Cindy Greear and her husband, Ralph, own five acres of lush gardens in Ridgefield that feature a pond, gazebo and a big red party barn. They offer Lucy’s Garden Winery for weddings, family or class reunions, graduation parties or business networking functions. “Making memories and making friends are the most important things you can do in your personal and professional life,” Cindy says.
Name: Cindy Greear
Business: Lucy’s Garden Winery, 23812 NW Meuller Road, Ridgefield (www.lucys-garden.com)
Residence city/Neighborhood: Ridgefield
Age: 57
Educational/professional background: I graduated from Ridgefield High School, raised two children with my husband, Ralph, and have worked in the Ridgefield/Vancouver area for more than 30 years in various fields, gaining experience working with all different types of people. I’ve done wallpapering, served sandwiches at Bonneville Power and was an attendance secretary at Ridgefield schools for nine years. It was all customer service.
How you became inspired to start this business: We had several family members and friends get married on our property. After the third wedding, we thought that we might have something special we could share with our community, as well as be part of a retirement plan. That was about four years ago. It was probably a year later we had the barn built. We started having weddings and events right away. We had the Ridgefield High School senior breakfast last week and we’ve hosted the Ridgefield Mayor’s Ball and several fundraisers.
It’s been trial and error. Right now, we’re going through the process of licensing for our winery, and the grapes we have are more for aesthetic purposes. We have friends here and from Zillah who have been very helpful in this process.
Most rewarding part of job: I am able to do all of the creative things in my yard that I have always wanted to do and I am able to spend as much time in my beautiful garden as I want. I work about 40 hours per week in my yard, but I love it. It’s rewarding to see people in happy times. Being out in the gardens just makes them feel very good. They just really enjoy it.
Most challenging part of job: Having people in my home who I am not always familiar with.
One thing readers might find surprising about your work: That we both work outside of Lucy’s Garden Winery full-time. I clean houses and Ralph is in the grocery business.
Best feature of my Clark County community: The people of Ridgefield — they’re special and unique.
What would make your community a better place: You can’t make it a better place. You can only enjoy it.
Your favorite travel destination: Anywhere tropical with our lifelong friends during the wintertime.
Favorite restaurant/pub/coffee shop/store: Anywhere in downtown Ridgefield.
Hobbies: Gardening, baking, wine-tasting.
Most enjoyable book/play/movie/arts event in past 12 months: “Game of Thrones.”
Something you’d like to do this year or within five years: Go to Africa.
A few words to describe yourself: Creatively charismatic.
Person you’d most like to meet: Martin Short or Bernie Sanders.
