Plant Sales and Farm Stands

Thinking of hosting a plant sale or farm stand at your school garden? What do you want students to learn from the experience? Do you hope to finance some of your projects with the proceeds? Can you commit to holding the sale or stand for more than one year to let the event gain momentum? Consider taking a field trip to a local plant sale or Farmers Market to get an idea of what is required and garner some tips.

Here are some examples of school garden plant sales and farmers markets for ideas and inspiration:

Edna Drinkwater School

Each spring the 5th-6th graders start seedlings in the school greenhouse and then host an annual Plant Sale fundraiser which always shows strong community support of the Drinkwater garden and greenhouse project. Students are involved in all aspects of the sale, from researching seed varieties, starting seedlings, caring for seedlings in school greenhouse, designing advertising for the plant sale and learning about customer service and other business skills while running the sale. For the last three summers they have also offered a Summer Farm Stand Program for middle school students. The students learn all aspects of running a farm stand, from harvesting, washing and bunching produce in their own wash station, to advertising, displaying produce and other student-made products like beeswax wraps, customer service, and handling money. The community is very involved in supporting the farm stand.

Camden Hills Regional High School

The greenhouse program has a very popular plant sale each year. Currently the plant and compost sale earns around $6000 annually. The income generated from this sale is used to pay students to work in the garden over the summer, as well as fund materials for the greenhouse and other sustainability projects.

Cascade Brooks Elementary School

Without a hoop house or greenhouse area, students start seedlings indoors in April and store them on window sills, in the teachers lounge, the school library or just about anywhere in the school that they can accommodate seed trays! Students take care of them. A Seedling Fundraiser supplements the costs of the programs and is supported by the entire school community.

Traip Greenhouse and Garden

Students help to grow herbs, vegetables, annual and perennial flowers during the school year as well as fruit such as honey berries, blueberries, raspberries, elderberries, peaches, blackberries and apples. Half of the plants they grow are sold during their annual May Plant Sale. The money raised supports their program.

Once school is out, the summer program starts using student interns and community volunteers. Students can apply for one of the 8-10 garden internship positions which last ten weeks and are paid minimum wage. The focus of the summer work revolves around a Saturday Farmer’s Market. Held right at their garden, they offer tours for their customers as well as a pick on demand service. In addition to selling fruit and vegetables, they also offer ready made bouquets.

What should you sell?

Although most school gardens sell seedlings and plants that students have grown, think about items you can sell in addition to plants such as:

Seed packets? Check out this article about Seed Packet Fundraisers from Fedco Seeds.
Plants you purchase wholesale that you can sell for a retail price?
Garlic: fresh for eating or as seed garlic for planting in the fall. See UMaine Cooperative Extensions Growing Garlic in Maine for more information.
Plant pots painted by students?
You can also raffle an item such as a bouquet donated by a local florist or a basket made up of donated items.
Consider having a bake sale at the same time!

When should you hold the Plant Sale? Farm Stand?

Most school gardens find that spring is the best time to hold a plant sale for seedlings while early September may be the best time to see fall plants such as mums or take orders for wreaths or poinsettia plants for the holidays.

Does your school have another event that you can participate in to increase the number of potential buyers and highlight the work you are doing in the school garden?
Is there another plant sale in your area that you can join such as your local Garden Club or church sale?
Make sure to select a date (and rain date!) as soon as you can so you have plenty of time to advertise your sale.

A weekly farm stand can be scheduled to accommodate when the school is open over the summer to have access to facilities or when you are available to manage it. The important thing is to be consistent so buyers can plan on your availability. Check with your school administration to see if they have any suggestions or restrictions. Staff members and parents of summer campers may be some of your best customers so you may want to hold the stand during the work week!

How should you price plants, vegetables and flowers?

Pricing your produce and flowers can be done based on what the market will bear (how much people will spend) or on a cost based method (what it costs to produce your produce plus a profit).

What do you want students to learn about making sales?
Do you want to have a sales goal for the sale?
Should you price each item with volume discounts or let buyers make donations?
Does your school garden have a bank account? Can you use a school account with help from the office to track your finances?
Will sales be cash only or will you take checks? Consider what kind of change you will need to have available. For example, if your prices are in increments of $.25, you will need a lot of quarters!
Does the school have a way to process credit cards?
Who will deposit the money after the event?

Where can you advertise it?

Here are a couple of places for you to consider getting the word out about your school plant sale and farm stand:

Do you have a Facebook page for your school garden?
Does your school publish a newsletter or do email blasts?
Would your local paper print an article from a press release and photo you provide or do you need to take out an advertisement?
Can you put up posters at the Post Office, town library or shops?
Do you maintain a bulletin board at the school?
Maine Cooperative Extension maintains a Plant Sale Fundraisers and Garden Tours listing with an interactive map.
Email isabella.viselli@maine.edu to get your sale listed.

Things to consider

Remember to check with the administration at your school before you hold your plant sale or farm stand to see if there are any requirements and for suggestions!
Line up some volunteers to conduct tours of your school garden.
Have volunteer sign up sheets available for interested community members.
You can start small and build the event each year too! Some schools have a small table and a donation box!