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Poinsettia Time Again
Ready to order?
The Christmas season starts early at Down Home Ranch. In the middle of summer, Ranchers, staff and volunteers begin the process of growing beautiful holiday poinsettias. More than 15,000 cuttings arrive in large trucks, and we whip into action to get them planted, watered and in the greenhouse. Then we wait, nurturing them during the fall months so we can send them to you in time for the holidays. These few months of growing, wrapping and selling poinsettias support Down Home Ranch year-round. Our residents put their hearts into growing full plants that hold their color beautifully and are guaranteed to have at least three large, flowering stems. The work they do and the money they earn are a big part of our long-term success.
Our organization isn't the only one that benefits. Many of our customers use poinsettia sales as an annual fund-raiser. You can purchase poinsettias for as low as $6.50 and sell them for $12-$20 each - a very profitable way to celebrate the season. Place Your Order Today! Now is the time to place your order. We've already heard from last year's customers, and new orders are coming in every day. Orders are processed in the order they come in, so reserve your Down Home Ranch poinsettias today. New customer or old friend, we look forward to hearing from you. A Ranch Tradition Poinsettias fill our greenhouses and our thoughts at the end of each year. Beginning in August with thousands of cuttings, we prune, water and care for the plants at the end of the summer and all through the autumn. But all the work pays off when we see an ocean of red blooms, and deliver these magnificent plants to our friends all over Central Texas. It hasn't been an easy road. After erecting our first greenhouse in 1993, we began to see the potential for a cash crop that could create jobs and income. After the first greenhouse was damaged in a fire, Joe Matthews, an Abilene businessman, donated five Nexus greenhouses, creating a great opportunity. In 1999, we grew 2,000 poinsettias with the help of C.O. Smith, owner of the Hill Country Nursery in Austin. He guided us through every step of the process, and soon we were experts in poinsettia production. Today, we are growing more than 15,000 cuttings from Darby Greenhouses in Jacksonville. With help from hundreds of volunteers, we have been able to grow, package and deliver these poinsettias to individuals and other organizations who sell them to raise funds of their own. Our poinsettias are one way that Down Home Ranch continues on the path to independence. They support our programs financially, provide jobs for residents and staff, and enable us to contribute to our community. Volunteers are vital to our poinsettia program. This year, Dell Computer volunteers came out to help pinch the crop. In 2008, the Ranch was very proud to host 18 different Dell groups, with over 600 people donating close to 2,000 hours of work. Thanks, Dell! To all of you who have purchased poinsettias in the past, or who have supported us with your time and labor, thank you. We wish you a terrific holiday season, and we look forward to seeing your poinsettia order soon. We couldn't do it without you.
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