Succulents, house plants, flower candles and cactus cookies are just a few of the products you can find at The Succulent Hippie, Hanover's all-inclusive plant shop.

Shannon Strevig opened her store this year, turning her hobby into a full-time job, and bringing a different kind of business to her hometown, while supporting local artists.

However, she was not always a plant lover.

"I didn't have house plants before, and I didn't know how to take care of them — I didn't really see myself as a plant person," Strevig said.

Her heart was not even set on opening a business, she was actually studying to be a nurse.   

While attending Penn State Mont Alto, Strevig picked up this hobby when she and her fiancée purchased their home in April, 2020. 

While working full-time and attending school, Strevig was looking for something fun to do that could help earn extra money. 

"I decided to start doing succulent arrangements for my friends and family," she said. 

Succulents are small, decorative and fairly low maintenance plants, usually requiring minimal water and attention, unlike other house plants.

After graduating in December 2020, Strevig was suffering from a broken hip and received news that she would be out of work for a year and a half.

"I thought OK, now I'm bed bound, so I'll just go for my masters degree online," she said.

That's when she took her plant business more seriously, and even started a Facebook page: The Succulent Hippie. 

"I knew that if I didn't work hard, I wouldn't have any income, and I really didn't want to rely on anyone else."

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Taking matters into her own hands, Strevig was learning everything she could about plants, from understanding the hundreds of different types, to learning how to properly care for them.

"I think people just liked the arrangements I was making, and people just kept asking for more, and I didn't even plan on it growing as much as it did — it just happened." 

In December 2021, Strevig graduated with her masters degree and was cleared from her injury, but she put a career in healthcare on hold to purse her new passion. 

Deciding to opt out of nursing and open her own business was not an easy decision, and Strevig knew it was a risk, but she said once she starts something, she will work through it until the end.   

"It's easy to throw your hands up when things get hard, but you have to keep moving," she said.

In a few short months, this 24-year-old put all her time, energy and focus into planning and eventually opening her plant shop in January, 2022. 

The Succulent Hippie is Hanover's first all-inclusive plant shop located at 131 Broadway, Hanover. 

The shelves are full of house plants, nursery pots, succulents and a variety of plant-related goods such as handmade jewelry and apparel made by local artists.

"I want to be the place where local artists can come and share their creations and to let them start to their business and help them, because I didn't always have that help."

Other items include drinkware such as "plant mom" mugs, a selection of temporary plant-themed tattoos, and even homemade cactus cookies.

"I want other girls to realize that just because you're young, you can do anything if you really want it — you just have to see the hope within yourself."

Plants are a niche item, and Strevig said they really do bring people together and have allowed her to meet many new people through her journey so far.

"I love helping others, and listening to all the stories shared about plants and sometimes personal life things. I want to spread the joy of plants to every household."

Lena Tzivekis is a reporter for the Evening Sun. Follow her Twitter at @tzivekis, and say hi, or let her know where to get the best cup of coffee!