Six-year-old Scarlett House of Mayfield in Tasmania recalls the first time she gardened.
“I started when I was three, but I didn’t open the shop when I was three,” she said.
“The Shop” is the online seed shop she founded with her mother Genevieve House six months ago. Both of them were surprised by its popularity.
“It’s taken off a lot more than I expected … I didn’t expect it to bloom the way it is,” said Ms. House.
Scarlett says it took a long time to find out the names of all of her plants. (
ABC Northern Tasmania: Sarah Abbott
)
Scarlett’s early love of gardening was almost inevitable thanks to her mother’s green thumb.
“As a mother, you have no choice with me … you either like gardening or you never see me,” said Ms. House.
“”[But] She loves being outside, she likes to look at colors and textures in leaves and flowers, and she loves bugs. “
Ms. House says Scarlett loves the fine details in flowers and leaves. (
ABC Northern Tasmania: Sarah Abbott
)
In the garden, Scarlett had the idea of selling seeds.
“I thought I shouldn’t keep all of these seeds to myself – maybe I should give them to everyone else,” she said.
After Ms. House created a Facebook profile for Scarlett’s business, the couple promoted some sunflower seeds online.
“As soon as we … put them online, they were just gone!” Said Scarlett.
Seeds take over the house
For Scarlett, doing business means learning plant names, caring for plants, collecting and drying seeds, and illustrating and labeling each seed packet.
She also enjoys giving tours of her garden to people picking up their seed orders.
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Ms. House, who runs the online side of the business, says she is “the secretary.”
“I spend most of my time answering messages for her,” said Ms. House.
“My whole house is taken care of by seed drying and packaging and drawings – I can’t even use the bank.”
Scarlett decorates all of her seed packets for her customers. (
Delivered: Genevieve House
)
But there is a financial reward that Scarlett has given out for “treasures” like wooden toys for the dollhouse and pictures for her walls.
“I think she made up to $ 600 in sales from $ 2 packets of seeds,” said Ms. House.
Business teaches life lessons
For Scarlett, Ms. House explained, the benefits of business went beyond making money.
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“It’s good for her because there are so many facets to business, like art, math, and even geography,” said Ms. House.
“”[When] If she finds out where the plants came from, she goes to the atlas to see where that land is.
“Yesterday we had a taxi driver … [who told] us about a plant from India that we didn’t know about and when we got home it was right up [looking it up]. “
Mrs House says Scarlett learns a lot from her business. (
ABC Nortthern Tasmania: Sarah Abbott
)
Ms. House said many of Scarlett’s customers were surprised not only to find a six year old in the store, but also by Scarlett’s botanical knowledge.
“She knows which plants are what,” said Mrs. House.
Connects people
Ms. House says Scarlett and her company are helping to connect members of their community.
“Lots of people … want to share their craft with them [Scarlett]whether it’s gardening or … mosaics or drawing, “she said.
“Many gardeners have chosen to give her their excess seeds.
“There are a few little old ladies on the street who show up on the doorstep forever with parcels of things to keep for them – that’s … beautiful.”
Many of Scarlett’s customers enjoy spending time with her in the garden. (
Delivered: Genevieve House
)
Scarlett’s “positive” personality is especially valued by people who are “feeling a little down,” says Ms. House.
“People will come over [just] being in the garden with her – she likes a little bit of mental health [therapy],” She said.
“She’ll slide up to you and take your hand and take you for a walk – I think that was really nice for people.”
Fundraising and the future
Recently, Scarlett raised donations for her life experience following Anzac Day.
“Scarlett was very intrigued and wanted to know what [Anzac Day] was all over so I explained to her, “said Ms. House.
“She got very calm and then very sad … and [the next] Tomorrow she was still down in the dumps. “
The two chatted about how Scarlett was feeling and what to do about it, and came up with a solution.
It consists of Scarlett selling Anzac packages of poppy and rosemary seedlings from Flanders for $ 5. All proceeds go to Legacy and their local RSL.
Rosemary seedlings and poppy seeds make up Scarlett’s Anzac Day fundraiser. (
Delivered: Genevieve House
)
“She has received a lot of encouragement and praise for the Anzac packages from her customers,” said Ms. House.
Future fundraisers will investigate both.
Spending time in the garden remains a priority for Scarlett.
As an adult, would she still enjoy gardening?
You “would sure!”
