Please help!

[poltergiest233]

I love to garden but when I do I just grow too much! I wish I could find a way to sell extra produce.( Last year I grew Tigger melons and I ate 2 and had about 20 go to waste.) Could I start a roadside stand? Would anyone stop to buy stuff? Could I put a lawnmower cart of watermelons by the road with a can for money? Would people steal them or not pay? I wish I could go to the farmer's market but I can never get a ride! What should I do??.......

Please submit ideas on how to sell/give away any extra produce I might grow. ( I mainly grow melons and corn. Sometimes things like cucumbers.)

Please Help!!

P.S. I am only 14 so keep that in mind.

- Poltergiest233

[Silent]

Poltergiest, I think you have some very commendable ideas. One of the things my family and I do is grow 'extra' to give to a local homeless shelter. Foodbanks (often located at senior citizen's centers or churches) are also a very good option and reach many people who might otherwise lack fresh produce in their diets.

A roadside stand might also be a good option, there are some things you'll want to find out about, like: is there a lot of traffic on your road, is there a safe place for vehicles to stop that won't block you or your neighbors driveways or tear up their yards, are there a lot of other roadside stands nearby, or are there a lot of gardeners around so that you won't have as much of a market. You could try the honor system and see how it goes for you (setting up a can) often it's so nice for others to see the honor system that you end up making more than you would otherwise but you'll only know if you try. Perhaps you could also trying having your parents, etc... take your produce to work with them (if that is allowed) and see how it sells there.

Good luck with your endeavors Poltergiest, it's good to hear from you!

Okay, I can't resist the temptation so please forgive me......but your posts remind me of the 'good old days' when I was falling in love with gardening. Thanks for the smile!

[Pharmerphil]

Okay, I can't resist the temptation so please forgive me......but your posts remind me of the 'good old days' when I was falling in love with gardening. Thanks for the smile!

Isn't that the truth!
and don't be embarrased or insulted by this poltergiest233

Gardening, since a very early age with my parents, gardening during the good ol' commune days, and now, 47 years later, It's a full blown addiction :rolleyes:

I admire you, there are so many wrong paths a person your age can take, you seem to ave chosen wisely, If I can answer any questions, or help You in anyway, just ask! :)

Oh, and before I forget, all the ideas above are great, the ones I would have suggested. I also would suggest taking 'orders' to raise specific crops for folks, I once raised everlasting flowers for a floral shop and cashed in...big time! ASK questions, never know what you may find!

[poltergiest233]

Thanks for the ideas!!! :D I think I'll try the can first and see how that goes! :D Like I said I usually grow melons.

Also; thank you all for being so nice. Usually in these kinds of forums, people shoot my ideas down and make fun of them. :D Oh well!

[trudyjean]

I agree with both the other posters, I too commend you for wanting to grow things. Your so young and its so easy to go down the wrong path. I don't believe anyone on here would ever shoot down any of your ideas, but only encourage you in whatever you choose to do. Keep up the good work. I'm sure there are folks near you that would love some of your produce. Any way I can help, do lmk. trudyjean

[scakya]

Hi Poltergeist,
Melons in my part of the country sell like hotcakes, do you know what your market is? Several others mentioned food pantries, which we donate 10% of our production to. Elderly neighbors are another good place to check with to see if they would want to buy or could be given fresh produce. If you have a problem getting around, how about a small CSA, if your parents are ok with that.
You obviously have access to the internet and are raising rare heirlooms, so why not consider seed saving and selling in addition to selling/giving away your produce?
Now a days you have far more options than when many of us were kids. My youngest is about your age and he has his own little garden to do with as he likes. He sells with me at farmer's markets, hands fresh produce to the elder center a few miles away and is learning to not only save seeds, but make sure they are genetically pure. Fall 2006 he'll have his own page on our website to sell seeds.
You have many options, only creativity will show what can be done within your perceived constraints, that and your parents OK. One other thing, the local newspaper can be a huge help with a story on what you are doing, just make sure you have something before calling them!

scakya