Page 38 - MNLGA Free State Spring 2024_WEB SPREADS

Tim Babikow, right,
President of Babikow
Greenhouses, and his The student attends school every Friday
father, Donald, are leading and works toward a certificate. The com-
the operation into its pany pays 80% of the tuition at CCBC and
150th year of business.
Photos: Joe Bisset the student pays 20%. At the end of the
two-year certificate program, the student
receives his or her share of tuition back,
allowing the student to graduate debt-free.
“A group of us locally have put this program together to help
bring the next generation of horticulture professionals into the
industry, so we have the next foreman, grower, salesperson,
or manager,” says Babikow, who just retired from serving as
president of ALI. “It’s been a successful program. We’re on our Ornamental pepper ‘Purple Flash’ is a banker plant used for biologicals.
seventh cohort so far.”
Even though there’s no develop a team of foremen and
guarantee that the students middle-managers. That is one of
will continue to work at the the benefits of the ALI scholarship
operation that provided their program — cultivating education
internship, Babikow says it is and experience for younger mem-
worth it to foster education, bers of the horticulture industry.
training, and development
within the industry. Several A Positive
students have moved on Company Culture
to different roles in the in- Hope Geho, Finance Manager,
dustry, but still work with says Babikow Greenhouses takes
Babikow as customers. The care of its employees. The com-
internship is the beginning pany provides dinner on
of a long-term relationship. long days in the spring
“As a company, Babikow when work spills into the
has committed to these stu- evening. Tim Babikow
Teamwork Drives Success dents to help them along,” Alcea (hollyhock) is part calls in food trucks and
Babikow says. “It’s a win-
of Babikow’s perennial
ice cream trucks to show
plant program.
win for both of us.”
at Babikow Greenhouses is labor, he says, due to the rising minimum wage in appreciation for their
One of the biggest challenges facing the operation
hard work. There are sev-
eral celebrations through-
Maryland. In addition to the increasing cost, there out the year as well, Geho
This fifth-generation family business, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2025, is is a shortage in the workforce. Babikow says the op- says, such as the Spring
proud to offer top-tier customer service and honor the family legacy. eration has been successful in recruiting entry-level Tim Babikow reviews helleborus, iberis, and Fling and a Christmas
workers, but it is more challenging to identify and artemisia before spring shipping. party at Dave & Buster’s.
Several growers also maintain a vegetable garden for the
By Julie Hullett Third-generation owner Paul Babikow, who just passed Aerial View of Babikow Greenhouses staff. Amelia Sifleet, one of the head growers for annuals, and
away last year, was instrumental in bringing the perennial Donald Babikow plant tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, corn,
ot many businesses can say that they are 150 years program to Babikow Greenhouses. During his tenure, he Scan this QR code to watch drone footage of Babikow’s and more. They harvest the crops in the summer and give
old, but Babikow Greenhouses is proud to celebrate worked hard to position the company as a standout perennial 27-acre property in Baltimore, MD. This 150-year-old them away to employees at Babikow. The owners and growers
Nthis fact. Babikow, established in 1875, will celebrate grower in the mid-Atlantic region. Tim Babikow says many business has 10 acres of production space for annuals who tend to the garden enjoy giving back to the team.
its 150th anniversary in 2025. This family business boasts five wholesale operations offer annuals or perennials, but Babikow and perennials, which supply the mid-Atlantic region
generations of leaders, and every team member is grateful to has many varieties of both, making it a one-stop-shop for its from Connecticut to Virginia Beach. Drones in the Greenhouse
be a part of the organization. customers. About 75% of its customers are landscapers, and This spring, growers at Babikow are trialing drones on the
Tim Babikow, President of Babikow Greenhouses, says 25% are retail stores. fields. There are several benefits of using drones for pesticide
Babikow is one of the oldest horticulture businesses in its spray applications, Sifleet says. In her 29 years at the opera-
region. It is based in Baltimore, MD, and supplies annuals Recruiting the Next Generation tion, this is the first time that growers are dipping their toes in
and perennials from Virginia Beach to Connecticut. Tim’s Tim Babikow is one of the founding board members of drone technology.
father, Donald Babikow, started working in the greenhouses the American Landscape Institute (ALI), based in Baltimore. Tim Babikow first saw the drones during an educational event
after school when he was 12 years old. Sixty-three years later, Many local horticulture businesses teamed up to find the next hosted by the Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse
Donald still loves his job. generation of industry professionals. By partnering with the Association (MNLGA). Babikow’s integrated pest manage-
“I’ll work until I can’t anymore because I enjoy what I Sustainable Horticulture Program at the Community College ment (IPM) specialist connected Tim with the drone operator,
do,” says Donald Babikow, Secretary, who grows annuals of Baltimore County (CCBC), participating companies offer an Kirk Floyd of Kdrone Services. One of the best parts about
and pansies. internship opportunity by sponsoring a student. drone technology is that Babikow’s employees can be trained

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6 Greenhouse Grower April 2024
38 SPRING 2024• Free State News Membership Matters • SPRING 2024 39