Fundraise With A
Plant Sale
Have you got greenfingers?
A plant sale is a great way to fundraise
A plant sale is really easy to organise and a great excuse for keen gardeners to get together and raise money for charity.
Planning and advertising
You need to plan and advertise your event well in advance.
This will allow everyone time to sow extra seeds, take cuttings, pot stuff on and anything else necessary to have some spare plants for the sale.
Timing depends on many factors - not least where you live in the world. Late spring / early summer is generally best.
You will need plenty of advertising in the fortnight leading up to your plant sale
Choosing a venue
Your sale can take place in a hall or social club. They are always much nicer, however, out of doors. Perhaps you can use a school playing field or village green.
Another idea is to use someone's garden or allotment. Sometimes it is possible to combine allowing visitors to look around a particularly fabulous garden (for a small charge) with your sale.
Would you be better off with a stall at someone else's event?
If you can't arrange an entire sale why not piggyback on something else such as a village fete. Another option might be collecting plant donations for a stall at a market or car boot sale.
Selling the plants
This can be organized in various ways. You may wish to simply have everything laid out together.
Or you might allow everyone to be responsible for selling what they have brought along on their own little stall.
Although we want to raise as much money as much as possible be realistic about your pricing - keep it fun and friendly. Picking up a bargain tray of bedding plants grown by that green-fingered lady at the end of your road is what its all about.
Maybe a plant swap fundraiser is a better idea?
If you do things this way you simply charge an entrance fee and then allow people to make their own deals. Similarly seed swaps are popular.
Invite an expert
Is there a local expert you could invite along. A 15 minute talk or demo on a garden topic can only add to the day. Local garden maintenance companies or garden designers may be willing to come along in exchange for the opportunity to promote their services.
Another good source for a local garden expert is your local radio station many of whom have a garden show. Could you get them to come along?
Something for the kids
Well it can get a bit dull. What with all the grown ups just hanging around talking begonias! How about a garden on a paper plate competition. Kids build a little toy garden in advance and bring it along for judging. Common features are moss for grass, sticks for trees, grit for paths, handbag mirrors for ponds etc
Don't forget the refreshments
Gardeners are a friendly lot and your sale should be a real
opportunity to socialise. Offering home-made refreshments helps add to
the fun and boosts the coffers further. A cream tea in a beautiful
garden chatting to your friends - what could be better?
All in all a plant sale is a great way to fundraise. It brings in the cash but also can be one of those lovely community events which sends everyone home happy.
