Gardening Hiatus, Sewing Surgical-Style Face Masks

Hello All,

My best wishes go to all who are fighting or affected by the virus. Per the State of Ohio orders, Pray Plants cannot continue gardening work for clients at the current time. Operations are limited to selling plant material, as this is considered "agricultural."

We will continue to sell Garden Helper Cat Toys, and have recently added Reversible Surgical-Style Face Masks / Mask Covers to our Products list. For every mask purchased, one will be donated to medical personnel in need.

I must apologize that my existing collection of cotton fabrics has floral, Batik, hippie patterns. The next time I go out for a supply run, I promise to buy some more solid colors and softer tones!

In addition to medical personnel using these masks over their N-95's to prolong the lifespan of these one-time-use PPE items, the CDC now recommends everyone wear a mask. This is important for several reasons:

1. Since the virus can spread asymptomatically, when everyone wears a mask we are actually protecting each other from our own respiratory droplets, whether or not we feel ill.

2. Wearing a mask reminds us not to touch our faces. The virus only makes its way through mucus membranes, so covering our noses and mouths reduces our chances of sub-consciously contracting the virus and possibly spreading it on.

3. If you are exposed to the virus via aerosolized particles, the face mask will reduce your chances of severe illness by reducing the inoculum. For example, being sneezed or coughed on directly without protection will introduce a viral load to your system that will then replicate exponentially and overwhelm your immune response. Alternately, one wearing a mask will be introduced to a smaller viral load, where the virus takes longer to accomplish higher numbers within your body.

(Source: Dr. Chris Martenson, PhD)

Visit the Products page to read about what options I am currently offering, such as nose wire, ties or elastic, and more.

See you in the garden soon :)

-Becca Pray

March On No Matter What!

The Pray Plants team will carry on with business as usual despite the outbreak of pandemic disease seen recently across the globe. Our thoughts and hearts are with every person, family, household, and institution affected by COVID-19. We understand that this will create serious interruptions for businesses around the world.

Luckily for our clients and team members, little to no face-to-face interaction needs to happen for Pray Plants to get the job done. In an abundance of caution, we are introducing new measures to reduce in-person contact and surface-touching for the foreseeable future:

1. All consultations are free and will consist of photography/video review and email/phone discussions about scope of work. Unfortunately face-to-face interaction is unfavorable at this time.

2. We recommend payment by check to protect our clients but will continue to accept cash as well.

3. Team members will only use Pray Plants tools. We will not touch clients' personal belongings or tools, even if you've told us in the past that we could. For example, trash created in the gardening/landscaping process will be taken off-site to be disposed of at the Pray Plants Headquarters.

Additionally, stay tuned for updates on our products page. We will be selling a variety of vegetables, herbs, medicinals, and flowers that will help lift the spirits in your outdoor space during these uncertain times.

2020 Plants Coming Soon!

This year Pray Plants will be offering indoor plants such as low-maintenance jade and succulents to help alleviate cabin fever for the plant-lovers! These plants will also make great gifts as some will be planted in handcrafted ceramic pots.

Like last year, our 2020 plant selection will include a variety of vegetables (especially heirlooms), and flower varieties. For those looking to fill space in their shaded gardens, we have incorporated a new line of shade flowers and herbs, including some Northwest Ohio natives!

Though the beloved non-profit Appalachian Herb Growers Consortium has shut down, we will continue to propagate a wide variety of traditional Chinese herbs for landscape and garden use, as well as seeds for sale in winter 2020.

We look forward to working with our wonderful clients and hearing from new ones in Spring!