THUNDER BAY – It could be the images of long lineups and empty shelves at the grocery store, or simply the need to find new ways to occupy time at home in self-isolation. Whatever the reason, the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a renewed interest in vegetable gardens.
John Vanderwees, president of Vanderwees Home & Garden, says the phenomenon is in evidence here in Thunder Bay.
“We certainly have seen a spike in seed sales and interest in growing – many first-time gardeners asking a lot of questions, and we’re pleased to assist them,” he said. “We know there’s going to be a big interest in vegetable plants this year, customers looking at providing [food] for themselves, so we are swinging some of our production into that aspect.”
In addition to serving as a source of sustenance, Vanderwees said the activity of gardening itself could be restorative for those suffering from stress and cabin fever.
“I’m a big advocate that gardening is good for the soul, good for the mind, good for the family – getting children away from the computer or the iPad. I think we need things [like that] that right now.”
Businesses that produce agriculture products, including plants, were deemed an essential service by the province and allowed to remain open. Vanderwees has chosen to remain closed to the public, for now, but customers can make orders over the phone for contactless pick-up. Online ordering is in the works and could launch this week.
It’s a more labour-intensive system, says John Vanderwees, with employees spending more time with customers over the phone, packaging orders for pick-up, and implementing some additional sanitary measures. They are bringing on some additional employees this week to handle the workload.
Overall, though, the business has had to lay off some employees, with the closure of its 80-seat café and in-store retail operation, which also sells clothing and other items. Vanderwees said they’re about 30 people short of normal staffing levels.
The store hopes to reopen in the coming weeks, depending on the progression of the pandemic. They are preparing measures such as limiting the number of customers in the store, one-way shopping aisles, and sanitization of carts.
While the store, with its café and acres of green space, often makes for a fun family trip, Vanderwees said they’ll be focused on providing access to essential items and minimizing contact when they do open their doors.
“We want to provide the essential service, but not necessarily be a destination where people are just going to come and hang out,” he explained.
