Even when the temperature is dipping below 35 degrees, Chris Chambers is thinking about sunshine, flowers blooming and livestock grazing. This behavior isn’t a coping mechanism for the cold. It’s just how Chambers is programmed.

“I always tell people to think a season ahead. It’s good to prepare, that way you can reap more benefits and enjoy it more – see more production,” says Chambers, manager and co-owner of Chambers Farm and Garden Supply, a local feed and seed store that has a longstanding reputation for serving the community well.

Since opening their doors 76 years ago, Chambers Farm and Garden Supply has led a dedicated charge to ensure Cullman City and County are well equipped when it comes to growing plants and raising livestock. This simple, salient mission has brought about a loyal community of customers who swear by the farm and garden supply shop.

“I’d say we’re pretty agriculture driven in Cullman,” Chambers says. “A little in the city, definitely in the county. And I think an appreciation for being outside and doing things like gardening and raising your own food are coming back. More people are getting back to that lifestyle. They want to grow what they eat and know where it’s coming from — not just eat frozen and processed foods.”

Walking down aisles lined with a smorgasbord of seeds and soil options, Chambers says it’s never too late or too early to get into gardening. No matter the season, there is a time to plant and raise.

A recent gardening trend, Chambers says, is raised-bed gardening. “It keeps the weeds out and it’s good if you don’t have the best soil,” he notes. “You spend less time maintaining it – you just focus on the plants and what’s growing. It lets you control the environment a lot more.”

His best piece of advice for new gardeners is to first figure out what grows best in their soil. Acidic soil is common in North Alabama, Chambers says, so applying lime might be a good strategy for establishing a strong soil base. “A soil test is always recommended,” he adds. When it comes to growing what you eat, Chambers says potatoes and tomatoes typically do well in this swath of Alabama — but gardeners shouldn’t limit themselves to just those two. If you really want to grow something, he says, with the right plan anything is possible.

Chambers’ mother (the shop is family-owned through and through), also creates pre-made floral arrangements for customers looking to add an extra layer of color to their décor.

“I like to think that we have knowledge across the board — from seeds to plants to soil,” Chambers says.

A version of this article first appeared in the spring Cullman Magazine.