It all started with a variegated Meyer lemon tree back in 2016. Living in Chattanooga at the time, Marissa stumbled upon a local nursery, The Barn Nursery. It’s a great place if you ever have the chance to go. It was there, being attracted to the variegation, that she purchased her first tree, and eventually began her first job in a plant nursery.

Marissa's curious mind and innate love for plants encouraged her to learn more about plants and gardening. When receiving and managing inventory became her primary responsibility at the nursery, she found herself handling every plant and tree that came through the nursery’s warehouse. Her love for plants led to her gradually adding a Persian lime tree, Tuscan Blue rosemary, and an assortment of house plants to her collection at home. By the time they left Chattanooga, Marissa and her husband Craig had a car full of plants.

Over the next few years, Marissa and Craig lived in a few locations before settling into their 35-acre homestead in Bear Creek, NC. Along the way, they learned a thing or two about successfully nurturing plants in different houses with different lighting as well as trying out different gardening techniques while their garden settings changed and grew. Marissa and Craig's passion for growing plants continues to thrive. Starting with one raised garden bed, they now have 15 raised beds.

Fulford Family Tree Farm and Greenhouse is the culmination of an incredible dream and much work. Marissa and Craig continue to clear land on the homestead so they can expand the business and bring more offerings to their loyal customers.