You could approach the manager and explain to them the methods of Square Foot
Gardening and all of its advantages, you might also tell them the typical new
Square Foot Gardener are quite often a non-gardener. Someone who would
like to garden but tried once and failed, or someone who is afraid to start, or
someone that thinks they do not have enough space, time, money or
knowledge. For that nursery, those are most likley non customers.
The advantage to the nursery owner is they will become new customers for them
just by coming to meet you and learn all about SFG.
The ideal location would be somewhere near the center of their operation that
would have space for a small office for you , and a display garden you would
put in and maintain.
If they don’t have such a space, you could create one by renting or buying a
small shed that would fit in with their landscaping, In that shed, you could
have a small office as well as SFG display pictures and signs, as well as books
and videos to sell.
On the the back of the shed you could build racks to hold all the garden
products to sell. Wood and vinyl boxes, tomato towers, and bags of Mels
Mix. The basic idea would be for you to be a separate part of their
nursery, and all of your sales would belong to you. You would pay rent for the
space giving them an income. At the same time all of your customers would
more than likely buy all their plants, tools, supplies and other necessities,
from that nursery. This will give them a new income from new customers that
have never been there,
You could also explain to the manager, that rather then being in competition
for their nursery products, you would actually pull in new customers. Another
analogy would be if they wanted to add a new feature to their nursery, such as
garden ponds, they would have to hire an expert and invest a lot of money into
pre-fab ponds, fish, aquatic plants, and all things that go with adding a pond
to landscaping. We are going to do the same thing with SFG, and they
would not have to hire anyone, invest in any products, build any displays, or
keep any experts on staff.
You are going to do all of that for them, and will even pay them for the
privilege to be a part of their operation, and the small space you take
up. You can do this part time or full time depending on the traffic and
the season. Your SFG shop could be open every Saturday, every weekend, or
when ever you choose.
There may even are other locations where you’re small SFG shed and garden
display many be a welcome to other types of business. How about a wild
bird center, or a backyard children’s playground equipment center. Stretch your
imagination and you could find many other good locations.
Next idea: You could start and run a community
garden right on the nursery property. See more details later
Mel Bartholomew
Founder and
Originator
Square Foot
Gardening Foundation
