Green-thumbed Thai cabbies turn taxis into gardens amid COVID-19 crunch | CBC News

As a result, the co-operative grows vegetables on the roofs and hoods of 300 disused cabs, providing its drivers and members with food to share while sending a message to the government to do more to help with the hardship.

“We discussed among each other and decided to grow vegetables to eat because there is no use for these taxis,” said Thapakorn Asawalertkul, a business consultant for the company.

“They have become just metal as they’ve been parking for over a year now.”

Thailand has recorded more than 1.5 million coronavirus cases and more than 15,600 deaths, 99 per cent of them since April this year. Just over 21 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated.

On hundreds of pink and orange taxis, chilis, eggplants, cucumbers and basil leaves sprout from soil contained in black plastic sheeting reinforced with bamboo or wooden poles.

Kamolporn Boonnitiyong, an administrator with the company, said though the gardens keep people occupied, they are only a temporary fix.

“To a certain extent, it has helped with lessening our stress, but it isn’t really the answer,” Kamolporn said.

Coping with the costs of COVID-19

How are some Canadian operations dealing with the financial fallout of the pandemic?

COVID-19 and the regulations put in place to slow its transmission have put serious strain on businesses in Canada. For some business operators, there was no pivot to make, and they closed their doors for good. But for others, making a shift was an option worth exploring.

Here’s a look at how some people and businesses adapted amid a pandemic and a bruising economic environment.