France Bournezell smiled as she surveyed her just opened Russell Farm Garden Centre in Crofton on Tuesday. The worst flooding in decades tore through the market in February, shutting down business as she and her employees knew it completely for over two months. “It was heartbreaking,” said Bournezell. “Out of my mess I have to look at the positive in life and keep going and make a go, don’t give up.” “This is the first step to opening the market back up,” said market employee Jacqueline McQuinn. “So that’s like a breath of fresh air that we’re going to get there.” Yet it comes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.“There’s a lot of disaster lately,” said Bournezell. Still, vegetables are a hot commodity right now with many worried about food security. “You see people that have just gardened small are now going to be gardening more,” said McQuinn. Crofton resident Brenda Netley said she couldn’t wait to get her hands dirty. “It’s time to get in the garden,” said Netley. “Our beds are ready to go but I can’t find seeds but there’s lots here today so I’m pretty happy.” “It’s food to your soul,” said Bournezell. Bournzell hopes her own business’ recovery plants hope in the thousands of other Vancouver Island businesses that have had to suddenly close due to COVID-19.