Grown in Greene: historic Waynesburg shop promotes buying local
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Waynesburg Milling Company, on South Washington Street, is using this year’s holiday season to promote buying local. The store dedicated a table at the front of the store, called Grown in Greene, which displays local artisans and their products.
“We’ve always had different artists and things here for many years,” said Janice Blair-Martin, who handles advertising for the store. “The table itself, Grown in Greene, that was Amanda.”
Amanda Rack, store employee, noted Waynesburg Milling Company has sold locally-made products for a while, and considers any artisan who approaches the store with a pitch. However, this year is the first time employees set up a display for Christmas shoppers.
“I’m just trilled we are able to showcase people in our community,” Rack said.
To the right of the front counter, customers can view a table filled with everything from honey and beaded necklaces to a book of devotionals and wooden pens.
“It’s been a real pleasure to do,” Rack said.
The table features the following goods: a book of devotionals, written by Emma Bates of Carmichaels; beaded jewelry, made by Beth Zeth of Holbrook; a calendar created by Colleen Nelson; wooden crafts made by Alan Anderson and Walter Petros of Waynesburg; handcrafted soaps by Kimberly Cardella; and locally-made honey.
“We have been selling local products for decades,” Blair-Martin said. “The first local product that I can recall was home ground corn meal from a gentleman that is no longer with us.”
Blair-Martin said the store currently works with seven local artisans, five on commission and three that are not by commission. She has yet to encounter an artisan she wouldn’t work with.
“I make all kinds of stuff,” said Walter Petros, who has been making wooden pens, bowls and wine bottle stops for three years. “It just amazes me how it turns out, you take a chunk of wood and turn it into a bowl.”
Petros said he approached Waynesburg Milling Company to sell his stuff over a year ago, and has successfully sold one item through the store. He said the majority of his business still comes from his personal efforts.
“It gives you something to do,” he said of his craft. “I like to see how it turns out,”
Rack said Grown in Greene has been well received and she plans to continue it for years to come.
“It’s brought some attention in a good way,” she said. “That was the goal.”
The Waynesburg Milling Company has been producing livestock feed since as early as 1886, according to an article from The Waynesburg Republican. Owning and operating the mill has been a Blair family legacy since Charles B. Blair purchased the mill in 1928. Three generations later and Jeanette Blair Lindsay and her husband Don Lindsay have owned the mill since 1992.
To sell or purchase a product through Waynesburg Milling Company, call the store at 724-627-6137.