Greenhouse growers preparing for spring
‘Being outdoors when you’re isolated is very good for the psyche — getting that sunshine and fresh air’
It’s a sunny day in March and Alice d’Entremont, owner of Ouestville Perennials in West Pubnico, is busy in the greenhouses, potting up David Austin roses.
These days, growers in the nursery industry are full out, preparing for the season ahead. Orders of bare-root shrubs, trees and plugs are arriving daily and must be transplanted for growing on.
Whether or not there will be customers this spring, or even employees to help with the mountain of work, including the crucial chore of watering, is unknown.
The list of safeguards for the coronavirus is being updated daily.
“It’s a concern,” says d’Entremont. “For any small business that operates on a very small margin, a complete shutdown for a few months could bankrupt a lot.”
For d’Entremont, it’s business as usual.
The staff is returning to work and she is providing hand sanitizer and soap at every hose-end if they wish to use it.
She plans to announce soon on social media where the operation stands and also that delivery will be provided, if anyone is in isolation and needs plants or supplies, or if they don’t want to venture out in public.
She hopes the protective measures will be over soon, ideally no later than Easter.
“We officially open
April 1, but people wander in before then, and are completely welcome.”
Another concern is the border prohibitions as some stock is received from the United States.
The Greenhouse Nova Scotia (GNS) board of directors held a conference call on March 17 to address the coronavirus impact.
Cathy Oulton, president of GNS and owner of Bloom Greenhouse & Garden Centre on Hammonds Plain Road, believes greenhouses and garden centres should be allowed to stay open.
“When people are being mandated not to go to work, there’s a lot less income around. We’ll have to work on that. How do we accommodate people who want to garden and consider it an essential part of their being?”
She believes food gardening will be more important for people this season.
Many growers are considering how to service people who want to maintain their social distancing, including bringing orders out to cars, helping customers so they don’t have to come in contact with others and making products available through web services.
“We all have stock in; we’re growing it on; it will be beautiful,” says Oulton. “Gardening is an absolutely excellent activity to do with your family outdoors. You’re not in a shop or building, you’re not touching other people. It’s very therapeutic to put your hands in the dirt during stressful times. Garden therapy is where it’s at. Being outdoors when you’re isolated is very good for the psyche — getting that sunshine and fresh air.”
Oulton adds that the public can show faith in their local garden centres by buying gift certificates now.
“A little show of support makes a big difference to people,” she says.