers and garden shop vendors held every Friday from the end of January through the middle of May at Greencircle Growers in Oberlin. Greencircle is one of the largest greenhouse operations in the country and the Oberlin location has over 70 acres of greenhouses. I went up there two years ago to get some chrysanthemum starts and had the opportunity to actually venture out into the greenhouses. Within 5 minutes I was completely lost and, if it weren't for my guide, I would probably still be wandering around looking for the way out.
The plug warehouse is a really unique experience, it's kind of a cross between a garage sale, an auction and the old T.V. game show Super Market Sweep. Every Friday they offer for sale, at a huge discount, all the plug flats that have come back on the delivery trucks throughout the week, for one reason or another. Some are partial trays, some are damaged and some are just excess. It's first come, first served so you need to get there early to get the best selection. The similarity to Super Market Sweep comes from the fact that the sale is held in a monstrous warehouse and they keep the racks roped off until the sale starts at 7:30 and, when they take down the ropes, everyone runs down the aisles trying to find specific plants they are looking for. If you're not careful, you can get trampled.
People come from all over the state and there is always a large contingent of Amish farmers in attendance. I don't usually buy a whole lot but I enjoy going just for the spectacle and to talk to the people. I hope everything works out so that I can go next week, I'm really looking forward to it.