by Justin Yates
The landscape couldn’t be more beautiful when combining Grass Plus, Inc. with Utah’s Ogden Valley. As a full-scale landscaping company, Grass Plus, Inc. has had its headquarters in Ogden Valley since 2003 and has been doing business since 1993. They have gone far and wide, expanding their reach to many areas in Utah. They have also done work in several surrounding states. Wherever they have been, Grass Plus, Inc. has been “oohing” and “awing” customers and passersby over the years with their landscape designs and gorgeous work. They go the extra mile, put forth that additional effort, and incorporate their unique and unprecedented touch wherever they go. Needless to say, they have fun while doing it. With a reputation that has won the trust of many, they can tell you with a smile and confidence that shines with vigor, “In the end you’ll be happy with what you have.”
Chris (Christine) and Travis Poulson are the owners and originators of Grass Plus, Inc. Born and raised in Eden, UT, Travis started doing landscape work when he was sixteen. By eighteen, he was doing out-of-state projects. He eventually met Chris, and they were married soon after. In time they were employed at a local landscaping company, Chris at the desk and Travis out on the job. However, having the blood of determination and spunk in their veins, they set off on a wing and a prayer to start on their own. On May 15, 1993, with just one residential and two industrial projects lined up, they began. The rest is history.
One of Grass Plus’s trademarks is their dedication to quality, which evidently rubs off on people. Chris, who is president of the company, asserts that taking the easy and cheap way out is not their style: “We’re definitely a no-cut-corner company.” The evidence speaks just as loudly: the majority of their work comes from word-of-mouth referrals, and not from being listed as the lowest bid. Their motto is “Setting the Standard,” and they certainly practice what they preach.
Grass Plus, Inc. doesn’t hire subcontractors, so they can work with customers directly and make sure everything is done right and in accordance with the standard. They do rock walls, water falls, river beds, fire pits, excavating, maintenance, seeding, reclamation, general landscaping, and patios, just to name a few. They have also helped with several state projects.
Grass Plus members get to share their artistic talents with customers. They help in the designing and creation of landscapes that people will experience for years to come. “To us, work is fun,” admits Amy, Travis’s sister and corporate secretary of the company. Chris loves being able to drive by completed projects and know they had a part in it: “It is extremely rewarding, especially when homeowners are happy with you.” Most customers have enough confidence in Grass Plus that they can say, “just make it pretty,” and it is done. One couple, The Wongs, with a residence at Bear Lake, ID, trusted Grass Plus to complete their homestead project while they were away. When it was time to return, The Wongs came back to a work of art that exceeded their expectations. Mrs. Wong later said, “I can’t believe that what was in my mind was out there.”
Grass Plus, Inc. is a member of the Ogden Valley Business Association (OVBA). As one of the first OVBA members, Grass Plus has long contributed to the reputation of honesty, hard work, and great quality of life that is found in Ogden Valley and OVBA businesses. They appreciate the networking and advertising opportunities they have been given as members. They also observe that OVBA members join together to collaborate, share services, and educate one another, as well as participate in various charitable and fundraising efforts. As far as Ogden Valley is concerned, Grass Plus speaks for all OVBA businesses, when they say they strive to “make it a better place."
Photo: Amy, Chris, and Travis
To learn more about Grass Plus, Inc. and their services, and to view photos and video of their completed projects, visit
www.Grassplusinc.com. To learn more about other OVBA businesses, visit
www.OVBA.org.
Linda’s provident lifestyle advocates economical procedures. She applies conservative farming methods, including the use of natural fertilizers and very little farm equipment. Her “Self Pick” program saves people money and provides them the opportunity to come pick their own selection of organic crop. Among the variety, pickers will find such fruits as raspberries, strawberries, and goji berries, and such vegetables as beets, spinach, and chard. In addition, she also sells flowers and organic eggs. Her products are sold to restaurants in Utah and California, shipped as mail orders, or distributed to grocery stores, such as Harmon’s and Whole Foods Market. 
In addition to her work on the farm, Linda’s talent for art has been a blessing to many. She has taught art for over twenty years, and today she teaches from home. Didja makitis the name of her art business, which features her skills in paintings and water colors. She also does quilting and teaches classes in sewing and pottery. Ultimately, she desires that her art studio be a place where people can come to relax, find peace, and do art while getting to know others.
The landscape couldn’t be more beautiful when combining Grass Plus, Inc. with Utah’s Ogden Valley. As a full-scale landscaping company, Grass Plus, Inc. has had its headquarters in Ogden Valley since 2003 and has been doing business since 1993. They have gone far and wide, expanding their reach to many areas in Utah. They have also done work in several surrounding states. Wherever they have been, Grass Plus, Inc. has been “oohing” and “awing” customers and passersby over the years with their landscape designs and gorgeous work. They go the extra mile, put forth that additional effort, and incorporate their unique and unprecedented touch wherever they go. Needless to say, they have fun while doing it. With a reputation that has won the trust of many, they can tell you with a smile and confidence that shines with vigor, “In the end you’ll be happy with what you have.”
Photo: Amy, Chris, and Travis
Since 1988, Joseph Jedrowicz has been involved in the real estate business, believing right from the start that being ethical is the number one priority. Within a few months, he will be moving to the Ogden Valley from North Ogden and will run his Mountain Country Realty business from home. Due to his hard work, integrity, and driving passion he has gone far and learned much. He has worked many years for RE/MAX, the world's number one real estate name. He has been the recipient of several awards and has been named as Broker Owner of the Year. He bought his first title company in 1997 and served there as president for nine years.
As an experienced massage therapist, having specialized in the profession for nineteen years, Sharon provides quality therapy for local residents and visitors. She brings her services directly to the customer’s own home, condo, or hotel. When occasionally demand requires it, she will team up with two or three other massage therapists to accommodate for larger groups. Her therapy provides relief from tension and soreness in the body. For example, skiers can benefit from this after a long day of skiing. Her massages can also sooth pain that comes from injuries, headaches, and chronic conditions. Her Healing Hands website, www.sharonlewismassagetherapist.com, is a great source to learn more in depth about the kinds of massages she gives.
Ogden Valley Treasures is Sharon’s third and most recently developed business. Launched in August of 2011 as a non-profit classified ad website, it provides individual people and other businesses a place for listing ads, products, and services. She believes her site will make it so people in the Valley will not have to travel to Ogden or Salt Lake to find what they are looking for. It is a simple and easy classified website to locate and to use: www.ogdenvalleytreasures.com. People can list for free.
Before long, Athena began making her own soap. She had become tired of using commercial soaps, which irritated her skin. While living in Eden, she had acquired a small collection of Nigerian Dwarf Goats, goats that produce milk high in vitamins and nutrients and rich in cream. She used the milk not only as a refreshing, organic beverage, but also as an ingredient for her soap, to make it soft, mild, and healthy.
Today, Athena successfully continues her business, making all of her products by hand at her own home in Eden. She has since expanded her product selection (many of which are also made with goat milk), adding lotions, face creams, lip balm, body mousse, body butter, soap dishes made out of bamboo, and more, including her unique and popular soap cakes, all made in her own Simply Eden way. 
The Dee family eventually sold the home in 1932 to the Greenwell family, who during their stay, entertained guests and made dinners for groups of people. It wasn’t long until the house became an official restaurant in 1945. In 1965, Steve’s parents bought the Lodge, and it has been in their family until today. 
As customers presently visit the one-hundred-year-old restaurant, they are able to imagine how things were back in the day, for example, how the main dining room used to be the original Dee family room, where all in the household would come together and mingle. Then they can hear the stories of how that same room later became a common room for weary travelers when the Greenwells used the home as a boarding house before it became a restaurant. Or how the porch, which has since been enclosed and is now used as a dining area, was a place where the Dees, and later the Greenwells, would sit together after a hard day’s work and enjoy a summer’s evening. 
Steve and Jody’s favorite part of running the Gray Cliff Lodge is being able to please people and provide them with an enjoyable, “cozy and relaxed (Gray Cliff)” experience for just about any size of group. Some of their featured menu items include lamb chops, steaks, chicken, prime rib, fresh mountain trout, and homemade cinnamon rolls and pie. All are prepared in the traditional “Gray Cliff” way.
