Fair trade

This is a gardening blog, not a political one, but it seems sometimes the two overlap.

I've been hoping that a convenient market for my herb and flower plants might be a local farm shop, and having mentioned the idea to the proprietor previously, took a sample selection along yesterday.  They're all healthy, well-rooted young plants, and I would have thought should sell for £1 each - the local DIY chain sells 4 for £5.  My opening suggestion was that I'd be happy to take £5 for the tray - my prospective business associate said £3, on the basis that the plants would probably sell for 75p each.

Mixed herbs for sale

If there was no cost to me to produce the plants, that would still leave the seller with a third of the profits.  That seems a bit too big a cut.  I would expect them to want to make something on the deal, but not this much.  In fact, when I consider that there is cost to me in the pot and compost, plus my time to take and root the cutting, pot it on, clean it up for sale and label it, then deliver to the shop, the deal looks less good still.

The unacceptable face of capitalism, perhaps!

It was left that the shop-keeper would see what price could be obtained for the plants, and then get back to me, but it's a lesson.  If I want a fair price for my plants, I am more likely to get it looking for somewhere I can set up a stall myself - even if it's just a local car-boot sale.  If I choose to sell my plants for just 50p - the price of a DIY chain half-dead reject plant! - I would rather do so direct to the public.  If I can talk to customers directly, give them plant care advice and perhaps an information and recipe sheet, I can provide a really good service, and that will also give me a means of promoting the garden maintenance service.