My name is Shelby Bigler, my husband Corey and I own Premier Growers Inc located in St. James City on Pine Island, Florida. On September 28, 2022 Hurricane Ian hit our island and caused devastating damage to our nursery. It has been over a month now since Hurricane Ian, and the funding we were hoping for isnt going to happen. If it does, it is not in the timeframe needed to keep Premier Growers open! We have grown over the years and our palm customers that support us are the absolute best. Our Collectors, Newbies, Seasonal, Regulars, Edison Show-Goers, you know who you are. We all have a little “palm geek” in us and that is what connected us. Growing palm trees for ALL OF YOU is our happy place, and right now we do not have that. We did not want to go this route inititally, but right now it is our last hope in keeping our nursery going. The funds raised will go directly to rebuilding a stronger pole barn, (Hurricane Ian took down the one we saved up years to build, it was only up for a couple of months before the storm took it away from us) Under that pole barn, planting and germination areas will be rebuilt. Our greenhouse needs to be recovered, our shadehouse needs a complete rebuild and recovering. As the days go on over a month after the storm, our palms that we thought made it, actually did not. (Some of these species are irreplaceable) Most floated away in the storm surge, so rebuilding our inventory is a must. We know of so many others that also need assistance after this devastating storm, so we truly appreciate each and every one of you! From two palm lovers to another…thank you!

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