• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

RVA Mag

Richmond, VA Culture & Politics Since 2005

Menu RVA Mag Logo
  • community
  • MUSIC
  • ART
  • EAT DRINK
  • GAYRVA
  • POLITICS
  • PHOTO
  • EVENTS
  • MAGAZINE
RVA Mag Logo
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contributors
  • Sponsors

Community-Focused CBD and Agriculture Shop to Open in Scott’s Addition

Noah Daboul | June 23, 2020

Topics: agricultural supply, Arthur Ashe Boulevard, business, CBD, cbd store, chris haynie, community, happy trees, happy trees agricultural supply, josiah ickes, new business, scotts addition

Happy Trees Agricultural Supply can’t wait to bring high-quality CBD and knowledge of sustainable farming to Richmonders.

A new community-based CBD supply store is set to open in Richmond in the coming weeks. Happy Trees Agricultural Supply in Scott’s Addition is the brainchild of Josiah Ickes and Chris Haynie, who are both firm believers in the medicinal benefits of CBD — and wanted to create a space for the Richmond community to be able to learn about it.

“We wanted to have a community-based approach to CBD production, CBD consultation, and all things CBD,” said Ickes. “It is the community’s medicine.” 

Photo courtesy Happy Trees Agricultural Supply

The new storefront is located at 1020 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. Ickes said that in the Richmond area, there is not currently a place to get all the expertise and advice for growing your own food and medicine that Happy Trees will be able to dispense. 

“We wanted to create a one-stop shop to get all of the supplies, advice, or consultation you need,” he said. “We’ll also be teaching monthly classes on one skill or another. We want to bring in the brightest minds and best technology to find the best ways to grow food and medicine, and help to tackle climate change.” 

Ickes said that he became interested in the CBD industry because of the medical benefits of CBD, and the sustainability that growing food and medicine teaches in general. While it’s always going to be what catches people’s attention first, Happy Trees does not solely focus on CBD; they’re focused on teaching growing and sustainability as well.

“If this COVID-19 thing has shown us anything, it’s that we need a lot of options for food. When people are clearing out the shelves and people are scared, certain things aren’t available,” Ickes said. “So if they can learn to grow things themselves and be self-sustainable, then they have that technique.” 

Photo courtesy Happy Trees Agricultural Supply

Since part of their goal is to be community-focused, Ickes and Haynie have kept their whole CBD supply chain as Virginia-based as possible.

“I ended up partnering with a friend of mine in Powhatan,” said Haynie. “He had a hemp license and was growing basil at his property, but the basil didn’t work out. He asked me to help him start a small hemp operation in his greenhouse, and we ended up planting far too many for this season.” 

According to Ickes, this is what sets their CBD apart from other places to obtain CBD products, like smoke shops and convenience stores. 

“You don’t know where that stuff comes from,” said Ickes. “We know where ours does, even back to the farm.”

“I’m a registered agent under my farm partner’s hemp license,” said Haynie. “We produce at his location, which has been vetted by VDACS (Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services). They make you send in GPS coordinates for your fields, and file planting reports, which tells them what you’re growing and when you’ll harvest it. We felt that the best way to deliver the product to the community would be a retail store.” 

When it comes to regulations on CBD and hemp-based products, Haynie’s looking positively toward the future. Recent legislation has come in Virginia this year that regulates the growing market for CBD in the Commonwealth. 

Photo courtesy Happy Trees Agricultural Supply

“Virginia did a good thing when they set up the hemp regulations,” Haynie said. “Some other places [made] farmers jump through a ridiculous amount of hoops, to the point where it was discouraging. The state of Virginia fell back on our heritage as agricultural producers, and said, ‘You know what, guys? These are the rules. Do what you’re supposed to do, and we’re not going to make it hard for you.’”

Happy Trees was set to open on June 1, but they have decided to wait a little longer amidst recent events and large protests in the city. Keep up with them on Facebook and Instagram for updates to learn more about agriculture and sustainability in Richmond. 

Top Photo courtesy Happy Trees Agricultural Supply

Try Your Green Thumb at Richmond’s PlantBar

Kaitlin Edwardson | February 13, 2020

Topics: bailey ryan, build your own terrarium, environment, events richmond va, fan district, local business, new business, plant bar, plantbar, plantbar rva, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, terrarium, things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va

Whether you’re an experienced terrarium builder or just starting out, PlantBar RVA is ready to help make your green dreams a reality. 

If your room is looking a little plain and needs a pop of color, look no further than PlantBar RVA. A terrarium workshop and plant store, the colorful shop on Cary Street is an interactive way to make your own terrariums, buy plants, and learn more about taking care of the ones in your home. 

PHOTO: PlantBar RVA

PlantBar began as a plant importing business supplying Amazon, Zullily, and Terrain Garden Centers in 2012. It now has two locations: the flagship store in Virginia Beach, and a newer store in Richmond’s Fan District. The owner, Bailey Ryan, always wanted to expand into Richmond because of the local arts community.

“It had been in planning for over two years, and it took nearly six months to find the perfect space,” Ryan said. “We think we found the perfect home in the Fan!” 

If you’re a first-time PlantBar visitor, Ryan suggests starting with a walk-in appointment. Don’t worry about having a busy schedule; you can walk in anytime, seven days a week, up until an hour before the store closes. Additionally, creating a terrarium to bring home can take as little as 15 minutes if you’re working on a smaller project. 

PHOTO: PlantBar RVA

If you’d like to build your own, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 — just walk in, let an employee know you want to make a terrarium, then grab a drink and start building. With plenty of options, their prices are all-inclusive and range anywhere from $20 to $100. They also host evening workshops for newcomers every Thursday through Saturday from 6:30-8pm, and they cost $35 to attend. 

“You can choose any terrarium from our glass wall. A member of our staff will walk you through the different plant options, care, how to build your terrarium, and give you tips on décor,” Ryan said. “You can use any items on the worktable such as seashells, moss, sand, rocks, and dried florals. We give you the guidelines, but you’re able to express as much of your individual style as you’d like.” 

PlantBar recently started hosting yoga and meditation workshops on Sunday mornings. These typically book to capacity about two weeks in advance, so you’ll want to plan ahead to attend. For larger groups and parties, they also host private events for social and corporate groups. 

PHOTO: PlantBar RVA

While their customers usually ranged from ages 25-36 before moving to Richmond, PlantBar is seeing a wider demographic in their new location. They’re set to open in Charlotte, NC this spring, and with hopeful plans for Raleigh on the horizon, their opportunities for do-it-yourself terrariums are growing for more cities south of Virginia. 

If you’re planning a visit to PlantBar soon, be sure to check out their free potting service and various workshops. Walk-in hours have no age limit, but keep in mind that evening classes are for ages 16 and up — and if you’re feeling thirsty, complimentary beer and wine is available for everyone above 21. 

Visit their website for more information, and find PlantBar on Facebook and Instagram to see more of their lush locations and terrarium varieties. 

sidebar

sidebar-alt

Copyright © 2021 · RVA Magazine on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Close

    Event Details

    Please fill out the form below to suggest an event to us. We will get back to you with further information.


    OR Free Event

    CONTACT: [email protected]