Philadelphia and The Countryside

VisitPA.com! Wow - was happy to see that Kennett Square is listed under Philadelphia and The Countryside along with Jenkintown and the Landmark Town Communities in its Happy Holiday Shopping Guide.
Was happier when finding The Mushroom Cap in the write-up. Was this the reason someone called to verify a product called "Snack N Shrooms"? I wonder.

A few months ago a gentleman called saying that he was proof reading a couple of chapters in a book for a friend. He could not give me any details but said that it would help my business. He was calling to verify my snack product. He also said that the woman who was writing the book had been to the Mushroom Festival and had tasted the snack the year before.

Will keep you posted of course.

Creamed mushrooms for Thanksgiving dinner

When growing up and going to Thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents house there was always a bowl of creamed mushrooms on the table. It was a must for Thanksgiving dinner. I can still remember my grandmother making them - standing at the stove, stirring - making sure they were just right. They were so good.
Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year for the mushroom growers. More mushrooms are sold for this holiday than any other.

So far we are shipping mushrooms to a few customers in NY and a few in NJ on Monday for their Thanksgiving dinners. One is a repeat customer who buys for her boss who thought the mushrooms were the best present she could have received! I wonder how everyone will prepare their mushrooms for their Thanksgiving dinner? Soup, stuffing, raw stuffed with dip for an appetizer, cooked stuffed with......................, marinated or.................... So many great things to do with mushrooms!

Mushrooms are great for any meal - nutritious too!

Stop by The Mushroom Cap and find a variety of gourmet food products as well as our cooler full of fresh mushrooms! A shipment of Shiitake oil should be arriving today or tomorrow along with a shiitake tapenade!

Hope to see you soon at The Mushroom Cap. We have lots of gift basket ideas for you to choose from!

Happy Holidays everyone!

26 years ago today!

The Growing Tree is 26 years old today! The Growing Tree shares space with The Mushroom Cap at 114 W State Street in Kennett Square, PA

A back porch (because we did not want to rent space and be committed to 5 or 6 days a week), a cash box, pipes hanging from the ceiling, a book of sales receipts and friends with children's outgrown clothing is how it all began on a country road in Landenberg, PA! How to get customers? Have a friend who worked in a mailroom in Wilmington, DE give you the list of streets and their zipcodes and send a flier to new birth announcements found in the local newspapers. The list was most valuable in that the newspaper did not disclose the complete address. The mailing list eventually grew to over 2000 with Moms coming from NJ, MD, PA and DE. Post cards went out periodically for sales. The shop was only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays to start - 9:30 to 4. Then we added Thursdays - then we added another day and.......................

Eventually we had a 2 car garage with a room above for the shop built in order to get the business off of the back porch and out of the house. The business grew and grew - we had girls clothing on one floor and boys clothing on the other - garage was not used as a garage for a very long time.

In the Spring and Fall we had huge garage/yard sales in the driveway where Moms would rent space for $10. They could bring their toys and baby equipment, cribs, etc. to sell. This sale was advertised in several newspapers - amazing where folks came from.

Advantages: Work at home, no rent to pay, home with the children who were only 6, 4 and 2 when it all began. As the children grew they were not the happiest about the business being at home but having been a latch key kid when growing up I knew that what I was doing was best for them. When they became involved in afterschool activities the store hours changed so that I could attend their activities.

In 1997 the building at 114 W State Street was purchased! Excitement - we were moving the business to my home town! The Landenberg store remained open as well until July of 2000 - it was apparent that since my youngest graduated high school that year I would no longer need to be home. When requesting phone service for the new location there were three numbers to choose from and one was 610-444-8484. Could this be? Two significant events happened in my life in 1984 - my Mom passed away in March and The Growing Tree opened in November.

That phone number was a message - it was meant to be!

The Growing Tree has changed a bit. We discontinued consignments for a couple of years. Our oldest daughter, Kelleanne encouraged the re-opening of The Growing Tree after her daughter, Keira was born in 2008. Since then we have added women's clothing, shoes and accessories.

Along the way I've met and become good friends with some great people! I've had some interesting conversations with customers over the years. And the best yet is seeing some of those Moms who first visited The Growing Tree in Landenberg so many years ago come to the Kennett Square location searching out those special little items for their grandchildren several years later! It's really good to see you again! Welcome back!

Kennett Square Merchant Holiday Raffle Basket

2nd Annual Holiday Gift Basket Raffle

Kennett Square Area Restaurant and Merchant Association is having their 2nd annual Holiday Gift Basket Raffle. Proceeds benefit KARMA - this association is a not for profit organization, raising funds for marketing.

In this basket are several gift certificates to local restaurants, salons, shops and service businesses as well as gifts (diamond pendant, KSQ Blanket, Jewelry, Pottery, Mirror, Solar Goose item etc.) We started off with a basket value of over $1500 - we have gone over that estimate as we continue to recieve gifts. The raffle drawing will take place on 12/12/10! This will give the winner an opportunity to complete his/her Christmas shopping! Tickets are $3 or 2 for $5 and available at most participating shops.

Meringue Mushrooms

Ever had Meringue Mushrooms? Someone brought some to The Mushroom Cap during the Mushroom Festival this past September. Along with the mushrooms was a business card from the bakery in Pottstown where these mushrooms could be purchased. I called to place an order. When can you pick them up? That was the end of that conversation but not the end of wanting this product.

I approached Vicki at Sweet Christine's Bakery in Kennett Square not too long ago. Vicki was willing to give them try. Best of all they will be gluten free - made with natural and organic products!

Yesterday, Vicki brought her first batch - 4 cute little mushrooms in a cupcake container. She and I were both happy with the result! Soon Sweet Christine's will have a new product as well as The Mushroom Cap.

Be sure to check out the link where you will not only find out how to make your own meringue mushrooms but also find out a little bit of tradition that goes along with them.