As the pandemic continues and cases keep rising, businesses are struggling to stay afloat. Throughout the whole lockdown period, we’ve seen many small and big businesses closing permanently already and many more may be closing soon.
Penang’s Tropical Spice Garden (TSG) is not spared from this as, after 18 months of uncertainty and spotty income, Tropical Spice Garden in Teluk Bahang is facing permanent closure as its funds run dry.
Owner Katharine Joan Chua said the tourism spot has had close to zero income and they have depleted most of the company’s savings since the Covid-19 pandemic hit last year.
How To Help Tropical Spice Garden
The eco-attraction launched its crowdfunding campaign “Join the Family, Save the Garden” to raise the vital funds it needs to remain operational and to re-open when restrictions are lifted.
The campaign which was launched on the 1st of August aims to raise the funds needed through subscription to its community-powered garden membership program, Spice Fam. Donations from the public are also accepted through its campaign page.
Supporters can opt to join the TSG Spice Fam monthly membership programme or donate directly to the garden. Katharine also posted the same plea on the TSG website, explaining that they needed the funds to stay open and survive the prolonged closure.
She said TSG was only able to open to visitors for an accumulated four to five months over the last 18 months while most of the time, they had to close due to the different iterations of the movement control order (MCO).
For as low as RM25/month, the Spice Fam subscription will allow members unlimited entry to the Garden, join monthly activities, events, virtual classes, and workshops (currently ongoing) from anywhere in the world. Members are also entitled to exclusive garden camping passes.
“Your Spice Fam subscription is more than just money, it’s the garden’s lifeline to stay open. In return, I hope that we’ll be able to bring you and your loved ones closer together in nature. We’re just getting started, as there is so much in store for everyone in the years to come.” said Katharine.
At TSG, there are plants such as bromeliads, various types of palms, orchids, heliconias, begonias, aroids, and spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, clove, allspice, ginger, turmeric, cassia, galangal, fingerroot, pandan, curry leaf, asam gelugur and many more.
For more information on TSGs Join the Family, Save the Garden campaign, click here, or you can support them through their online shop.
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Feature Photo Credit: @tropicalspicegarden
