If she was smart, she'd have come to you to buy for her store, although there are probably ag rules I don't know about that would have interfered. She should have at least taken the time to find out what types were selling well. Now she's missing out on your knowledge of what people want and made an enemy.

I'm glad she got the response she did from the Town Hall. It's nice to know there are still small pockets of sanity left.

I'm disgusted, too. I've read about kids' lemonade stands being shut down, garage sales being taxed, and the push to have a "cashless society" (presumably to allow the government both to track and tax you.) And now you talk about your gardening business being threatened by the local florist who can't figure out what people really want to buy?

I suppose the florist feels you have an unfair advantage because he/she pays taxes, fees, insurance, and regulatory demands and you don't have those imposed costs. But the issue isn't that you don't pay those costs and thus have a unfair market advantage, but that the florist has to pay those costs and is thus disadvantaged in the local, state and international marketplaces. Small start-ups such as yours should be encouraged, not penalized. God knows we need more businesses that create jobs and make money ... and fewer "takers."

I'd like to have some of your plants and hope that everyone on this thread makes a point of dropping by your driveway. Where are you anyway? I'd appreciate it if someone with a list of emails send out a blast so we can support our comrade-in-plants.

I used to sell a few dozen trays of heirloom tomato plants through a nursery, enough to recoup all my gardening costs, and I have several friends who sell them at farmers markets. They get $20 to $25 for a 1 gallon potted plant, (mind bogles) and make well over a thousand dollars a season.

Many states have special rules about direct to consumer, farm sales.

Of course, local health districts can trump most anything. However, people don't eat tomato plants.

State laws often clear the way for the farmer to sell without any interference from local authorities. That means a business license is not required and, therefore, cannot be revoked by the local government.

Steve

OMG, Jali! I already
know what you think of your local florist, but that’s absolutely amazing! Isn’t it interesting how the incompetent
people always need to try to control the people who actually know what they’re
talking about just to keep themselves reassured of their own imagined
competence! And I know you’ve even tried
to help her by suggesting tomato varieties you know she could sell! Kind of sad, but you can’t help people who
already know the right/best way to do something!

Sell, sell, sell, girl!
I’m glad you’re able to help some of the people out there get some “real”
tomatoes!

Skybird

P.S. Jani, unfortunately
most of us aren’t able to “drop by” Jali to get some of her tomatoes. She lives out at Limon! I think there are more than a few folks
around here who wish they COULD get some of them!

P.P.S. Jali, I never
heard anything from your Helpful Hardware Folks! Just thought I’d let you know!

Thanks for the support, Janni, but I sold most of my plants with no problem and little more than word of mouth. That's probably the coup de grace here. Word of mouth from regular customers who have had my plants is hard to beat, and she can't.

Barb, I told her daughter several years ago what my most requested plants were. The mother wasn't/isn't interested in bringing her selections into the 21st Century. People will get what she darn well decides they will want. Lashing out at me is a sign of desperation. If she would suck up her pride, I would offer some advice, but that's not going to happen with this woman. So she can just pout when I put out the cole crops and ornamental kale for sale in August. <very evil grin>

David and Steve, if I ever decide to go that route and sell to stores, I'll get the proper certification from the Department of Ag, but I don't feel like going that far yet. One day, maybe, and I'm certain I will find local retailers that will buy from me because they know my standards. A friend is going to help me build a small greenhouse for next year.

This is just utter silliness, but not unexpected, at all from her. Maybe if she would offer a few different varieties from the same old hybrids she has offered since the early 70s, she wouldn't be threatened by my little stand. She asked me last year what I grew and I told her without any guile. (Take a hint, lady!) But she wanted me to see the new black petunias she offered. Hadn't seen those in the catalogs for years ... She's blowing so many opportunities! When the store closed, she could have shifted gears, but she didn't. Her loss. I'll pick up the slack and so will her local retail competition.

Thanks for letting me vent!

We were apparently posting at the same time, skybird. Yeah, it's her. Very sad. I want to help the local businesses the best I can, but she really flipped a switch with this crap. I'm sorry you didn't hear from the Ace lady. I'll see what I can figure out because people are really interested in learning all kinds of gardening. Heaven knows they won't get the help from the florist.

Funny to see people watch me pick up a cup and identify the plant. Someone squealed, "You can tell from the roots???" No, Sharpies are our friends. LOL but the florist puts one plant marker in a tray. That's all. If someone mixes up varieties, there is no way to tell until it grows out. Happened to me the year I returned from Maine and had no time to start seeds. I ended up with two romas that I didn't want.

I also think I might buy a booth at our annual car show in late August and let folks sample some "real" tomatoes.