I Had A Garage Sale Today

PA_Julia · August 25, 2012

I had a garage sale today to rid my house of some clutter.
The sale went very well but something unexpected occurred.

One woman went to the back of the driveway to look at the two bicycles I had for sale and noticed my tomato plants.

She proclaimed loudy " My God you have tons of tomato plants, do you grow heirlooms? "

I said that I did.

She asked if I had any for sale. My answer was a swift yes indeed I did!

Others that were shopping my junk...Err.. my fine treasures overheard our conversation.

Before I knew it I had four people clamoring for my tomatoes.
I had enough on my 25 in ground plants to sell close to 20.00 worth.
Now I have people that are going to call me for more in a couple of weeks.

Julia

marc_groleau · August 25, 2012

That's great! There are fruit stands in my town but they all advertise "Native Tomatos". Not one sells heirlooms. I was toying with the idea next year of posting signs for heirloom plants in the early season and heirloom fruit later on. In the yuppy community I I've in, I believe I could help my hobby pay at least a little bit for itself. Again I'm only toying with the thought as I am usually more inclined to give things away as to ask for what things are worth.
Congratulations to you for getting a little something for your efforts. Of course it does'nt come close to what anyone would consider compensation. If you had fun in the meantime, you can't beat that.

lakelady · August 25, 2012

That's great Julia! This can be an expensive hobby for sure especially with all of the natural products one can buy to stay as organic as possible. I'm way off the beaten path so even though I thought of putting up a sign, no one but the neighbors would find me. Probably one reason I gave so many tomatoes away is that I have no idea what I'd charge the neighbors. Several asked me when they would be for sale and I just gave them away.

marc_groleau · August 25, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakelady

That's great Julia! This can be an expensive hobby for sure especially with all of the natural products one can buy to stay as organic as possible. I'm way off the beaten path so even though I thought of putting up a sign, no one but the neighbors would find me. Probably one reason I gave so many tomatoes away is that I have no idea what I'd charge the neighbors. Several asked me when they would be for sale and I just gave them away.

Ditto but it doesn't stop me from thinking about selling them.

meadowyck · August 25, 2012

That is great, glad your first customer saw them to bring others.

zabby17 · August 27, 2012

Julia, how great! Not just a few dollars in your pocket, but a nice connection to make and a good way to spread the joy of heirlooms!

Z

BigBrownDogHouse · August 27, 2012

Good for you...that's great to hear!

I'd love to do the same but I'm in a town where I would probably be ticketed within minutes of putting out a few tomatoes.
We're under water restrictions and I see the Water Dept going up and down the streets handing out tickets quite often.

I'd love to be out a bit further than I am and put out a table by the road.

Good luck with your future sales!

tam91 · August 27, 2012

You can borrow my driveway

I didn't end up with extra plants to sell this year, I planted fewer and they all found a home. So far, so are the tomatoes - although there are plenty.

PA_Julia · August 31, 2012

Thanks everyone!!! I have more going out the door tomorrow!!

Julia

BruceinGa · August 31, 2012

This year I planted 6 or 7 varieties at my daughter's home, about 4 miles from mine. I told here she could have the money if she sold some.

She puts them near the street in two inexpensive coolers. There is a sign near by stating "home grown Tomatoes" and a note on the coolers instructing to put $5 per bag in the cooler. I tend to put more tomatoes than she in each bag but it works either way.

I would guess that she had made $800-900 this summer. Not once have we lost any money. Tomato eaters must be honest!
She even sold some at the local farmer's market.

During the height of the growing season I was bringing some home to sell in the same manner and probably made $300.

I find that most of the customers are repeat customers, some even leave notes about how much they liked the tomatoes.
Most of the plants have now stopped producing so we are looking forward to next spring.

Good luck!

deerhunter · August 31, 2012

your too much julia. lol. way ta go. i'm thinking after i retire next year of opening a veggie stand and try to make a few extra bucks. how much you ask for those tom. by the lb or apiece.

PA_Julia · September 1, 2012

I just asked for 50 cents a piece and they went crazy like hungry refugee's!!

Julia

BruceinGa · September 1, 2012

Julia, you were giving them a great deal!

I'm looking for an inexpensive scale. We were selling ours for $5 a bag. I tried to include a couple of 1 lb Big Beef's and three or four Rutgers/Early Girls.
I remember reading here that someone paid $4.99 for Cherokee Purples!

PA_Julia · September 1, 2012

Holy Bjebus Bruce!! 4.99?!?!?!?!?

That's alot of green for purple!!!

I'll have to revamp my prices for next season!!!

Julia

gssgarden · September 3, 2012

50 cents is good for garage sale prices. If I needed them I would have bought tons!! My daughter wanted to sell some while she was selling kool aid but I couldn't part with them !!

Greg

August 25, 2012	#1
PA_Julia Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Princeton, Ky Zone 7A Posts: 2,208	I Had A Garage Sale Today I had a garage sale today to rid my house of some clutter. The sale went very well but something unexpected occurred. One woman went to the back of the driveway to look at the two bicycles I had for sale and noticed my tomato plants. She proclaimed loudy " My God you have tons of tomato plants, do you grow heirlooms? " I said that I did. She asked if I had any for sale. My answer was a swift yes indeed I did! Others that were shopping my junk...Err.. my fine treasures overheard our conversation. Before I knew it I had four people clamoring for my tomatoes. I had enough on my 25 in ground plants to sell close to 20.00 worth. Now I have people that are going to call me for more in a couple of weeks. Julia __________________ Personal Best- 4.46 LB Big Zac 2013

August 25, 2012	#2
marc_groleau Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 444	That's great! There are fruit stands in my town but they all advertise "Native Tomatos". Not one sells heirlooms. I was toying with the idea next year of posting signs for heirloom plants in the early season and heirloom fruit later on. In the yuppy community I I've in, I believe I could help my hobby pay at least a little bit for itself. Again I'm only toying with the thought as I am usually more inclined to give things away as to ask for what things are worth. Congratulations to you for getting a little something for your efforts. Of course it does'nt come close to what anyone would consider compensation. If you had fun in the meantime, you can't beat that. Last edited by marc_groleau; August 25, 2012 at 08:56 PM.

August 25, 2012	#3
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	That's great Julia! This can be an expensive hobby for sure especially with all of the natural products one can buy to stay as organic as possible. I'm way off the beaten path so even though I thought of putting up a sign, no one but the neighbors would find me. Probably one reason I gave so many tomatoes away is that I have no idea what I'd charge the neighbors. Several asked me when they would be for sale and I just gave them away. __________________ Antoniette

August 25, 2012	#5
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	That is great, glad your first customer saw them to bring others. __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

August 27, 2012	#7
BigBrownDogHouse Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Northern Illinois ZONE 5a...wait now 5b Posts: 906	Good for you...that's great to hear! I'd love to do the same but I'm in a town where I would probably be ticketed within minutes of putting out a few tomatoes. We're under water restrictions and I see the Water Dept going up and down the streets handing out tickets quite often. I'd love to be out a bit further than I am and put out a table by the road. Good luck with your future sales! __________________ Brian

August 27, 2012	#6
zabby17 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario Posts: 211	Julia, how great! Not just a few dollars in your pocket, but a nice connection to make and a good way to spread the joy of heirlooms! Z

August 27, 2012	#8
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	You can borrow my driveway I didn't end up with extra plants to sell this year, I planted fewer and they all found a home. So far, so are the tomatoes - although there are plenty. __________________ Tracy

August 31, 2012	#9
PA_Julia Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Princeton, Ky Zone 7A Posts: 2,208	Thanks everyone!!! I have more going out the door tomorrow!! Julia __________________ Personal Best- 4.46 LB Big Zac 2013

August 31, 2012	#10
BruceinGa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Marietta, Ga Posts: 83	This year I planted 6 or 7 varieties at my daughter's home, about 4 miles from mine. I told here she could have the money if she sold some. She puts them near the street in two inexpensive coolers. There is a sign near by stating "home grown Tomatoes" and a note on the coolers instructing to put $5 per bag in the cooler. I tend to put more tomatoes than she in each bag but it works either way. I would guess that she had made $800-900 this summer. Not once have we lost any money. Tomato eaters must be honest! She even sold some at the local farmer's market. During the height of the growing season I was bringing some home to sell in the same manner and probably made $300. I find that most of the customers are repeat customers, some even leave notes about how much they liked the tomatoes. Most of the plants have now stopped producing so we are looking forward to next spring. Good luck!

August 31, 2012	#11
deerhunter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: hopkinton ma. Posts: 70	your too much julia. lol. way ta go. i'm thinking after i retire next year of opening a veggie stand and try to make a few extra bucks. how much you ask for those tom. by the lb or apiece.

September 1, 2012	#12
PA_Julia Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Princeton, Ky Zone 7A Posts: 2,208	I just asked for 50 cents a piece and they went crazy like hungry refugee's!! Julia __________________ Personal Best- 4.46 LB Big Zac 2013

September 1, 2012	#14
PA_Julia Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Princeton, Ky Zone 7A Posts: 2,208	Holy Bjebus Bruce!! 4.99?!?!?!?!? That's alot of green for purple!!! I'll have to revamp my prices for next season!!! Julia __________________ Personal Best- 4.46 LB Big Zac 2013

September 3, 2012	#15
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,827	50 cents is good for garage sale prices. If I needed them I would have bought tons!! My daughter wanted to sell some while she was selling kool aid but I couldn't part with them !! Greg