GALION, Ohio — Green Thumb Hydroponics and Garden Center was officially welcomed as Galion’s latest addition to the city’s growing small business sector on Tuesday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new business, owned by Annisa Zorns, sells organic feed, soil, flood tables, lights and other outdoor gardening equipment.
Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce President Joe Kleinknecht said a small community like Galion needs specialty shops like this one.
“Quaintness is what people are looking for, I think. I hope we focus on that type of market in the future. There’s a lot of good things like that going on,” said Kleinknecht.
Manager Rachel McDaniel, who previously worked as a manager for Dollar General on Portland Way in Galion, said she and Zorns have worked together in the business’s planning for about one year. The hobby has always interested her, she said, but she would not classify herself as having a green thumb.
“If there was a plant that couldn’t be killed, I would kill it. I don’t have a green thumb,” McDaniel said with a laugh. “But working with stuff, and what it’s taught me, I now have my own tomato garden.”
She said the hydroponic equipment makes it easy for gardeners of all calibers of knowledge to enjoy the process. According to Urban Gardens Ohio, hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil.
“Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can,” said McDaniel.
Down the line, Zorns, who owns her own vegetable garden at home, wants to hold classes for those interested in getting started with hydroponic gardening. The store currently has two rooms allotted for growing herbs and vegetables for teaching purposes.
One spot will be for hydroponic gardening, the other, soil gardening, said Zorns. The store will then sell the vegetables grown.
Zorns previously owned a pizza shop, but got out of the business for a while, she said.
“I’m ready to do something again. I hope we’re around for a long time and that’s my retirement, hopefully,” Zorns said.
The store, located at 849 Hardingway East in Galion, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit their Facebook page for more information.
