Rooted in Family – Inside the Tree Nursery at Hope Farms
Every tree we grow has a story — and it starts with family.
Before the greenhouse, before the flowers, and even the name "Hope Farms" even existed… there were trees.
Jon grew up alongside his father, Ken, planting rows of saplings on their land. With each tree planted, roots went deeper — not just in the soil, but in Jon's heart. These early days of digging, hauling, watering, and watching those tiny trunks grow instilled something that would never leave him: a desire to build something lasting, something lush, and something shared.
"I want to create a place where people who share the passion of plants can come share it with others and feel at home."
– Jon Zimmerman
🌱 What is Pot-in-Pot Growing?
If you've walked through our tree fields, you might have noticed something unique: every tree sits inside a perfectly buried bucket, sunken into the ground. This isn't just for show — it's called a pot-in-pot system.
Here's how it works:
A socket pot is permanently installed into the ground.
The tree is grown inside a grower pot that sits securely inside that socket pot.
The tree's roots stay protected inside the pot, while the ground keeps the temperature and moisture balanced.
It's the best of both worlds — all the benefits of growing trees in the ground plus the flexibility and health advantages of container plants.
🔎 The Benefits of Bucket Planting
1. Healthier Root System
Growing trees this way protects their roots from damage, circling, or drying out. When you plant one of our trees, it's already primed for success.
2. Easier to Transport
You don't have to deal with massive root balls, messy burlap, or broken soil — our trees lift cleanly right out of the socket pot.
3. Longer Growing Season
The pot-in-pot system protects young trees against early frosts and harsh late-season conditions, meaning we can offer you even bigger, better trees each year.
4. Lower Risk of Disease & Soil Disturbance
Each tree has its own soil ecosystem. That means less risk of cross-contamination and better overall health across the nursery.
5. Cleaner, Faster, Smarter
This method is faster to install, easier to inspect, and much simpler for our customers to plant at home. Whether landscaping a yard or planting your very first tree, we want you to succeed — and buckets help make that possible.
Whether you're shopping for shade, structure, or spring blooms, you can trust that our trees are:
🌿 A Better Investment for Your Garden
Stronger trees mean fewer replacements, more beauty, and more value added to your home or property for years to come.
💧 Water-Wise Growing
Because pot-in-pot trees retain moisture better, you get a tree that's already conditioned to thrive — even during dry Minnesota summers.
🌱 Easier Transplanting
No heavy, crumbling root balls or complicated planting steps — our trees are clean, compact, and easier to handle, saving you time and frustration.
👩🏼🌾 Backed by a Team That Genuinely Cares
From the moment a tree is planted in our nursery to the moment you take it home, it's cared for by people who are genuinely passionate about helping plants.
✨ Everything is about ready to wake up! 😃
💚 A Nursery Rooted in Passion
Hope Farms was built from the ground up — with shovels, sweat, and a whole lot of heart. Jon's dream has always been to share this space with others who love growing things just as much as he does. He wants Hope Farms to be where people come for more than just plants. He wants it to be a place where they feel like they belong.
From that very first tree Jon planted as a kid… to the ones we're preparing for you this spring — the mission has stayed the same:
