Fishers are growing a growing business

Mike Fisher drives a tractor, while Chad and Cory Fisher plant some of the 10,000 trees at Fisher's Nursery located two and one-half miles north of Mineral. (Photo contributed)

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MINERAL — A father and his son planted 10,000 shade and ornamental trees five years ago are now being sold through Fisher’s Nursery.

Mike Fisher and his son, Chad, started selling trees last year, four years after planting them on a farm they bought two and one-half miles north of Mineral.

“The largest size trees are 3 inches in caliper and 16 feet tall,” said Chad Fisher. “We sell them wholesale to landscaping contractors and retail to the public by appointment only.”

Fisher, who majored in biology and environmental science in college, saw the nursery as a means to use his education.

“My dad and I researched it and decided to go with this venture,” Chad said from his home in Sheffield, where his family moved to town after living in rural Sheffield.

The 35 acres the trees are planted on are close to his dad’s farm north of Mineral.

“We have 31 different varieties of trees for sale,” added Chad. “We have maples, oaks, crab apples, flowering pears, lindens, birches, redbuds and hawthorns.”

The Fishers mainly sold their trees last year to contractors, though some were sold to local people who knew about their nursery’s location.

“We are branching out this year and widening our customer base, especially in the retail area,” added Chad.

The Fishers have attended lawn and garden shows this year in the Quad Cities and Peru to let people know about their growing business.

They expect their business to pick up more after the weather turns nicer.

The Fishers will plant trees for customers, regardless of whether it is a tree that can be dug in the spring or in the fall. The fall varieties have already been dug up with a large root ball to protect them prior to being planted. All of the trees in their nursery are drip irrigated.

“Our biggest job was planting 150 trees in a wetland restoration near Hennepin,” related Chad. “We had to later plant 50 more trees there because a flood took out many of the trees we planted there.”

The Fishers are planning a grand opening for their nursery May 3-4, when some trees will be given away and 3-inch maples will be sold 50 percent off their retail price.

To contact them, Chad Fisher’s phone number is (815) 454-2048; Mike Fisher’s phone number is (815) 454-2819. They also have a Web site at www.fishersnursery.com.

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