A BUSINESS which took root during lockdown, has blossomed for a Staindrop couple who have now opened their own shop, Palmers Plants and Besp-Oak Creations.
During lockdown keen plant and vegetable growers Faye and Nick Palmer set up a bench outside their home in Staindrop offering plants and veg for sale to their neighbours.
Mrs Palmer, who was working as a carer at the time, said: “Lockdown was really terrible for lots of people, but for us it was the start of something great.
“I have always been a carer, but during lockdown I was only looking after one person and that was only a couple of hours a day and Nick wasn’t working.
“We both come from growing families and we met in Yorkshire where we had allotments beside each other.
“We set up during Covid-19 selling plants and veg doing an honesty box system and it grew from there. We didn’t know how it would go and couldn’t believe how popular it was.”
She added: “We had people come round with their wheelbarrows for plants so we needed somewhere to use as a base.”
Initially the couple set up shop in Stanhope, at the Durham Dales centre, but have now moved their growing business closer to home taking a unit on Stainton Grove Industrial Estate, which opened last week.
As well as selling their home-grown plants, flowers and vegetables, the couple also have a range of handcrafted wooden creations made out of whiskey barrels. Items include unusual candle holders and log baskets.
The mum-of-two added: “We have come from nothing to this.
“It was hard at first working together but since we have found our roles, we let each other get on.
“Nick does a lot more of the growing and making his oak barrel creations while I deal with the customer side of things. Basically, he does all of the behind-the-scenes stuff and I’m the one everyone sees.”
As well as selling direct to the public from their new headquarters, they have become stall holders on Barnard Castle’s monthly farmers’ market.
“We still have to finalise our opening hours,” added Mrs Palmer, who is completing a floristry qualification.
“We are still sorting out a lot of things but we will be selling through our website and offering free delivery to customers in a five-mile radius of Barnard Castle.
She added: “We are probably the happiest we have been and we probably work more now than ever, but if I get to do this for the rest of my life, I will die happy.”
For more information visit their website at www. plantsandbespoakcreations. co.uk.
