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PLYMOUTH, Minn. (KARE) — The operation of one of the largest fresh rose producers in the country has created a bit of controversy involving different groups of neighbors.
Len Busch Roses has been in operation in Plymouth, Minnesota for 50 years.
The issue dividing neighbors of the Busch property is a smell that is less than the fragrant flowers grown inside the vast greenhouses. A slight vinegar smell arises occasionally from piles of wood chips stored in the open on the property.
"We have 15 acres of greenhouse," says Patrick Busch, Len Busch Roses owner, "and we heat the entire thing on a year round basis with biomass fuel, which is all wood-based heat coming from tree trimmings."
The tree trimmings are turned into the wood chips, which are then filtered and fed into a large burner. The burner, in turn, pipes heat to the various greenhouses on the property.
"The problem stems from not properly covering or maintaining these wood chips," says neighbor Corby Pelto. "That produces this bad odor into the neighborhood."
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