FREEHOLD – Brock Farms Home and Garden World is a family affair.
“My father is 88 and he still works seven days, 14 to 15 hours a day,” Ed Brock Jr. said of his father, Ed Brock Sr.
Brock Farms essentially began 80 years ago when the elder Brock set up a blueberry stand outside his home in Colts Neck on Matthews Road and Route 34. He was eight years old at the time. His parents encouraged his love of the land, farming and gardening.
In the late 1940s, the small stand evolved into a full-fledged business first with a location in his hometown of Colts Neck. The business grew in popularity as Brock Farms became the go-to place for produce, bedding plants and flowers, garden supplies and equipment.
In 1958, the Brock family opened a Freehold location on Route 9. Nursery products were added in the early 1960s. In 1986, the locations shifted from produce to focus on garden/landscaping supplies.
As long-time, local experts in the horticultural area, they take tremendous pride in their homegrown products. All of their plants are nurtured with care, ensuring a healthy and bountiful addition to one’s home and garden. In the midst of the fall season, mums of all different sizes are in high demand along with the pumpkins and a variety of gourds.
“We shop around for the best quality product,” said Brock Jr., who said their shopping adventures take them across the Garden State to various greenhouses and nurseries, as well as some trips out of state. “We may visit up to 28 greenhouses a week.”
The Brocks farm over 700 acres of land in Freehold, Smithburg, Deerfield, Bridgeton and Colts Neck, where their own nursery products are grown.
The Freehold location spans 42 acres with a wide spread of home décor and giftware items for all seasons. The store is a must see during the seasons especially during the “Falloween” and Christmas seasons. Staff begins decorating the store for Falloween after Labor Day and the Christmas season opens on Nov. 1.
Brock Jr. said the store during the seasons is “dressed to the nines” with initially the vision of his late mom Jean and now his sister Linda Arcoleo.
“Our biggest season is the spring,” Brock Jr. said. “Next is the Christmas season and fall is the third if I had to categorize seasons.”
Brock Jr. said his family is fortunate for how their business is faring during the novel coronavirus pandemic with people investing time at home whether gardening outside or creating a backyard oasis.
“I have to say we are really blessed to be open,” he said, noting their brave staff. “It is a very scary time and they stayed with us.”
The pandemic has caused product and material demand to skyrocket, which has impacted scheduling orders for items including garden statues, pottery, Christmas trees and nativity sets.
“We have never seen anything like this,” Brock Jr. said. “It’s not just our industry that is impacted.”
For over 60 years, Brock Farms’ commitment has always been to the customer. The Brock family is continuously researching, developing and utilizing the latest techniques in the landscape industry to serve the community.
“We try to keep up and stay on top of new trends,” he said.