Hold a Plant Auction Fundraiser
Auctioning Off Plants to Fellow Gardeners to Raise Garden Funds
A plant auction is an excellent way to raise money for a local garden club, association of gardeners, or community garden.
Most community gardening clubs need to find ways to raise money in order to operate on an annual basis, since they are usually organized by volunteers who donate their time to the cause. One of the most unique ideas to be found among garden clubs put to use for fundraising is a plant auction.
A plant auction is basically the same as any other auction, except that instead of auctioning off the contents of an estate, automobiles or artwork, flower and vegetable plants are auctioned off. There are many aspects to organizing a plant auction, but with some attention to detail, the event will be extremely successful.
- Location. The auction should be held in an indoor public space so that the auctioneer can be easily heard by all who attend the event. There may be a rental fee charged to the organization for the use of the space. Some communities might donate the use of a church basement or school gymnasium for an event such as a plant auction. There should be an adequate number of tables available for displaying the plants, and enough chairs in the room so that all attendees will have a place to sit during the auction itself. The chairs should be arranged in rows, facing the auctioneer.
- Payment Method. Decide which methods of payment will be accepted for the auction. If credit cards will be accepted, arrange for rental of a credit card swipe machine, either electronic or manual. The cost of individual plants should not be prohibitive. Price rare and unusual vegetables and flowers accordingly, but begin the bidding for more common plants such as geraniums or tomatoes at a quarter each. The value of the plant will quickly become evident as more bidders are willing to pay a higher price for the plants in demand.
- Auctioneer. Every auction requires an auctioneer. The auctioneer should be an individual who will speak loudly and clearly so that he or she will be heard well by the audience. The auctioneer will start the bidding at a price he or she deems appropriate, and will call the winner of the bidding when one bidder is left. The auctioneer will then communicate the winning bidder’s number to the accountant.
- Assistant Auctioneer(s). An assistant to the auctioneer is a good idea for a plant auction because this person can hold up the plants to show the audience so while the auctioneer manages the bidding.
- Accountants. The accountants will hand out bidding numbers to the attendees of the auction (bidders), record the name of the attendee to be associated with that particular bidding number, and perform the arduous task of recording all of the sale amounts for plants won at auction by each bidder.
- Plants. Approach local growers for possible donation of plants to the auction. In addition, it is expected that the attendees of the auction will bring cuttings of plants or homegrown seedlings from his or her own garden to the auction.
- Publicity. In order for this type of event to be successful, the date, time and location of the auction should be announced to the community in which it will be held, at least several weeks in advance. The auction should be held around the time of the last frost date in the area so that the plants can be planted as soon as they are purchased. Have signs placed near or at the location of the auction to announce to the general public that the plant auction is on the way. Consider placing an advertisement in the local newspapers. If the garden club or association has its own website, be sure to add a page displaying an announcement to the site.
If a plant auction is well organized, and all of these things are considered, an impressive amount of money can be raised!
The copyright of the article Hold a Plant Auction Fundraiser in Community Gardens is owned by Amy Urquhart. Permission to republish Hold a Plant Auction Fundraiser in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
