Shop to Open in Place of Plant Nursery

Just in time for Earth Day, Lee Keil is opening a shop Saturday that will specialize in "self-reliant and sustainable" products.

The Huntington resident's store, named New York Thrives, is taking over the space vacated by , which shut down this winter.

Keil said the shop will offer such products as foods for campers and travelers, bees, chicken coops, seeds and other products that will help people be self-sufficient.

"We have lost track of how to take care of ourselves," she said. "My whole idea is a continuum--we should have emergency ladders, extinguishers, a repair kit in the car. We always need to be prepared." She plans to add workshops on such topics as composting, hydroponics and more.

Keil, who participated in a day-long conference at Farmingdale State College on homegrown food, expects to have Steve Brill, known as Wildman, lead a workshop at her new store. Brill is a lecturer and leader of tours on foraging and spoke Friday at the Farmingdale conference.

The store opens Saturday at 9 a.m. Keil said she plans, for now, to operate the store Thursdays through Sundays.