Down to Earth Garden Center

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Down to Earth uses Vail greenhouses to sell plants and hold classes and events year-round.
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Project Details

Project Type

Flowers and Retail

Location

Eau Claire, WI

Structure(s)

Vail Greenhouses

Products/Technology:

  • 3 double doors
  • Double-atrium roof vents
  • EDDG (exterior guillotine vent) w/ 8mm polycarbonate
  • Corrugated metal kneewall (painted)
  • Twin-wall 2UV 8mm Clear polycarbonate (Double-atrium roof vents)
  • Twin-wall 8mm Clear polycarbonate covering
  • Horizontal airflow fans (HAF)
  • Lennox heaters (Aluminum)
  • Wadsworth StepUp controllers
  • Weather station
  • LOCK motors 120V-1PH (roof vents, gable end EDDG)
Front view of Down to Earth Vail greenhouses with EDDG vent and overhead doors.
Down to Earth offers a wide selection of annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs. It’s well-known for its rare houseplant collection. Photo: Jeff Smesmo

About Down to Earth

The story of Down to Earth Garden Center begins where all great ideas do—with a spark of inspiration, born from a desire to spend quality time with family while enjoying the great outdoors.

Today, Down to Earth provides more than just a place to shop for plants; it’s where visitors come to spend quality time with family and friends.

Father-and-son duo, John and Ben Polzin, started Down to Earth in 1997 to spend meaningful time together working outdoors. Today, the next generation is taking the lead, with Ben and his wife Sarah managing the retail division and cousin Dominic Paull and his wife Lindsey running the landscape division.

Located in Eau Claire, WI, the garden center offers a wide selection of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, and more.

Down to Earth boasts having the best rare houseplant selection in Chippewa Valley. It also has a full-service landscape department with design, installation, and maintenance services.

You’ll also find an impressive collection of garden accessories, ranging from statuary and fountains to outdoor pottery and metal art.

Refuel at the Five & Two Café and Local Market when you need a break, which serves breakfast and lunch. Then, shop for fresh produce and other local groceries to enjoy at home.

The Mustard Seed Boutique offers trendy clothing and accessories for women. John Scott Men’s Apparel provides men with semi-casual wear, footwear, leather goods, and more.

Down to Earth offers online shopping if you can’t visit in person. You can choose from various houseplants, seed supplies, pottery, and houseplant accessories.

Expansion is a natural part of any thriving business. With its manufacturing and design capabilities, Prospiant supplied both the design and materials for Down to Earth’s most recent expansion, which added 5,810 square feet of greenhouse space.

Down to Earth uses Vail greenhouses to sell plants and hold classes and events year-round.

The Greenhouses

Down to Earth built two gutter-connected Vail-style greenhouses. The greenhouses are 41’6” wide and 70’ long, with a 10-foot under-gutter height. They have 10-foot bay spacing and 11 purlin runs per house. 

Double-atrium roof vents, EDDG vents, and HAF fans provide ventilation and keep air flowing throughout the greenhouses. When the greenhouses need heat, two Lennox heaters handle the job.

A Wadsworth StepUp Controller and weather station automate everything to maintain a healthy plant environment and free staff time up for other tasks.

In addition to caring for and selling plants in its greenhouses, the Down to Earth staff also uses the space to hold classes and events year-round, including a Winter Farmers’ Market, Flowers and Food Trucks, Greenhouse Games, and Greenhouse Gallery: An Evening of Art.

Three double doors and an overhead door allow staff to easily set up for classes and events and move plants in and out of the greenhouses.

Down to Earth prides itself on its quality products and excellent customer service. Stop by when you’re in the area to find everything you need for your garden, plus a lot more.

Got big plans for your garden center or greenhouses? Prospiant can help with everything from design to materials and construction. Find everything you need under one roof for your retail garden center. Reach out today to get started!

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