23321 SW Bosky Dell Ln. West Linn, Oregon PHONE   503-638-5945 FAX   503-638-8047

9am to 5pm   7 Days a Week (Closed Sundays in July, August, December)

FUNDRAISERS

Native plant sales raise funds for nonprofit and educational institutions. Bosky Dell Natives is proud to sponsor sales

©Donald Jedlovec

The benefits of plant sales for schools are tremendous: Children learn about free enterprise; children gain experience collecting payments and making change; children learn about ecology and history making signs for their plant sales, which may include listings of butterfly plants, sun-loving plants, or plants first documented by Lewis and Clark. School plant sales generate funds and can enable kids to install a native garden on their school site, to be enjoyed by wildlife and children alike.

Plant sales may take one of two forms:
1.A variety of plants are offered for sale at an advertised event. These plants are provided by Bosky Dell Natives without advance payment, and those that are not sold are returned. The organization pays wholesale prices for all plants, which are sold at retail prices. The difference is kept by the organization as profit.
2.Plants are pre-ordered by organization supporters. The plants ordered are picked up at Bosky Dell Natives and paid for (wholesale prices).

Tips for planning a successful plant sale

• Before the sale: Set a special name for your sale. Build it into an annual event. Set a goal or goals for your sale. Make sure everyone knows the goal for the sale.
• Policies to decide on before the sale: If someone doesn't like what they purchased, what will happen? Have a back up plan in case someone gets sick and can't be there to help - drive a truck, unload, sort plants. What if people don't pick up their plants" Where will they go" Who will take care of them? If the order isn't delivered correctly who will go for more?
• Working backwards: Set a date for the pickup of plants. If you are having a pre-order sale it is best if your plants arrive any day except Friday. Sometimes people may not pick up their plants on the day of the sale and plants will dry out if left over the weekend.
• Set a date for handing out pre-order forms. Create some fun advertising for the school newsletter and the school entrance.
• Find a place for the plants to be picked up by parents - not in the sun! Tarps are great for protecting the floor from water if the pick-up area is inside. If you also bring your own broom and dust pan. . .you'll save youself time ad hassles if accidents and mess happen!
• Make copies of the order forms. Have the copy tagged to the order on pickup day. Keep the original order forms in a binder in alphabetical order by purchaser.

The Day of the Sale

• Picking up your order: Take a check out to Bosky Dell as you go to pick up your plants. You will need to have trucks pick up your orders. The trucks should have covers, canopies, etc., to keep the plants from getting windblown during transit. Drivers will need to help load their trucks. Have your plants arrive several hours before pickup so you can group each order by name.
• Unloading your trucks: Small wagons can be back-savers on this day. Have extra people to unload the trucks.
• Organizing the orders: Have helpers organize plants by species in alphabetical order. People can more easily help find plants to fill orders. Group plants together for each order. Tag each order with a copy of the order form. Arrange orders in alphabetical order by last name.
• Picking up orders: Have people ask for their order. People may need help with large orders. . . wagons work well here, too.
• Thank everyone who was any kind of help!