Gardening’s growth fuelled by COVID-driven need to connect with nature

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As the days grow longer, the signs of the growing interest in gardening are everywhere in Metro Vancouver.

Local garden stores such as GardenWorks are already trying to keep up with the early demand for seeds and the arrival of scores of first-time gardeners. So far, this spring looks to be even busier than last year.

More people than ever before are looking to connect with nature by growing something whatever way they can.

Lynda Pasacreta, president of the Richmond Garden Club, has seen the growing interest in gardening in the growth in volunteers in Paulik Neighbourhood Park, located in Richmond’s city centre area.

Right after the start of last year’s provincial health emergency, people started strolling through the park’s 30-plus raised flower beds and mature stands of Western Cedar, Sitka spruce and Douglas fir.

Before the pandemic, the garden club struggled to get 10 volunteers to help with the raised beds in the 0.6-hectare (1.5-acre) garden. Now, the club has more 30 volunteers smitten with the gardening bug.

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“These are very passionate people who have never gardened before in their life,” Pasacreta said.

In a recent presentation to the Canadian Federation of University Women about connecting to nature, Pasacreta talked about the growing body of research about the beneficial effects of being outdoors in a natural setting.

People who practise what the Japanese call shinrin-yoku or forest bathing breathe in naturally occurring, beneficial aerosols called terpenes that are produced by trees as well as fruits, vegetables and flowers.

“If you’re feeling scared about the pandemic, frightened and out of control, go and stand in the forest for at least two hours a week,” she said.

“People are finding it is a great way to get out of feeling restricted, of feeling like you’re in jail or you can’t do things.”

At GardenWorks, president Leanne Johnson said the level of interest in gardening is nothing less than “astonishing.” Last year, the pandemic convinced many people, including young families, to try gardening for the first time. Others have returned to the pastime after a long absence.

“We saw a huge uptake last spring starting at the end of March and into April. We wondered: ‘Would that continue this spring? Will people have grown tired?’ ” she said.

The interest, Johnson said, is even greater this spring.

“Our garden centres are going full out right now,” she said. “It’s unbelievable.”

Like last year, there’s a huge demand for seeds for growing food and for berries that can be grown in containers.

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“People are starting to grow their own food and getting to know their neighbours again because they have to give away so many zucchinis,” she said.

The interest from first-time gardeners has led to a change in marketing at GardenWorks’ eight locations in B.C. Rather than focusing on what plants are on sale, the company is moving towards becoming garden coaches for customers.

“What do people need the most? They need help with being successful,” Johnson said.

“If they’re successful with a veggie garden or creating a beautiful peaceful Eden for themselves, then that interest in gardening will continue.”

In East Vancouver on Victoria Drive, Figaro’s Garden manager Conor Preston said there’s definitely a continuing interest in sustainable gardening and in permaculture based on the idea of creating a healthy ecosystem that balances itself.

“One of the classics is often called the ‘three sisters’: Corn, beans and squash,” he said, referring to a traditional combination used by many Indigenous nations in North America.

The beans grow up the scaffolding of the corn, the squash along the ground to create shade and prevent evaporation. The beans also provide nitrogen, one of the most important nutrients for corn.

There is also continuing demand for indoor plants that builds on a trend that had been occurring for about five years.

A variegated monstera deliciosa, for example, used to sell for $30 to $50. Now they’re $300 to $500, if you can find one.

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Preston has noticed that his relationship with customers has changed.

“The customer is always right, of course. That still exists,” he said.

“But I sort of feel if someone asks you how you’re doing, you have more room to say, ‘Oh you know I am a little stressed.’ I feel you can have more honest interaction with customers.”

‘Smart gardens’ let you grow food in small spaces

A Vancouver company is making a smart garden that allows anyone living in an apartment or condo to grow their own food.

It’s called AVA Byte and is small enough to fit on a shelf at home.

AVA Byte scales down technology borrowed from the cannabis industry, said Valerie Song, co-founder and CEO.

“A lot of times people are getting basil plants from grocery stories and within a few days or a week or so it starts to wither away,” Song said.

“We thought there should be a better solution to keep plants alive.”

AVA is short for Automated Vertical Agriculture. Plants start in various pre-seeded packs that include four different types of basil, five mixed salad greens or five Asian herbs. Water and LED lighting are administered by software monitored by five sensors and a camera.

AVA Byte is designed and made in B.C. and sells for $499.

During the pandemic, an estimated one in five people started growing food for the first time. It often didn’t work because first-time home farmers didn’t have all the information they needed to succeed, Song said.

But AVA Byte, Song said, can connect via the Internet to the company’s customer service centre to help gardeners with any issues not covered by the app, pruning tips and educational material.

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Smart gardens such as AVA Byte have catapulted into public awareness, she said, because of concerns over food security and changing consumer habits.

“When the pandemic first hit, our website saw 3,000 per cent increase in organic traffic,” Song said.

“This type of technology can really help to change what gardening is in the future.”

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