Hope Blooms gets new greenhouse from building group

A building group is lending a hand to Nova Scotia's most famous young entrepreneurs.

Build Right Nova Scotia, a newly formed partnership between unionized contractors and the building trades, will be constructing a new, state-of-the-art greenhouse for the youth-run company Hope Blooms.

The group will provide all of the supplies and labour to build the greenhouse.

"It's all about making their vision a reality," said Jon Mullin, vice-president of Aecon Buildings Atlantic and Chairman of the Nova Scotia Construction Labour Relations Association.

He is also lead contractor on the project.

"As soon as I heard the story of Hope Blooms, I knew this would be a great project for Build Right Nova Scotia. It is a way to invest in the community while encouraging our children to learn and grow," said Mullin.

"The youth of Hope Blooms are the future leaders of our province and it is important to us that they are involved with every step, from design concept to adding the final touches."

Construction will begin sometime in the spring, after location and design details are finalized.

"This will allow us to grow Hope Blooms and help our community more," said Tiffany Calvin, the 12-year-old spokesperson for Hope Blooms.

"We can put money into our scholarship funds to get more education, a career and a better life. All of us are so excited and so thankful."

"It will help grow our community and let us grow our herbs year round. I'll get the chance to work side by side with experts in a career I would like to go into. It's awesome. I have learned from gardening that we are better together," said Kolade Boboye, the 14-year-old greenhouse supervisor.

The Hope Blooms venture began when the Halifax youngsters took over an abandoned garden, cultivating herbs and vegetables they turned into a line of organic salad dressings.

After initial success, the group found itself unable to keep up with demand and turned its attention to expansion and to CBC's Dragons' Den.

Last November, the group asked the show's investors for a $10,000 loan in exchange for five per cent royalties until the loan was paid back for their budding company. They got four of the five investors on board and walked away with $40,000 no strings attached.