Time to reopen the Little Shop at the end of the garden!

Had a chat today with the Shopkeeper at the end of the garden. Wished him a Happy New year, and asked him if he had any plans for 2026.
He scratched his bristly chin, looked to the heavens and eventually said "Yes, I do".

I waited, and waited, for him to tell me a little about his plans but he wasn't very forthcoming. Maybe he's afraid of making plans that he can't deliver.
Eventually he said that he's thinking of opening a Serve yourself Salad Bar for the locals to pop into to grab their lunch. I told him that I thought it was a very good idea and I would be a regular customer.
My approval seemed to give him the confidence to tell me more, and this one really took me aback as it was so out of character........you'll never guess what!!
He's thinking of selling flowers, once a week, probably on a Friday. He's hoping that his customers will place a weekly order for a bunch of flowers.
He's clearly a bit out of his comfort zone growing flowers, and I can't offer any guidance. It'll be interesting to see what he has for sale, especially if he wants to have flowers for sale all year round.
I promised to go back tomorrow for a salad and to see what veg he has on the shelves.

I think that if he sold meat it might boost his sales? Nothing special, mayybe poultry, rabbits or sea food would be a good source of protein & 0mega 3  fat to sell?

I don't think there would be any demand for anything like that, Vinny. If that's what you want you should have a word with your shopkeeper!
Mine used to sell eggs and honey but decided to concentrate on vegetables and fruit.

My shopkeeper is being very indecisive at the moment. One minute he has big plans to improve on last year’s stock. The next he’s closed for a big shop refurbishment. It’s very difficult to get much sense out of him. It all depends on what the neighbour is doing over the growing season with their building works. Apparently getting any sense out of that fella is incredibly difficult and then it’s not always to be believed!
As it stands at the moment with the shop at the end of the garden is to have a reduced section of vegetables/ salad and flowers. He wants to mainly concentrate on what is already in place and to add more structural elements to the shop this year.
His plans for the finished shop sound amazing and haven’t really changed much since the shop was relocated. I think he’s just getting very frustrated with how long it’s all taking!

I think my shopkeeper has hibernated not seen them for a while, someone's been tending to the GH lettuce the rest of the garden looks neglected.
I must go poke them one of these day.

I visited my little shop yesterday before the cold set it. There was note on the door 'Closed for Renovation'. There weren't many signs of ongoing work, just a few bits and bobs outside struggling with the weather. A few very small carrots, a single stray chard plant and a very sad looking pot of peas. There was a note to help yourself, but to my eyes there wasn't much to help yourself from. I hear rumours he's rather nesh and doesn’t like the cold. He's probably gone to the Costa Brava for the winter. I did take some parsley and put a few pennies in the honesty box.

I don't think there would be any demand for anything like that, Vinny. If that's what you want you should have a word with your shopkeeper!
Mine used to sell eggs and honey but decided to concentrate on vegetables and fruit.

Mine used to sell eggs and treat me to summer chicken BBQ's, but not now!

The little shop is having a tomato themed festival this year. At the moment there’s just lots of posters and promises of what’s to come. On the run up to tomato season. The shopkeeper is giving information on a different variety and recipes every week. He does have a sad looking selection of rhubarb. A few carrots that have stored well over winter. Very soon a delivery of asparagus. Apparently he’s just done a really good deal on swede & turnips. So they will be stocking the shelves later in the year. Also purple potatoes. He has his fingers crossed for another reasonable selection of cut flowers again this year. Think that’s more for his personal enjoyment, he never seems to sell many.
While he’s still completing the building works on the shop ( 4 years on! ). He is very good at keeping the customers updated on the next stage or new design and features. Some of which are going to be quite unique, if I understand the crazed & excited explanations, that he can’t wait to share at every opportunity. He’s hoping a little more progress will be made this year.

My little shop is showing a promise of things to come. Like yours SC he concentrates on tomatoes but it will a fair few weeks before he'll have any to sell. I bought some chard yesterday. He apologised that it was last season's and not the best spring quality but it was all he had. The fresh asparagus he had was splendid but in very short supply. He said once the warmer weather arrives there'll be the usual produce and says the broad beans are in flower and raring to go. Not long to wait.