Sometimes hardships can lead to the best outcome, and this is what happened to Asadullah Parker. In 2020 Parker graduated with a BCom financial accounting degree from the University of the Western Cape. But the world went into a hard lockdown making it difficult for graduates to find a job. Eventually, he started gardening and an entire business bloomed from boredom.
In Grassy Park, Cape Town, Parker found solace in gardening during the pandemic. Reigniting a passion from early childhood and eventually seeing the opportunity to create a business.
“I always gravitated towards gardening. I have an early childhood memory of growing chilli plants,” he says.
Kicking off the nursery
Parker launched Paradise Nursery in 2020 selling seedlings, full-grown plants and vegetables grown in his mother’s backyard.
He also sells berries, apples and citrus trees, as well as succulents, soil and different size plant boxes.
“Nurseries want to sell you a product, but they don’t really teach you how to take care of that plant once you purchase it. They don’t teach you how to make your own compost or fertilisers, and they don’t teach you how to make your own, which you can,” he says.
Utilising social media
Starting a business during the pandemic was challenging, but Parker used social media to his advantage. Initially, there were too many plants growing, and he was running out of space to keep the plants. He then decided to advertise the chilli plants via Facebook Marketplace and business started booming.
“From how quickly the chillies sold out and from where the people came, I realized two things: firstly there is a demand in my area and there is a demand for a nursery that can deliver.”
Today, Parker is an influencer with 36 000 followers on Tik Tok, helping gardeners with simple tips and tricks to grow and maintain their produce.
Tips from Parker to potential agripreneurs
- Do your research on your product and start small.
- Utilise social media to your advantage.
- Strive to have multiple sources of income.
The best part about starting Paradise Nursery was the fact that it was low on costs, Parker says. He used the seeds and products that were used in his household to grow seedlings and plants.
However, he also had a part-time job that helped keep the business afloat. He continues to have a side hustle today because he believes in having multiple income streams.
“I am proud of what I was able to accomplish with the little resources I have. It took a lot of sacrifices, instead of enjoying the profits I had to reinvest in the business,” says Parker.
ALSO READ: Agripreneur 101: This accountant now runs a saucy side-hustle
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