At Perry Wellness Center, our largest community outreach and fundraising arm of the recovery center is found at Rudy’s Happy Patch Market. Based on a farm-to-table model for healthy nutrition, Happy Patch offers local and South Georgia produce, as well as a variety of flowers, blooming trees and bushes, hanging baskets, and garden décor.

PWC founder and CEO Stuart Perry came by his love of gardening naturally, as his parents maintained a large greenhouse that sold produce and other plants to others in rural Marion County, Georgia. Now he helps carry on that small-town tradition on the PWC campus. Numerous greenhouses nurture young or repotted plants of all varieties. Other plants fill the market and walkways of the campus.

Stuart explains that his support of the market is based on more than childhood nostalgia, saying: “Numbers are important to me. It starts with supporting our peer population, being able to purchase food and supplies needed for our classrooms, and providing socialization for peer members with the general public as a more ‘open’ campus. Stigma is reduced through interaction among peers, staff, regular customers, and the general public.”

Now, as the market prepares to reopen for the spring and summer seasons, Stuart reminds market staff of the need to focus on the broadening customer base, asking about needed changes for increased customer satisfaction. Providing service so that customers leave with a smile is a long-standing standard for the market, as well as a clean, well-stocked inventory with both new products and longtime favorites. 

After a winter hiatus, Happy Patch is prepared for its spring re-opening in March. As shown in the photo above, the campus is sparkling, with out of season inventory cleared away. Market shelves, greenhouses, and pathways will soon fill with newly blooming plants. We hope to see our loyal customers very soon.