September/October 2020 - 16

MARKETING
Why the Global Pandemic May Have a " Green Lining "
By Susan E. Yoder
If retailers don't capitalize on this
moment in time, time will pass and
interest in gardening and plants may
wane again.
T
he defining moment is now. Well before the term
" plant blindness " was coined in 1998 by botanists
James Wandersee and Elisabeth Schussler, the
majority of people in the U.S. had lost their collective
ability to notice the plants around them. What was
common knowledge to our ancestors has become an
obliviousness about where our food comes from, the
importance of plants to the health of humans and animals,
and a failure to appreciate the role of plants to the very
survival of our planet.
Many groups - including the Seed Your Future (www.
SeedYourFuture.org) movement - have been working
tirelessly to turn things around and inspire more people,
especially youth, to appreciate the role of plants in our
world and perhaps explore a career working with plants.
Small gains were being made.
Then the world changed. A global pandemic altered every
facet of life including how we live, work, eat, play and
socialize. Fear of going outside, fear of connecting with
others, and fear of an unknown health plague forced us not
only to isolate from one another, but from the natural world.
Even though decades of solid research affirm the ability of
plants and nature to heal, cure, soothe and inspire, access
to outdoor spaces was restricted. Even enjoying one's own
backyard or balcony was seen by many as a risk too perilous
to take.
As media coverage expanded about the spread of the
pandemic, the Seed Your Future movement searched for the
voice we would take to help provide respite from a growing
panic. While certainly the pandemic was, and still is, a
dangerous issue, we chose to spread messages about the
power of plants to support our mental and physical health -
especially in times of crisis.
Our #NatureNeverCloses and #YearOfThePlant
campaigns provide inspiration about plants and nature.
Being around plants, growing plants, and even just looking
at flowers and plants has been proven by study after study
to improve our mood, provide hope, and nourish us from
both hunger and despair.
16 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020
The " Green Lining "
While we can never say there is a " silver lining " to the
pandemic, the fact is - there are more people expressing
interest in plants, growing their own food and flowers,
purchasing houseplants, seeds, garden supplies and spending
time improving the world around them with plants. A " green
lining, " as it were.
As lawn and garden retailers, this truly is the defining
moment we've been working for. Likely you are experiencing
what many others in the industry are as well - a huge
demand from consumers resulting in some remarkable sales
figures. But people can be fickle, attention spans short, and
if we don't capitalize on this moment in time, it will pass and
interest in gardening and plants may wane again. So, what
can we do about it?
The answer is you. It's you, and me, and other horticulture
professionals, and educators, and plant-enthusiasts, and
frankly, everyone who already knows that the fate of our
world lies in the next generation embracing the importance
of plants not only to humans, but to animals, and to Earth.
Our job is to show others the way.
Focus on the Future Gardeners
So, how do we do it? We suggest that a focus should
be on kids. Families are hungry for meaningful, enjoyable
activities for their children. Kids have been cooped up with
their families since March of 2020. Boredom, frustration and
irritability can be abated if you provide answers for families.
Here's just a few ideas of what you can do today to make a
difference:
* Watch Seed Your Future's new plant-based family DIY
videos and download the directions and supply lists.
Sell the supplies as a package and encourage families
to do these activities together. These include: Grow
Your Own Plants with Hydroponics (bit.ly/SYF_DIY_
Hydroponics), Make Your Own Fun Light Maze for
Plants (bit.ly/SYF_DIY_PlantMaze), and Use Plants to
Dye Your Own Clothes (bit.ly/2VTC5Gn).
http://www.SeedYourFuture.org http://www.bit.ly/SYF_DIY_ http://www.bit.ly/SYF_DIY_PlantMaze http://www.bit.ly/2VTC5Gn
September/October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September/October 2020
