BOISE, Idaho — Company-wide, here at 6 On Your Side we're doing our part to help small businesses who are adapting how they work to stay open in a turbulent time.
The stay-at-home order by Governor Little gives essential businesses the opportunity to still get things done and keep the doors open, albeit in some creative ways.
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North End Organic Nursery, affectionately nicknamed NEON by some regulars, has been nurturing green thumbs of garden enthusiasts in Boise for the past decade, and they say they plan to stay open as long as it's safe and within the rules to do so.
"Finding a level of functionality in the middle of all this is going to be a creative challenge," said Lindsay Schramm, owner of North End Organic Nursery.
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With most Idahoans staying at home, the nursery says it's seeing a huge increase in people interested in growing their own food. Schramm says Idahoans and the nursery need each other.
"I jokingly said in the early stages of this that seeds are like toilet paper in the nursing industry! People were definitely hoarding," Schramm said. "There's a need to support the businesses who at the end of all this will still be alive, and then there's a need also in our industry to get growing, get outside, get in the fresh air, plant a garden, grow your own food."
Like other local businesses, the nursery has had to evolve in light of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread.
"Support your local businesses in any way you can, because if you don't they're not going to be there when this is all over," Schramm said.
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The nursery is happy to have you drop by, but by appointment only. During your appointment, you'll have half an hour to browse.
They're also getting creative in other ways, including a curbside service.
"People want to be able to go through the summer being more self-sustaining," Schramm said. "A lot of people who were like 'Well I wasn't that concerned about gardening or whatever,' but now they are. It's definitely something that gives people security."
There is the possibility the nursery will be closed a few days during the week, but you can always give them at call at (208) 389-4769 to make sure they're open.
If you'd like to make an appointment, click here.
If you'd like your favorite local business to be featured on our "We're Open" series, click here.
As you find ways to support your local businesses, share your photos and stories with us at #OpenTreasureValley and #TakeOutTuesdayTV.
Now more than ever, we all need to be open. Open to new ways of thinking, open to new ways of gathering, and open to new ways of supporting each other.
