Boyle FFA Greenhouse open for business, online only
Published 5:51 pm Monday, April 6, 2020
- Hanging baskets of flowers and thousands of plants are ready for the annual FFA Greenhouse sale. (Photo by Ashlin Kendrick)
The annual Boyle County High School FFA Greenhouse will be open for business, while still following strict COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, beginning Wednesday.
Flowers are for sale at the annual FFA Greenhouse. However, shoppers must make their selections online and schedule an appointment for pickup since no one will be allowed inside the greenhouse. (Photo by Ashlin Kendrick)
As usual, the greenhouse is bursting with baskets of ferns, annuals, bedding flowers, herbs and vegetable plants that are for sale, said agriculture teacher Ashlin Kendrick. But for the first time, shoppers won’t be allowed inside the greenhouse to peruse through thousands of plants the high school students have been growing since January.
But they can still load up with homegrown plants for their patios and gardens, and support the FFA by shopping online, Kendrick said. They’ve developed an online plant catalog with photos and an extensive price list, Kendrick said.
Shoppers are to fill out the online order form, and schedule an appointment to pick up their plants at the greenhouse between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, which will continue until April 30, she said. No weekend appointments will be made.
When picking up their order, Kendrick said people should remain in their vehicles, and just “shout out” their name when they arrive, and a teacher working at the greenhouse will bring the order to their vehicle. Payments are to be made with exact change or by check.
“We’ve tried to make this as painless as possible,” Kendrick said.
Students haven’t been working in the greenhouse since schools closed on March 13. And they won’t be able to enjoy selling their plants because they’re not allowed in the greenhouse either.
“They did most of the grunt work,” earlier in the season, Kendrick said. Helping to sell their plants “Is the fun part. They’re wishing they could be here. It’s a real bummer.”
Petunias are ready to sell at the Boyle County High School greenhouse. However, shoppers must go online to order their plants because they won’t be allowed inside the greenhouse because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo submitted by Ashlin Kendrick)
Kendrick said having the greenhouse closed to the public because of the pandemic, “Has thrown us all for a loop.”
However, she’s also optimistic that the annual sale will be as successful as it has in years past, despite the change in shopping restrictions. “It’s warm outside and people are bored,” Kendrick said. Plus the community has always wanted to support the FFA. “I’m hopeful that this sale will be successful.”
SO YOU KNOW
To see the selection of plants inside the Boyle County High School greenhouse that were grown by the FFA students, go to Boyle County FFA Greenhouse Facebook page. The link to the online catalog with prices and an order form is https://sites.google.com/boyl…/boylecountyffagreenhouse/home
If you prefer, you may email Kendrick with your order information at ashlin.kendrick@boyle.kyschools.us
