Gardening ‘Obsession’ continues despite COVID-19 pandemic

Instead of opening the warm and colorful greenhouses to the public, owner Betty Rancourt will be filling orders online and offering curbside pickup to customers due to restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our greenhouses are small and having to keep that six-foot distance and having to sanitize everything as you’re going through would be difficult,” Rancourt said. “We don’t even have any extra staff right now at all because of the restrictions. We’re used to having eight employees.”

Betty Rancourt will be filling orders for Obsession Greenhouse and Gift Shop online this year. (file photo/paNOW)

Instead, Rancourt and her husband are managing the operation on their own. Despite the extra workload, she said customers will still receive the quality product they’ve become accustomed to.

“We already have lots of product moving out and people need that right now. They need that green, they need that growth and something to nurture right now and bring hope.”

As of April 25, Obsession Greenhouse and Gift Shop products will be available through their web page. Rancourt said she plans to update inventory and post videos to Facebook every second day so customers can see the advancement on the product growth.

“So they can actually see what they’re purchasing,” she explained. “So they can see how big the sweet peas are [for example].”

All pricing will be visible online for customers who can also choose their date and time of pickup. Orders will be placed in vehicle trunks for customers, so interaction is limited. Due to space constraints, orders cannot be held for any longer than a week. Hours for curbside pickup will likely be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. but Rancourt said there may be minor changes as they flush out operational plans.

Even with the COVID-19 restrictions in place, Obsession Greenhouse has seen an increase is business.

“We have these DIY kits for kids that have gone over really well. They get the pot, soil and seeds and they plant them themselves. It’s great for kids to learn how produce is grown, do it themselves and enjoy watching it grow and then eat it afterwards.”

Rancourt expects business will continue to increase, especially for vegetables, as people find themselves with more time on their hands.

“A lot of people will be growing gardens that never did before,” she said. “People need the flowers and gardens. They want to have beautiful yards and they’re going to have the time now to do it.”

As a result, Obsession Greenhouse has secured more vegetable seeds for the season. Regardless of the increase in interest, Rancourt said the calmness and beauty that comes along with gardening can have a positive impact on anyone.

“I enjoy it so much that sometimes you just lose track of time.”

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Gardening ‘Obsession’ continues despite COVID-19 pandemic

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