Kathleen Ellyn/Chieftain Nathan Slinker and Aschley Humphrey check out the tomatoes that will go in the new “farmers garden” at Alder Slope Nursery.

I went up to Alder Slope Nursery the other day to get a big flower basket for my house and learned there are all sorts of exciting changes afoot at the Slinker business. Before I left, I’d put my name on some tomatoes and peppers that are available (in limited supply) this year.

But the big news is that Pam and Randy’s son, Nathan Slinker, and partner Aschley Humphrey are learning the business with plans to take the pressure off the folks in the coming years.

That doesn’t mean Pam and Randy will be heading off to live in Arizona, however.

“We love what we do; we’ve been here since 1976, and we’ll probably never fully retire,” said Pam Slinker.

Nevertheless, it’s great to have a son who wants to continue the Slinker tradition.

“We’re learning the business start to finish,” Nathan said. “There’s been a real loyal customer base and we want to keep offering what they want.”

Those things we’ve come to expect include garden supplies, flowers in packs (both annuals and perennials) and bulbs, succulents, roses, berries, hops, fruit and landscape trees and shrubs and their famous custom flower baskets.

But the Slinkers are expanding in other directions. They’re starting a market garden this year and hope to have a market stand on Alder Slope Road. The plan is to be able to supply local residents and restaurants as well.

“Our plan is that we’ll be all organic and create our fertilizers and mulches here so we have a closed loop,” Nathan said.

They already grow from seed so they have control over the whole process and use no pesticides or herbicides that are not organic.

Aschley is thinking along educational lines as well.

“It would be neat to have a commercial space for seed trade and Master Gardener Classes,” she said.

Randy will also be continuing to make his trademark custom handmade wood screen doors.

Nathan has a master’s degree in creative writing: poetry –– which sounds like a great degree for a gardener.

He’s been a Fishtrap Fellow, has been published in a number of periodicals and has manuscripts in process.

Humphrey is a U.S. Forest Service employee and will be working this summer for the Forest Service before turning her hand to gardening.

“I’ve been introduced to gardening through Nathan and the Slinkers,” she said. “I’m enjoying it.”

As for Nathan, he believes like the garden is in his blood.

“Growing up here and playing out here as a little kid pretty much started my interest in nature,” Nathan said. “I see this as a way to keep that interest and passion going.”