How to Run a Community Plant Sale Fundraiser

A community plant sale is one of the most elegantly efficient fundraisers a block association, community garden, school, or neighborhood group can run: you're selling things that people donate, at a season when everyone wants them, to neighbors who are already outside and in a spending mood. The margins are excellent and the goodwill generated is disproportionate to the effort.

When to run it

• Spring (April–May): the prime window. Gardeners have started seedlings, perennials are ready to divide, and everyone wants plants for their gardens, window boxes, and stoops. A Saturday in May is the highest-demand moment.
• Fall (September–October): good for bulb sales (tulips, daffodils, alliums for spring planting) and divisions of fall-divided perennials. Lower demand than spring but still reliable.
• Year-round for houseplants: houseplant swaps and sales work in any season; Brooklyn's large apartment-dwelling population always wants more houseplants.

How to source plants

The entire economics of this fundraiser depend on donated plants. Here's how to get them:

• Neighborhood gardeners: post in the block group chat, Nextdoor, and local Facebook groups 4–6 weeks before the sale asking for donated plants — divisions of perennials, seedlings, houseplant cuttings, extra bulbs. Gardeners are almost always happy to donate because they have more than they can use.
• Community gardens: community gardens divide their perennials seasonally and often have excess; ask your local garden if they'll donate to the cause — a split of proceeds or a donation credit is often welcome.
• NYC GreenThumb: GreenThumb (the NYC Parks program supporting community gardens) sometimes has plant sources and connections for community greening events; check their resources.
• Local nurseries: some local nurseries will donate "problem plants" (slightly root-bound, cosmetically imperfect) or give a wholesale discount to community organizations. Ask — the worst they can say is no.
• Seed starting: if you have a few months of lead time, ask 5–10 gardeners to each start 20–30 seedlings of easy annuals (marigolds, zinnias, basil, tomatoes) specifically for the sale. Seeds are cheap; the plants sell for $2–$5 each.

Setting up and pricing

• Tables and layout: group plants by type (vegetables, annuals, perennials, houseplants, herbs) for easy browsing. Label everything with plant name and sun/shade requirements.
• Pricing: keep prices low — this is a community event, not a nursery. $1–$3 for seedlings and small plants, $3–$8 for larger perennial divisions and established plants, $5–$15 for houseplants depending on size. Easy, round prices mean no change-making headaches.
• Donations jar and QR code: set up a donation page with a QR code for people who want to give beyond the plant purchase — "these plants are from the community; anything extra helps fund [project]." Keep fees low.
• Bake sale table: adding a small bake sale table to the plant sale dramatically increases revenue per visitor; people buy plants and then buy cookies.

What to do with what doesn't sell

Set aside unsold plants for a "free table" at the end of the day — a free plant table draws end-of-day visitors who often make donations. Any remaining plants can go to a community garden, be offered free on Nextdoor, or be saved for composting. Don't stress about sellthrough — a plant sale is a success if you raise money and build community, which it does almost regardless of what percentage sells.

Running this for a community garden? See the community garden fundraising guide. For a school? See school and PTA fundraising. In Brooklyn? Post the sale in the right local channels.