Alice Doyle and her partner, Greg Lee, were both University of Oregon students when they started searching for a place to plant their business. Together, they co-founded Log House Plants in 1976 and landed on 60 acres near Cottage Grove, featuring a log cabin hewn from the surrounding forest.
Early on, Alice devoted herself to discovering and cultivating unique plants, a pursuit that has taken around her around the globe over the years, as she fostered a network of like-minded plant enthusiasts.
“It’s the joy of the hunt,” Alice says. “Whenever we’re interested in something, there’s a whole huge market of people who are interested in the same thing.”
Each year, Log House Plants introduces new finds, along with its 2,500 varieties of annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and specialty edibles. At Market of Choice, our customers can choose from a wide variety of Log House Plants herbs, veggie starts and colorful blooms.
“It’s where I shop, so that’s very handy,” Alice says. “It’s very nice to be able to work with Market of Choice.”
Log House Plants has gained a reputation as an innovator in the industry and has played an influential role in home gardening across the Northwest. Alice, who worked as a schoolteacher in the early days while they were building their greenhouses, says she enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge of plants.
Each season is a little different, but the business has stayed the same in many ways, even as it approaches the half-century mark. And the nearly 100-year-old log cabin remains both headquarters and home for Alice and Greg. Some of their staff members have worked for them for decades and have become family.
“It’s really a great group of people that are all passionate about plants and working outdoors,” she says.
Alice still loves every aspect of her work, growing plants amid the beauty of a farm nestled in a rich Oregon forest. “Every day, we pinch ourselves that we’re able to live and work in this beautiful environment.”
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