Obs-home of the quirks

THE Hortishop would probably have been one of the better-known specimens in the village’s quirky menagerie of businesses were they not stuck away in a pokey corner in between some of the dodgier clubs on Lower Main.
Somehow, the kite banner hopefully placed in front of the shop every day does nothing for its visibility. Despite a name change to Hortishop two years ago, the previous name Gro-shop still adorns the entrance.
But if the co-owner and manager Trevor Owen’s description is anything to go by, it is doing a roaring trade. This probably has to do with the fact that it is the only hydroponics shop in Cape Town since 2003.
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Hortishop sells soil, nutrients, beds and tools to grow ones own hydroponics garden, and the shop extends to the back garden where they have their own hydroponics garden and where they garden organically too.
Even though the shop has changed its name is hidden in a corner along Lower Main Road, and even after they had merged and changed their named from Gro-shop to Hortishop two years ago, Gro-shop is still the advertised name at their shop.
A kite banner is at the entrance of the shop . The shop is managed by co-owner Trevor Owen and forms part of a business that has outlets in Johannesburg, KZN and George.
Trevor grew up in Birmingham, England, later ventured to work in Spain where he met and started dating a South African woman. They then left Spain and moved to South Africa and fell in love with the people and the country. Trevor is a fomer Obs resident. “I won’t live in England again permanently, will only go there on holiday. South Africa's my home,” he said.
When ObsLife asked Trevor why base the shop in Obs he said: ''This is the right place to start a business. It's got the right sort of people who want to grow their own vegetables, want to grow their own herbs. The people in the city more shop at the supermarket and people down here have their own food gardens going, there's a community garden,” said Trevor, and joked: “There's a lot of students around here, they like to grow their favourite plants.”
Apart from hydroponics, the Hortishop also advises people with worm farming and organic gardening.
The Little Growers is a charity project organised and sponsored by the Hortishop to help under-privileged orphanages and schools to grow their own vegetable gardens. They assisted with the Obs Junior School's garden seven years ago, and is currently helping a school in Thornton.
Volunteers are always needed for the Little Growers project. Trevor says people are needed to either donate their time, or if unable to do so, donate equipment and materials to make these projects possible.
Hortishop has also introduced a mineral water range to aid the Little Growers project. They are needing outlets to stock the mineral water, charging R10 per 750ml and R7.50 per 500ml. All proceeds raised will go towards the project.