By Allison Eckert, Bounty Hunter Gleaning Program Coordinator
Each spring and fall, our staff and community look forward to the Petaluma Bounty Plant Sale. Plant Sales are a seasonal highlight that bring us together to learn about new plant varieties, admire adorable baby plant starts, and swap gardening tips with neighbors. The concerted efforts of our staff and volunteers ensure that shopping on our farm is safe and fun, and plant sales raise funds for programs like our Bounty Hunters gleaning program, our on-farm education programs, and more.
Preparations for a successful Plant Sale begin months in advance: the farm team starts our plants from seed and carefully nourishes them as they sprout in our greenhouse. Our program staff dives deep into plant varietals to help guide shoppers; we recruit and train volunteers; and then, we make sure to stretch our fingers and wrists, preparing to ring out hundreds of excited gardeners over the course of our two-day sale.
2,700 Plants to 25 community and school gardens
What most Plant Sale aficionados may not know is that the party does not end when the checkout tent closes. After the public sale ends, Petaluma Bounty donates any remaining plant starts to local community and school gardens. This year, we were proud to have donated 2,700 plants to 25 gardening organizations, with services ranging from youth development for at-risk young people to garden education for veterans.
Remaining plants were given to nurses
One generous gardening evangelist with ties to our local health clinics made it her mission to give every last plant a happy home. After the plant giveaway to community and school gardens, she took the remainder of plants to nurses in celebration of National Nurses Week.
If you represent a community garden or school garden and would like to be notified next time we have plant starts to give away, click here to fill out your contact info!
