From compost to nursery station: Gardeners rescue unloved plants and find homes for them

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One of the first donors, who asked for help from Nora Hürlimann (39) and Kristina Hodel (38), had a tree problem in her room. The old woman took care of her two brothers in the fig tree for 30 years. The trees grew for 30 years and did not want to stop. The pair of trees were in danger of growing over the old woman’s head in the small living room. Hürlimann and Hodel went to the donor and took the trees to the second-hand plant store. “It was clear that the woman was attached to the plants. At the same time, you felt a great sense of relief because there was much more space in her house after she was taken away. “She thanked me very much,” says Nora Hürlimann, taking a sip of her coffee.

Plants left open in front of the door

The gardener has been operating the brocki plant in Bern together with his colleague Kristina Hodel since 2022. The idea behind it: View plants not as disposable decorative items, but as long-lasting creatures that don’t need to look perfect. The duo wants to use local resources for as long as possible in the spirit of the circular economy. From the avocado tree to the coffee tree, all the plants come from donors or are rescued from green waste, compost or waste. It’s like being in an animal shelter. Some of the plants appeared in front of Brocki’s door.

The offer looks different every day. “We are currently facing a dragon tree infestation resulting from an office liquidation,” says Kristina Hodel. After the rescue missions, the founders have more work to do: the gardeners are relocating all the new arrivals before selling them. They nurture plants in poor condition at the nursery station in the store.

Customer happiness thanks to the restaurant

Approximately 25 customers come through the sliding doors of the Brocki factory every day. Everyone comes, from children to teenagers to retirees. The special location with high glazed windows in the old fire hall not only pays off visually: where fire trucks used to wait to be deployed, there are now tables and food dispensers next to the facilities. Plant Brocki shares the fire station with an unpackaged store and restaurant, which brings more customers to Brocki.

Prices from 2 to 800 francs

The two entrepreneurs can now make a modest living from plants. Nora Hürlimann says she would earn more as a working garden designer. Kristina Hodel says she would have earned less at her old job as a florist. The two women work alternately in the shop, which is part of the “Feuerwehr Viktoria” cooperative.

The price range in the plant paradise is wide: “We try to offer fair prices,” says Kristina Hodel. Small potted plants start from two francs, while rare ones can cost several hundred francs. One such rare find grows in the store’s backyard. These are olive trees that will be sold for 800 francs each. The plants are over 25 years old and were used as decorations at a promotional event.

Save on exhaust gases and waste

Buying plants second-hand often makes more sense from an ecological perspective than buying them from the supermarket or garden centre, or ordering them online. “Some people think it’s part of nature, innocent; unfortunately it’s not that simple,” says Nora Hürlimann. Problem: Plants in the retail trade are often grown in greenhouses for months and imported from abroad, resulting in a lot of emissions and packaging waste.

like family members

In order for the plants to last long, it is important for Plantbrocki owners to advise their customers on care. They offer watering and location tips in store and on Instagram. Their fascination with green creatures also stems from the fact that some plants can grow very old. For some, plants are like family members, or at least cherished heirlooms: “I am amazed when my 94-year-old neighbor shows me her cactus and tells me it was a gift from her mother,” says Nora Hürlimann.

Basel plant brochi in planning

The gardening duo, who have known each other since their apprenticeships at the old Niederlenz horticultural school, hope that the brockis plant will become even more widespread. Similar stores already exist in Davos GR, Gutenburg BE and Embrach ZH, and another brocki facility is planned in Basel.

Source : Blick