Carolina Native Nursery’s COVID-19 Response

Finding the proper path to take regarding the corona (COVID-19) virus is extremely difficult to manage. As part of the U.S. agricultural community we are exempt from local and state shelter in place orders. So what do we do: stay open, partially open, or close, what staff to keep, how are we going to get our spring planting done, how much inventory will we need,  what financial help can we apply for, are we really a critical industry, recession, depression or just depressed. But some decisions had to be made so here’s where we stand now.

RETAIL:

Call in or email orders only at our ‘Bee Native Plant Shop’ for the time being. Look at our retail plant list on our website: Retail Price List. Figure out what you want or contact us to discuss. Call 828-230-6436 or email sales@carolinanativenursery.com. We will be happy to help and answer questions. But we will not be set up for you to come and shop.

 • We will confirm your list
 • Get your credit card to charge your order
• Set an appointment for you to come to get your plants
• We will gather your plants and have them ready for you to pick up
• You will load your order into your vehicle

WHOLESALE:

Continue to serve our wholesale clients to the best of our abilities. We are making deliveries, requiring longer unload times to maintain a minimum 6’ separation at all times. For all pick-ups, we pull all orders, stage them away from our work areas, and ask clients to bring people to load so we can maintain proper social distancing per CDC guidelines.

AT THE NURSERY:

Hire no additional spring help for the foreseeable future (we could use a lot more!). Our regular staff plus our initial spring staff have been practicing shelter in place at home for 3 weeks as of this publication. Add in spatial distancing, working from home when we can, and redesigning many of our work practices here at the nursery, we think we have the appropriate measures in place for safety. Lots of hand washing, sanitizer, and no mass gathering for lunch.

Everyone at Carolina Native is on board, we speak with our staff daily not only about our comfort zone here at Carolina Native, but how our families are feeling about all of this too. Although all of us are stressed, we are trying to make sure, the best we can, that we support each other. That goes for speaking with our clients too, since many are our friends and we worry about them.

This is where we are now. We have kept everyone on payroll and plan to maintain that as long as possible. We will continue to serve our wholesale clients to the best of our ability while staying safe. We are in the process of applying for federal programs through the recently passed Cares Act. Please follow us on Facebook and our website for updates.

Our business is strong, we were prepared financially (made it through floods, spring freezes, and the great recession), and will be in good shape when this trying time is over. All our staff can’t wait for the day we can welcome all our clients back, have lunch together, get a hug or high five. That day will be here before you know it!