Growing Grounds Downtown, a non-profit plant store located in San Luis Obispo, is helping the community grow in more ways than expected. The store is part of a social enterprise that focuses on providing training and employment for those struggling with severe mental illness, and they’re doing it with the power of plants.

Eric Blanco is the director of vocational services with Transitions Mental Health Association, the organization that operates the Growing Grounds enterprise. “It started with the mission that it has now, to provide employment to individuals struggling with mental illness,” Blanco said. 

Individuals seeking employment through SLO County will be directed to Growing Grounds as an option. The county is able to help keep the enterprise running, and as a result, unemployed SLO County residents are given a chance to reenter the workforce. “We serve about 25 people here a year,” Blanco said.

Besides plants, you can find items like plant guides and unique pots, as well as stickers, local honey, fun hats and more. The store carries all local products to help support the small businesses in the county. The Growing Grounds nursery provides some of the plants, but they also buy from other nurseries. Blanco said working in a plant-filled environment can be therapeutic. “I’ve never had a bad day working here,” he said.

Another creative way they found to help the community is through their centerpiece lending program. Blanco talked about how expensive nice centerpieces can be, so the store lends them for only $5 each. People can host more affordably and showcase the products that Growing Grounds is selling.

Growing Grounds Downtown is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Even if you don’t have a broad knowledge of plants, staff members are there to help. For more information on the Growing Grounds enterprise, visit its website.