Click Here to see some Ganja Tree Pics!

Check Out the Ganja Tree Sitar

Gary on  our sitar & John on his banjo, live on Dundas St. @ Godivas Ganja Tree October 2007

Hemp culture focus of new city shop
Jim Bender holding contest to name new business

By Carla Garrett STAFF WRITER

Tuesday August 14, 2007

WOODSTOCK - Local business owner Jim Bender has appealed to the public to help name his second shop slated to open in Woodstock in September.
"We have got hundreds of responses," said Bender, who also owns Lady Godivas at 354 Dundas St. "And they are all good."
He said because Woodstock has been so good to them, they wanted to do something to involve the community.

"Woodstock has been a great community and the support here is awesome," Bender said.
The shop, described as a lighter version of Lady Godivas, will be located at 519 Dundas St. (the old Magic Mountain). No adult merchandise will be sold at this location, Bender said. This, he added, will encourage shoppers who may otherwise be uncomfortable coming into an "adult store."

The new store will focus on hemp culture, offering bongs, pipes, body jewelry and hemp fashions. Clothing made from recycled materials will also be sold.

Potential names pitched so far include The Electric Leaf, Weedstock, Forever Green and Happy Hippy’s.

"We will carry a new array of products we weren’t able to before because of space," said Bender, adding they have a warehouse full of new products ready to be sold.

This includes a new line of eco-friendly products and organic foods.

"It’s an interesting slant on things," he said, given he and his wife’s fight to protect the city’s green space.

Lady Godivas has been operating in the city since 1996 and has grown to its capacity, Bender said

"It gets really crowded," he said, adding there were about 35 people browsing through the store this past weekend. "It’s a madhouse."

The new store is large enough for further expansion in the future, he added. The Benders are hiring for the new shop and are currently accepting resumés.

As for the Name That Shop contest, you can send your suggestions to ladygodiva@sympatico.ca or call 519-537-8144. Bender said they will either draw a name or hold a vote at the end of the month