Bring the garden inside

Spring has arrived, or so it seems. In Tehachapi you never quite know what season it is. The local joke is that Tehachapi is the land of four seasons...all in one day.

The sunny days and warmer weather can inspire folks to get out of the house and work in their yard. But there's one thing that you can enjoy regardless of the weather and that's indoor plants. Several studies have shown that an indoor garden can improve your mood, reduce stress and clear the air of toxins. With all those benefits in mind, the Healthy Hippie Trading Co., a boutique in Old Town, Tehachapi carries a wide assortment of indoor plants.

Hippie owner, Sarah Rose is a huge plant lover, both indoor and out.

"Plants have always been an important part of my life. When I opened the Hippie I had a vision of big over grown ferns in every corner and trailing pothos drooping from shelves and cupboards. And of course, no hippie shop would be complete without macrame plant hangers and shelves," she said.

With the help of local plant lover, Sarah Frantz, owner of Sarah Jane's Garden, that dream is coming to life.

"Sarah has brought in some of the most delightful plants that she has grown from cuttings," owner Sarah says. "She calls the plants her 'babies' and lovingly cares for each one, coming into the store several times a week to check on them. You can feel comfortable that any plant you buy from Sarah Jane's Garden will be healthy and free of pests."

For the outdoor garden lovers, Sarah tells us that the Hippie will soon be selling locally propagated vegetables and herbs.

"I'm so grateful for all the talented people in our community who not only have green thumbs but like to share with the rest of us. One of our residents has cultivated tomatoes, artichoke, basil, butterfly pea, marjoram, thyme, peppers, sage, lavender and a couple of types of flowers from seed and will be bringing in the seedlings in to sell," she said.

To keep the hippie theme going, the store also carries the macrame plant hangers and shelves Sarah had envisioned.

"I met an artist at Oktoberfest who makes various macrame items. I became an instant fan and bought several of her pieces to sell at the store. They were a hit and sold out quickly. She's continued to keep me in stock since then," Sarah said.

The Healthy Hippie Trading Co. is located at 20418 Brian Way and is open six days a week, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m Tuesday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sundays.