Mettowee Mill Nursery was established in 1972 by Donna, Ed and Steven Jones on the site of Marvin’s Mill. Steve grew up in Brattleboro, Vermont with his parents Ed and Donna Jones. Throughout high school and college, Steve worked at Molly Stark Nursery in Brattleboro. It was the owners of Molly Stark Nursery that suggested that the Northshire area could use a quality nursery. During a few fishing adventures on the Mettowee River in the late 60’s and early 70’s, the Brattleboro natives found and purchased what they hoped would be a great site for a nursery. Located just north of the village of Dorset beside along the Mettowee River, the nursery originally encompassed a large marsh and an over-grown cornfield. The first building built on the site was a home for Steve, built in 1975. What once existed as Steve’s home evolved into the original garden center in 1992. Expansion continued at Mettowee in 1999 when an addition was added to the original garden center to encompass a large glass greenhouse.

During the early years of operation, the nursery was open from April 1st to November 1st, as winter services were not an option at this time. The Jones boys kept busy through the winter months by working at local ski resorts. It was in 1986 that Steve and Ed decided a winter of snowplowing appeared more appealing than working on the mountain, initially introducing their winter services division. Unfortunately Ed passed away in 1987, leaving the nursery operations in the hands of Donna, Steve and Steve’s wife Lee.                  

From these humble beginnings, Mettowee has evolved into a 16+ acre, year ‘round retail business, encompassing 12 greenhouses and employing more than 35 people.