About Us
Gregg Harris, Owner & Master Terrarium Planter
Our Story
The vision for Roosevelt’s Terrariums came to me in 2010 while I was grieving over the death of my dear wife of 37 years. As a single dad with my three younger kids still living at home, I wanted to do something WITH them, rather than just do everything FOR them.
I had been building terrariums as a hobby ever since 1970 when I was a young hippie down in Laguna Beach, California. So, I thought, “Why not open a terrarium shop together?” It took a few years to get it going, but eventually I was able to turn my hobby into a dream-come-true business. At Roosevelt’s Terrariums I “do well for myself by doing good for others.” In practice that means that “doing good for others” always comes before “doing well for myself,” but it is amazing how faithful God is to allow the profits we need to appear just as I need them.
My kids have all grown up now and I have Daniel Fender helping me out by managing Roosevelt’s full time. Together we make a great team. So, stop by and check it out. Invest in a terrarium you can’t fail with, whether we plant it for you, or you plant it yourself in one of our classes. Let us do well for ourselves by doing you good.
What’s With the Name?
Theodore Roosevelt was into terrariums all his life.
The story behind the name Roosevelt’s Terrariums is a good one. Roosevelt grew up planting terrariums as habitat for his live collections of reptiles and amphibians, like just about everyone else in his day (i.e. the 1870s). His love for nature led him as President to become a founder of our National Park Services. This really hits home here in Portland, Oregon because the Pacific Northwest is filled with thousands of acres of land that has been set aside as national parks and protected forests. It was his vision that helped make that happen.
So, we decided to name our shop after him.
Oh, and by the way, I also happen to have been a professional Theodore Roosevelt impersonator for many years, which makes his name all the more perfect for our terrarium shop.
Theodore Roosevelt as impersonated by Gregg Harris
Follow Our Journey
@rooseveltspdx
