plant expo year end report 2012 co-chairs: carol...

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PLANT EXPO YEAR END REPORT 2012

CO-CHAIRS: Carol Bencivengo, Ann Calder, Susan Jellinek, Harri Nowrey SALE DATE: MAY 5, 2012

COMMITTEE GOALS:

A. Have fun while working in harmony with fellow Master Gardeners.

Create a welcoming committee and event at all stages including the Big Digs,planning and follow up meetings, sale setup, second hand sale and the actualsale day.

Included benefits of volunteering are rewarded by: access to second handsale all week, BBQ on Friday and Pre-Sale on Friday where MGs canpurchase 2 plants and unlimited tomatoes.

Invitation, via email, to New Class to first planning meeting. Encourage theirinvolvement by giving them responsibility for specific activities includinglabel making.

Worked with MEG gardens to help them fill their plant Wish Lists withdonated and purchased plants.

Participated in three Big Digs with a group of Plant Expo committeemembers and encouraged the MGs to create their own smaller groups fordividing and potting.

Support Bruce Young and his tomato and vegetable seedlings. Bruce is nowsolely responsibly for the over 500 plants. He listened to customers andexpanded the varieties that he grew this year all for a minimal cost of $185.

After the Monday May 7, General Meeting, unsold plants were discountedand sold to MGs, given to Extension and MEG gardens and given to schoolgardens.

We estimate that over half the membership contributed to the success of the2012 Plant Expo. 103 MGs donated their time on the sales day alone.

Our membership donated 2,275 plants to the 2012 sale.

B. Education of the public and Master Gardeners concerning plant attributes and suitability for certain garden sites.

Continue to correctly label donated plants. This was accomplished byexpanding the plant data base, encouraging accuracy and demonstrating theprocess at MG monthly meetings, and a final double check at plant drop off.Reminders were also in the Newsletter.

A Fall focus to encourage over wintering, including a lecture andaccompanying 1.5 CE was attended by 40 MGs, a Wish List sent via Onelist to

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encourage fall digging and an attempt (although unsuccessful) to have compost available to MGs.

Barbara available for questions before and during the Sale. Handout given to each customer about how to care for their newly

purchased plants. Education of Sales Staff including tomato signs and handouts, sales support

material with plant attributes and suitability, posters/pictures with plant combinations and plants in bloom.

Educate the new class with hands on experience. They were responsible for much of the labels used at Plant Expo and the sorting and organizing of the donated plants. A concerted effort was made to involve and educate our Interns.

478 members of the public attended the event in 296 cars.

C. Raise money for the Master Gardener Organization Sales Expenses Profit

MG Donated Plants $6101 0 $6101 Purchase Plants $4857 $3257 $1600* Herbs: $1852 $1621 $ 231 Tomatoes $ 986 $ 185 $ 783

*This $1600 does not include the $42 permit and $590 tent rental making the real profit $ 968. These numbers are from Saturday sales only and have been taken from the customer receipts. Total Profit from plant sales, second hand sale, Friday/Monday sale: $10,068.70. As reported by Louise Senior, Treasurer

MOVING FORWARD

Establish a new dynamic for the sale of purchase plants. Incorporating ideas from the Hardy Plant Society Sale and Earthy Delights. Create a market-like atmosphere with local vendors and their plant specializations. Our customer then has more options to a variety of new and different plant material. Begin to grow the Plant Expo and Garden Market concept with the help of Pat Lagunas.

Simplify the data we collect. We will focus on: number of people/public that attend the sale; number of donated plants only, not variety.

Financial numbers will continue to be collected by the Treasurer and receipts reviewed by the Committee. Additionally, Friday pre-sale and Monday after-sale numbers should each be separate line items.

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Focus can then naturally become donated plants and Big Digs, and helpingour members with this process.

Labels need to be addressed. ID &D has offered to check data base foraccuracy. Also looking into a simplified version of the label.

Susan Jellinek will no longer be a chair.

PLANT EXPO AND GARDEN MARKET YEAR END REPORT 2013

CO-CHAIRS: Carol Bencivengo, Ann Calder, Harri Nowrey SALE DATE: MAY 4, 2013

COMMITTEE GOALS:

A. Have fun while working in harmony with fellow Master Gardeners, Vendors and the Public.

• Changed format to Garden Market concept with select vendors from the area.This decreased the MG workload and financial risk. Our goal was to worksmarter not harder.

• Encouraged all MGs, with special emphasis on New Class members, to beinvolved in the planning and execution of the sale.

• Organized and participated in Big Digs with a group of committee membersand encouraged all MGs to create their own smaller groups for dividing andpotting plants. In 2013 we sold 1,454 plants. We consider 1,500 plants areasonable goal for plants sold within the five hour sale period.

• Support Bruce Young and his tomato and vegetable seedlings enterprise. Brucegrew 875 tomato, pepper and eggplant plants with total sales of $2,363 lessexpenses of $266.

• Over half the membership contributed to the success of the 2013 Plant Expo.

B. Educate the public and Master Gardeners by offering a wide variety of plant material appropriate for local gardens.

• We were able to offer a tremendous variety of plants by partnering with eightvendors.

• We encouraged MGs to donate better quality plants and larger plants.• Continued to streamline and enhance our Homegrown plant labeling process.

Added “how to’ label directions on the website with photos. A Label makingteam, comprised of MG interns, made 850 labels with great success andaccuracy. Designed and introduced a new streamlined label with plans toexpand next year.

• A Newsletter article encouraged fall digging, dividing and overwintering.• Moved educational tent to the center of if the festival to better assist

customers in selecting plants for their specific garden conditions. BarbaraBromley was available for questions before and during the Sale.

• “What’s Next”, as well as 13 Rutgers and BJB fact sheets were made availableto customers.

• 731 people attended the event in 561 cars. To accommodate vendors and thepublic we expanded the sale hours by one hour (9 am – 2 pm).

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C. Raise money for the Master Gardener Organization

VENDORS: Vendor 10 Percent of Sales Deposit American Native $45.00 $75.00 Dragon Fly $150.00 $75.00 Linden Hill Gardens $250.00 $75.00 Peony's Envy $150.00 $75.00 Rare Find $233.00 $75.00 Shannon Nursery $130.00 $75.00 Steve Kristoph $310.00 $75.00 Wild Ridge $263.97 $75.00

$1,531.97 $600.00

HOMEGROWN PLANTS: $7610 TOMATOES: $2363 SECOND HAND SALE: $1500 TOTAL PROFIT, LESS EXPENSES ($1398): $12,281

2013 RECAP AND MOVING FORWARD

• Garden Market was a huge success, including the redesigned site, planning andexecution of the sale.

• 2014 plan is to use the same vendors with the exception of American Natives.• Continue focus on Big Digs and educating MGs on potting and labeling plants.• Tomatoes were again a success. Plan is to streamline varieties and better

organize plants for sale.• 2nd hand sale was its usual success. 2014 will have 2 new captains, Lorraine

Mackersie and Elana Berlinger, along with fresh new look and ideas.• Request for food truck will be explored.• Publicity was successful and contributed to record numbers at sale. Continue a

similar plan. Encourage vendors to advertise on their websites again. Abeautiful new logo specific to Plant Expo was designed by Annette Osterlund.The plan is to use this logo moving forward.

• Explore signage, site layout and rental equipment (tables) for 2014.• Add a captain for Cashiers to work with treasurer and all financial aspects of

the sale.• Improve the price labels/system for homegrown plants.• For 2014 continue MG e-mails and communication on the planning and

preparation of the sale. Co-chairs design a timeline of activities, goals andcommunication efforts.

• Kick-off meeting planned for January 29th,10 a.m. at Ann Calder’s house.• Sale date is May 3, 2014 from 9-2.• Contact vendors before year end with 2014 sale date and contract information.• Welcome Stephanie Foy as a co-chair.

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PLANTEXPOANDGARDENMARKETYEARENDREPORT2014

CO‐CHAIRS:CarolBencivengo,AnnCalder,HarriNowreyandStephanieFoySALEDATE:MAY3,2014

COMMITTEEGOALS:

A. HavefunwhileworkinginharmonywithfellowMasterGardeners,VendorsandthePublic.

YeartwooftheGardenMarketofselectvendorsfromtheareawassuccessful.ThisdecreasedtheMGworkloadandfinancialrisk.Ourgoalwastoworksmarter,notharder.

EncouragedallMGs,withspecialemphasisonNewClassmembers,tobeinvolvedintheplanningandexecutionofthesale.

OrganizedandparticipatedinBigDigswithagroupofcommitteemembersandencouragedMGstocreatetheirownsmallergroupsfordividingandpottingplants.In2014wesold1,710plants.Weconsider1,500plantsareasonablegoalforwithinthefivehoursaleperiod.

SupportedBruceYoungandhistomatoandvegetableseedlingsenterprise.Brucegrewover2,000tomato,pepperandeggplantplants,whichexceededourexpectations.

Overhalfthemembership,includingmanyInterns,contributedtothesuccessofthe2014PlantExpo.

ImplementedSign‐UpGeniusanonlinevolunteersignupprocess,whichwasahugesuccess.

Helda“DivideandConquer”inconjunctionwiththeSpringWorkday.

B. EducatethepublicandMasterGardenersbyofferingawidevarietyofplantmaterialappropriateforlocalgardens.

Wewereabletoofferatremendousvarietyofplantsbypartneringwithsevenvendors.

EncouragedMGstodonatebetterqualityplantsandlargerplants,whichworkedoutwell.

ContinuedtostreamlineandenhanceourHomegrownplantlabelingprocess.ALabelmakingteam,comprisedofMGinterns,madeover1,000labelswithgreatsuccessandaccuracy.Continuedtheuseofthenewstreamlinedlabel.

“What’sNext,”aswellasnumerousRutgersandBJBfactsheetsweremadeavailabletocustomers.Therewasafocusonattractingandfeedingbutterfliesinthegarden.

757peopleattendedtheeventin501carsparked.Toaccommodatevendorsandthepublicweexpandedthesalehourswere9:00amto2:00pm..

C. RaisemoneyfortheMasterGardenerOrganization

VENDORS:Vendor 10 Percent of Sales Deposit

Dragon Fly $250.00 $75.00 Linden Hill Gardens $240.00 $75.00 Peony's Envy* $000.00 $75.00 Rare Find $129.68 $75.00 Shannon Nursery $160.00 $75.00 Steve Kristoph $179.80 $75.00 Wild Ridge $247.98 $75.00

$ 1,207.46 $525.00

HOMEGROWNPLANTS:$5,470(cash)TOMATOES:$2,605(cash)SECONDHANDSALE:$1,324(cash)CREDITCARDSALES:$4,609(Smallpercentageoftotalfrom2ndhand/tomatosales)

TOTALPROFIT:$15,740LESSEXPENSES:2,114NETPROFITS:$13,626

Peony’sEnvydidnotremit10%oftheirtotalsalesafternumerousattemptstogetpayment.Theywillnotbeaskedbackfor2015.

2014RECAPANDMOVINGFORWARD

GardenMarketwasasuccessful.Currentnumberofvendors(8)workswell. 2015planistoinvitecurrentvendorswiththeexceptionofPeony’sEnvyand

explorepossibilityofobtaininganherbvendor. Sturdylargetableswererentedforsalesavingtimeandeffort.Wewill

continuethisfor2015sale. New12’x12’tentswereorderedforMGevents.Thesewillbeusedinvendor

areaandelsewheremovingforward. ContinuefocusonBigDigsandeducatingMGsonpottingandlabelingplants.It

shouldbenotedthatBigDigsplantmaterialcontributestomorethanhalfofHomeGrowninventory.DianeHennesseywillassistintheplanningandcoordinationofBigDigsfor2015.

Tomatoeswereagainasuccess.Theplanin2015istofocusonourwindowofopportunitytosellplantsversusthenumberofvarietiesavailabletothepublic.Additionallywewillimprovetheorganizationofplantmaterialandplantidentification,includingtheuseoflaminatedpicturelabelsoftomatovarieties.

Second‐Handsalewas,ofcoursesuccessful.In2015wewillfocusonpricingandencouragecreativityandownershipofthisaspectofthesale.

Publicitywassuccessfulandcontributedtorecordnumbersatsale.Continueasimilarplan.Vendorsplacingtheeventontheirwebsitesareatremendousboost.WewillcontinuetousetheMGwagonlogomovingforward.

Thecaptain(MaryLeeEldridge)forCashierstoworkwithtreasurerandallfinancialaspectsofthesaleworkedoutwell.Wewillcontinuethisin2015.Therewillbeafocusonidentifyingcreditcardsalesformoreaccurateaccounting/reporting.

In2014pricinglabelsinHomeGrownareaofsalewaschangedtocolorcodedsticks.Thisworkedverywellandthispracticewillbeusedinfuturesales.

In2015,continueMGe‐mailsandcommunicationontheplanningandpreparationofthesale.Co‐chairsdesignatimelineofactivities,goalsandcommunicationefforts.

Foodforvendorsandvolunteersworkedverywell.UrsulaWooleyorganizedthisaspectverywell.Wewillcontinuetodothisinthesamemannermovingforward.

LearnfromSymposiumandInsectFestivalcommitteesonwhatworkswellinorganizinglargeevents.ExploretheuseofnotebookslikeoneusedforInsectFestival.

In2015exploretheuseofacoupongivenoutatcertainCommunityEducationprogramstobringinnewcustomers.

ExplorehaverepresentativefromJerseyGrownorJerseyFreshcampaignatsale.

Containerplantingsareafunactivityandsuccessful.For2015salemovethisdisplayoutsideoftheHomeGrownareaandimprovelabellingandorganizationofplants/containers.

Continuetohavethehotdogroastafterworkday,tomatosaleandsecond‐handsalethedaybeforethesaletothepublic.Needtolookattimingofsellingtomatoesandsecondhanditemsonthedaybeforethesale.

MGsandthepublichaveaccesstothesalefromitsstarttime.WemustcommunicatetoMGsthatsalerulesapplytothemandthepublic.

Kick‐offmeetingfor2015ExpoisplannedforJanuary30,2015,10:00amto12:00pm,atAnnCalder’s.

SaledateisMay2,2015from9:00am–2:00pm. Contactvendorsbeforeyearwith2014saledateandcontractinformation.A

new2015vendorapplicationformhasbeendesignedbyTheodoraWangwhichwillbeafillableon‐lineform.ThiswillstreamlinetheprocessforvendorsandMGorganization.

Co‐Chairsfor205areCarolBencivengo,AnnCalder,StephanieFoyandHarriNowrey.

PLANT EXPO AND GARDEN MARKET

YEAR END REPORT 2015

CO-CHAIRS: Carol Bencivengo, Ann Calder, Harri Nowrey and Stephanie Foy

SALE DATE: MAY 2, 2015 COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

82 RMGs used Sign-up genius for 205 time slots. Additionally, we always have RMGs that show up to help without signing up and we have positions that are not posted on sign-up genius. This included cashiers, captains and sales staff. We have always estimated that we have over 100 RMGs help.

COMMITTEE DESCRIPTION:

Plans, organizes and runs the spring plant sale held each year in May. The goals are to have

fun while working in harmony with fellow RMGs; raise money for the RMG of MC

organization; and increase knowledge of the public and RMGs concerning plant attributes

and suitability for an individual’s garden site.

COMMITTEE GOALS: A. Have fun while working in harmony with fellow Master Gardeners,

Vendors and the Public.

The Garden Market of select vendors continues to be successful. We havedeveloped a good relationship with a core group of vendors. Each vendor hasfound their market niche. For example, Dragonfly supplies all the herbs. Thevendors continue to bring natives and special varieties of plant material thatexcite and inspire.

Encouraged all RMGs, with special emphasis on New Class members, to beinvolved in the planning and execution of the sale. We were very impressedwith the Class of 2015.

Organized and participated in Big Digs with a group of committee membersand encouraged RMGs to create their own smaller groups for dividing andpotting plants. The Big Digs contributed 714 plants.

In 2015 we sold 1,780 plants in the Home Grown area donations from over 70RMGs. In 2015 we raffled off a special plant for those who donated plantmaterial. Plant counts are taken at the end of the day which is simple andworks well. We consider 1,500 plants a reasonable goal to meet for the five-hour sale period.

Supported Bruce Young and his tomato and vegetable seedlings enterprise.Bruce grew over 2,000 tomato, pepper and eggplant plants, which exceededour expectations. We had an additional sales event at Extension to sell all theextra plants.

Continued Sign-Up Genius, an online volunteer sign-up process, which had a94% sign-up rate.


We were able to offer a tremendous variety of plants by partnering with sixvendors.

Encouraged RMGs to donate better quality plants and larger plants, whichworked out well.

Continued to streamline and enhance our home -grown plant labeling process.Teresa Knipper acted as a label making team coordinator leading the RMGinterns. The team made over 900 labels with great success and accuracy. For2016 enlarge the typeface on the labels for Plant Name to make it easier toread.

“What’s Next,” as well as numerous Rutgers and BJB fact sheets were madeavailable to customers.

741 people attended the event in 492 cars parked. To accommodate vendorsand the public we expanded the sale hours to 9:00 am to 2:00 pm..


VENDORS:

Vendor 10 Percent of Sales Deposit

Dragonfly Farms $270.00 $75.00

Linden Hill Gardens $230.00 $75.00

RareFind Nursery $205.00 $75.00

Shannon Nursery $ 57.00 $75.00

Steve Kristoph Nursery $203.00 $75.00

Wild Ridge Plants $ 197.00 $75.00

TOTAL $1162.00 $450.00

HOMEGROWN PLANTS: $6,907 (cash) TOMATOES: $3,184 (cash) SECOND HAND SALE: $2,385 (cash) CREDIT CARD SALES: $4,480 (Small percentage of total from 2nd hand/tomato sales) TOTAL PROFIT: $18,568

LESS EXPENSES: 2,265 NET PROFITS: $16,303


2016 plan is to invite current vendors and include the D&R greenway for plantmaterial and educational materials.

Tomatoes were again a success. 2015 had better labels and organization andmore precise inventory. The plan in 2016 is to have Bonnie Ferriolo create adata base and work more closely with Bruce.

Second-Hand sale was successful. We question the 2015 sales figures becauseit was so dramatically different from past years. We had four co-chairs tomanage this very active area.

Publicity will remain the same for 2016…tear offs, e-brain, plant sale postcard,print ads. Vendors postings and announcements help considerably.

Identify a Financial Captain to work with Treasurer and all financial aspects ofthe sale. There needs to be a focus on identifying credit card sales for moreaccurate accounting/reporting.

In 2016, continue RMG e-mails and communication on the planning andpreparation of the sale. Co-chairs design a timeline of activities, goals andcommunication efforts.

Food for vendors and volunteers worked very well. Ursula Wooley organizedthis and we staffed through sign-up genius. We will continue to do this in thesame manner moving forward.

Created two notebooks. One an informational book that was housed inHelpline. The second was for set-up and logistics that we used at MEG.

In 2016 explore the use of a coupon given out at certain Community Educationprograms to bring in new customers.

Container plantings are a fun activity and successful. Assign a budget. Usecreative containers and also use the painted chairs that were so successful in2015.

Continue to have the hot dog roast after workday, tomato sale and second-handsale the day before the sale to the public. We bought 144 hotdogs.

RMGs and the public have access to the sale from its start time. We mustcontinue to communicate to RMGs that sale rules apply to them and the public.

Kick-off meeting for 2016 Expo is planned for January 29, 2016, 10:00 am to12:00 pm, at Ann Calder’s.

Sale date is May 14, 2016 from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. A decision was made to nothold sale on Mother’s Day weekend to accommodate both RMGs and vendors.

Contact vendors with 2016 vendor application form before year-end 2015.Give vendors a “Save the Date” for 2017 sale.

Co-Chairs for 2016 are Carol Bencivengo, Ann Calder, Stephanie Foy and HarriNowrey.



CO-CHAIRS: Carol Bencivengo, Ann Calder, Harri Nowrey and Stephanie Foy


93 RMGs used Sign-up genius for 219 time slots. Additionally, we always have RMGs that show up to help without signing up and we have positions that are not posted on sign-up genius. This included cashiers, captains and sales staff. We have always estimated that we have over 100 RMGs help.


Plans, organizes and runs the spring plant sale held each year in May. The goals are to

have fun while working in harmony with fellow RMGs; raise money for the RMG of MC





The Garden Market of select vendors continues to be successful. We havedeveloped a good relationship with a core group of vendors. Vendors havefound their market niche. For example, Dragonfly supplies all the herbs. Thevendors continue to bring natives and special varieties of plant material thatexcite, and inspire and educate.

Encouraged all RMGs, with special emphasis on New Class members, to beinvolved in the planning and execution of the sale.

Organized and participated in Big Digs with a group of committee membersand encouraged RMGs to create their own smaller groups for dividing andpotting plants. The Big Digs contributed 658 plants.

In 2016 we sold 1,593plants in the Home Grown area with 105 differentvarieties offered. In 2016 we raffled off two special plants for those whodonated plant material. Plant counts are taken at the end of the day, which issimple and works well. We consider 1,500 plants a reasonable goal to meetfor the five-hour sale period.

Supported Bruce Young and his tomato and vegetable seedlings enterprise.Bruce grew over 1,100 tomato, pepper and eggplant plants, which exceededour expectations. 900 plants were sold. Based on information from the new2016 database, our goal for 2017 is to offer popular varieties in appropriatequantities.

Continued Sign-Up Genius, an online volunteer sign-up process, which had a90% sign-up rate.


We were able to offer a tremendous variety of plants by partnering with sixvendors. Linden Hill Gardens was unable to attend this year but D& RGreenway was added.

Encouraged RMGs to donate better quality plants and larger plants, whichworked out well.

Continued to streamline and enhance our homegrown plant labelingprocess. Teresa Knipper acted as a label making team coordinator leadingthe RMG interns. Teresa re-tooled the online label-making databaseremoving redundant plant varieties.

“What’s Next,” as well as numerous Rutgers and BJB fact sheets were madeavailable to customers.

732 people attended the event in 499 cars parked. We continued the salehours of 9:00 am to 2:00 pm..


VENDORS:


Dragonfly Farms $.00 $75.00

D&R Greenway $.00 $75.00

RareFind Nursery $.00 $75.00

Shannon Nursery $ .00 $75.00

Steve Kristoph Nursery $.00 $75.00

Wild Ridge Plants $ .00 $75.00

TOTAL $920.00 $450.00

TOTAL PROFIT: $13,875 LESS EXPENSES: 2,053 NET PROFITS: $11,822


2017 plan is to invite current vendors keeping the number of vendors at six. Tomatoes continue to be a success. 2016 had better labels and organization

and more precise inventory. The plan in 2017 is to have only specificvarieties and quantities available of tomatoes and not to offer eggplant andpeppers.

Second-Hand sale was successful. We had a co-chair, Harri, and captainUrsula Wooley and Jessica Irons managing this popular area. We added thedecorative planters and planter chairs to this area

Publicity will have minor changes. Tear offs, e-brain and print ads will beused. Vendors’ postings help considerably and will be encouraged. We willalso work on a social media plan.

Improve accounting and reporting. We will have a discussion with theTreasurer and team well in advance of the sale.

In 2017, continue RMG e-mails and communication on the planning andpreparation of the sale. Co-chairs design a timeline of activities, goals andcommunication efforts.

Food for vendors and volunteers worked very well. Ursula Wooleyorganized this and we staffed through sign-up genius. We will continue to dothis in the same manner moving forward. Suggestion to add ”Staff Only” signwill be added.

Update two notebooks. One an informational book that was housed inHelpline. The second was for set-up and logistics that we used at MEG.

Review holding area to improve system ad staffing issues from 2016. Makesure that they have plenty of real estate.

Big Digs contribute a huge portion of our Home Grown plants. Keep this as afocus. We will need to replace Diane Hennessy as captain.

Adjust parking staff so that they begin at 7 am. This will help RMGs followthe parking plan.

Continue to have the hot dog roast after workday, tomato sale and second-hand sale the day before the sale to the public. Plan to buy 144 hotdogs.

RMGs and the public have access to the sale from its start time. We mustcontinue to communicate to RMGs that sale rules apply to them and thepublic.

Kick-off meeting for 2017 Expo is planned for January 27, 2017, 10:00 am to12:00 pm, at Ann Calder’s.

Sale date is May 6, 2017 from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Contact vendors with 2017 vendor application form before year-end 2016.

Give vendors a “Save the Date” for 2018 sale. Co-Chairs for 2017 are Carol Bencivengo, Ann Calder, Stephanie Foy and

Harri Nowrey. Bonnie Ferriolo will also join the group as a co-chair.



CO-CHAIRS: Carol Bencivengo, Ann Calder, Harri Nowrey, Bonnie Ferriolo and Stephanie Foy


78 RMGs used Sign-up genius for 218 time slots. Additionally, we always have RMGs that show up to help without signing up and we have positions that are not posted on sign-up genius. This included cashiers, captains and sales staff. We estimate that over half of the organization contributes to the success of the Plant Expo.


Plans, organizes and runs the spring plant sale held each year in May. The goals are to have

fun while working in harmony with fellow RMGs; raise money for the RMG of MC





• The Garden Market of select vendors continues to be successful. We havedeveloped a good relationship with a core group of vendors and these vendorshave found their market niche. The vendors continue to bring natives andspecial varieties of plant material that excite, inspire and educate. ChickadeeCreek Organic Farm was a new addition to the Market in 2017.

• Encouraged all RMGs, with special emphasis on New Class members, to beinvolved in the planning and execution of the sale.

• Organized and participated in Big Digs with a group of committee membersand encouraged RMGs to create their own smaller groups for dividing andpotting plants. We organized four digs in the spring and one if the fall inpreparation for 2018.

• In 2017, 1,701plants were donated to the HomeGrown area with 182 different varieties offered. We also raffled off two special plants for those who donated plant material. We had 70 MGs and three gardens responsible for the donations, up from only 40 MGs on 2016. We consider 1,500 plants a reasonable donation and sales goal to meet for the five-hour sale period.

• Plant counts are taken at the end of the day, which is simple and works well. Plant species inventory was taken with check in. This process needs to be reconsidered. All of this data helps to complete our HomeGrown sell sheets which are used by the sales staff. Additionally, the inventory was placed on the website for the public this year.

• Supported Bruce Young and his tomato and vegetable seedlings enterprise. Bruce grew over 1,300 tomato, pepper and eggplant plants, which exceeded our expectations. We estimate that 1,100 plants were sold. Information from our database helped us offer popular varieties in appropriate quantities. The goal, grow what sells. Rutgers tomato t-shirts were sold for the first time.

• Continued Sign-Up Genius, an online volunteer sign-up process, which had an 88% sign-up rate.


• We were able to offer a tremendous variety of plants by partnering with six vendors. Dragonfly Farms was unable to attend this year but Chickadee Creek Organic Farm was added. Chickadee brought organic herbs and fresh produce.

• Continued to streamline and enhance our Homegrown plant labeling process. Teresa Knipper acted as a label making team coordinator leading the RMG interns. Teresa accepted all label making request. Her vast knowledge and Plant Expo experience proved to be a valuable first step in this process. Updated instructions and recommendations from the 2017 interns, Katie Girandola and Lynne Harwood, will be incorporated in 2018 helping make the process better and better.

• For the first time, we asked that MGs not donate plants from the Invasive Species “Do Not Plant List”. This was well accepted by our members and an important measure in educating the public.

• “What’s Next,” as well as numerous Rutgers and BJB fact sheets were made available to customers at our resource tent.

• 644 people attended the event in 408 cars parked. We continued the sale hours of 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. .


VENDORS: $1493.68


Chickadee Creek Farms $271 $75.00 D&R Greenway $ 91.80 $75.00 RareFind Nursery $125.50 $75.00 Shannon Nursery $ 80 $75.00 Steve Kristoph Nursery $272.60 $75.00 Wild Ridge Plants $ 202 $75.00

HOMEGROWN: $8264* TOMATOES: $3303* SECOND HAND: $1534*

TOTAL PROFIT: $15,875.38** LESS EXPENSES: $ 2,923.66**

NET PROFITS: $12,951.72

*These are approximations based on early money and credit card figures. To simplifythe financial component of the sale, we have asked that the Treasurer not detail what sales area the money came from. Vendor totals are accurate because they pay separately. **Total profit and expenses are based on numbers from the June 30, 2017 fiscal report, prepared July 4, 2017.


• 2018 plan is to invite current vendors keeping the number of vendors at sixmaximum.

• Tomatoes continue to be a huge draw and success. For 2018, we need to find anew source for our tomatoes and veggies because Bruce Young will be unableto grow them. The plan in 2018 is to have only specific varieties and quantitiesavailable of tomatoes, eggplant and peppers. Check into specific boxes fortomatoes. Need alligator clips and cashier sign. We will re-examinet-shirt sales.

• Second-Hand sale was successful. We had a co-chair, Harri, and captains UrsulaWooley and Barbara Gliddon managing this popular area. For 2018 addressthe decorative planters and planter chairs sales which have always beenpopular. Make sure that supply box is found or re-created. 2017-18 budget hadfunds for a shed, instead we will use the storage options at new Extensionbuilding for second hand sale storage.

• Publicity will have major changes. Officers have asked that we do not use printads in an effort to save money. Tear offs and constant contact will continue tobe used. Vendors’ postings help considerably and will be encouraged. We willalso work on a social media plan, ask that MGs help to spread the word and askthat Community Outreach has plenty of tear offs and acts as an importantPublic Relations vehicle. Possibly bring potted HomeGrown plants or tomatoplants as a conversation starter. This will take a large multi-faceted effort sinceour attendees were down in 2017 already, from 732 people in 2016 to 644 in2017.

• Continue 2017 efforts to put tomato and Homegrown inventories on websiteprior to sale.

• Add more to 2018 private website. Mark invasive species on our label maker,create one label, volunteer opportunities, 2016 HomeGrown inventory andSignup genius log-in.

• Improve accounting and reporting were accomplished in 2017. We will have adiscussion with the New Treasurer and team well in advance of the sale tocontinue this measure. Attempt to get all expenses paid within the fiscal year.This has not occurred for the last few years.

• In 2018, continue RMG e-mails and communication on the planning andpreparation of the sale. Co-chairs design a timeline of activities, goals andcommunication efforts. Attach a full-page Plant Expo flyer to allcommunications so MGs can forward to friends and print and place in popularpublic places.

• Food for vendors and volunteers worked very well. Ursula Wooley organizedthis with interns Lili Wei and Severia Symons and we staffed through sign-upgenius. We will continue to do this in the same manner moving forward.

• Best possible communications and Management. Major part of this is tocontinue to update two notebooks. One an informational book that was housedin Helpline. The second was for set-up and logistics that we used at MEG.Keeps all changes and suggestions in one place.

• Have interns create labels for paid holding area.• Change/simplify Hours policy for donating plants.• Better staff for final clean up. Many MGs stay from full day of work. Ask table

vendor if we can stack them in three spots.• Big Digs contribute a huge portion of our HomeGrown plants. Keep this as a

focus. We will need to confirm 2018 captain(s), staff well and communicateexpectations with MG/homeowner.

• Continue parking staff so that they begin at 7 am and Nancy’s Taxi Service ahelpful shuttle service introduced this year.

• Plan to have the hot dog roast after workday Friday. Offer modified tomato saleand second-hand sale to MGs after picnic. In 2017, we had terrible rains onFriday and had to cancel all activities. The event was then combine with awrap up meeting May 31st. Plan to buy 144 hotdogs for 2108 picnic.

• RMGs and the public have access to the sale from its start time. We mustcontinue to communicate to RMGs that sale rules apply to them and the public.

• Designate a sign captain to produce: 2 unisex bathrooms, repair/replace A-B-CHomeGrown signs, ‘second hand drop off’ realtor style sign, cashier sign fortomatoes, “helper” nametags for Second Hand, Vendors names as needed andalligator clips to hang.

• Contact vendors with 2018 vendor application form before year-end 2017.Give vendors a “Save the Date” for 2019 sale.

• Work with new GardenCore effort. Create opportunities at resource tent, saleswith vendors, tomatoes and vendors. Display label information created byKathleen Yurwit and Dorothy Donnelly. Make notations on Sign-Up genius.

• Kick-off meeting for 2018 Expo is planned for January 31, 2018, 10:00 am to12:00 pm, at Ann Calder’s. Additional meeting scheduled for March 28th, 10-12at Extension.

• Sale date is May 5, 2018 from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.• Co-Chairs for 2018 are Carol Bencivengo, Ann Calder, Stephanie Foy, Bonnie

Ferriolo and Harri Nowrey. We have reached out to President, Pat Frawley, toadd another co-chair because this will be Ann’s last year.



CO-CHAIRS: Carol Bencivengo, Ann Calder, Harri Nowrey, Bonnie Ferriolo and Stephanie Foy


Eighty four (84) RMGs used Sign-up genius for 228 time slots starting on the Wednesday prior to Saturday’s sale date (202 slots were filled prior to day of sale). We also have a number of positions that are not posted on sign-up genius. This included cashiers, captains and sales staff. We estimate that over half of the organization contributes to the success of the Plant Expo.


Plans, organizes and runs the spring plant sale held each year usually on the first Saturday

in May. The goals are to have fun while working in harmony with fellow RMGs; raise

money for the RMG of MC organization; and increase knowledge of the public and RMGs

concerning plant attributes and suitability for an individual’s garden site.

COMMITTEE GOALS: A. Have fun while working in harmony with fellow Rutgers Master

Gardeners, Vendors and the Public.

• The Garden Market of select vendors continues to be very successful. We havedeveloped a good relationship with a core group of vendors and these vendorshave found their market niche. The vendors continue to bring natives andspecial varieties of plant material that excite, inspire and educate. ChickadeeCreek Organic Farm returned, selling their organic plants. In addition, theyprovided over 1200 organic veggies to sell which replaced the home-grownplants from RMG Bruce Young.

• Encouraged all RMGs, with special emphasis on New Class members, to beinvolved in the planning and execution of the sale.

• Organized and participated in Big Digs with a group of committee membersand encouraged RMGs to create their own smaller groups for dividing andpotting plants. Each year Big Digs provide a large number of home-grownplants to the sale.

• In 2018, 2,000 plants were donated to the Home Grown area with 150different varieties offered. Pinelands Nursery allowed us to dig nativeperennials that were being plowed under in their fields. We had 52 RMGs andfour gardens responsible for the donations. That combined with big digs madeup the inventory. We consider 1,500 plants a reasonable donation and salesgoal to meet for the five-hour sale period. We raffled off two special plants forthose who donated plant material.

• Plant counts were taken at the end of the each day. Plant species inventorywas taken with check in and a final inventory of plant species taken onThursday. All of this data helps to complete our Home Grown sell sheetswhich are used by the sales staff. Additionally, it was placed on the website forthe public.

• Chickadee Creek Organic Farm stepped in and provided the tomatoes andother veggies and RMGs provided the sales staff in the Tomato area of the sale.Sales were vigorous all day and the plan is to work with Chickadee Creek againfor this portion of the sale.

• Continued Sign-Up Genius, an online volunteer sign-up process, which had an88.6% sign-up rate.


• Partnered with five vendors and were able to offer a tremendous variety ofplant material. Vendors advised shoppers of plant attributes.

• Continued to update and revised our on-line plant data base. Teresa Knipperacted as the label making team coordinator leading the RMG interns. Teresaaccepted and reviewed all label making requests. The plant labelling processworks better and better each year. Teresa will oversee this for 2019 and thesame labelling team will return since there will not be interns for theupcoming sale.

• Utilized the Invasive Species “Do Not Plant List.” This was well accepted by ourmembers and an important measure in educating the public.

• “What’s Next” planting and care document, as well as numerous Rutgers andBJB fact sheets were made available to customers at our resource tent.

• 747 people attended the event in 445 cars parked. We continued the salehours of 9:00 am to 2:00 pm..

C. Raise money for the RMG of MC Organization

VENDORS:


Chickadee Creek Farms $723.50 $75.00Rare Find Nursery $187.00 $75.00Shannon’s Nursery $112.50 $75.00Steven Kristoph Nursery $298.00 $75.00Wild Ridge Plants $285.50 $75.00

HOMEGROWN INCOME: $ 8,352.90 SECOND HAND SALE INCOME: $ 1,551.94

VENDORS INCOME: $ 1,981.50 CONTAINERS INCOME: $ 754.20 TOTAL INCOME: $12,640.54

EXPENSES: $ 2,937.05 NET EXP0 PROFITS: $ 9,703.49

Plant Expo 2018 finances are based on actual numbers from the Plant Expo Transaction Report provided by the Treasurer on January 14, 2019.

PLANT EXPO 2019 PLANS • Invite current vendors keeping the number of vendors at a maximum of six.• Continue with Chickadee Creek Organic Farm growing and providing the

tomatoes and other veggies for the sale. Discuss with the farm the varietieswhich work for our sale based on last year’s sale.

• Continue the Second-Hand sale portion of Expo. Captains Ursula Wooley andBarbara Gliddon will manage this popular area. Plan to communicate what areacceptable items and what will not be accepted in advance of sale.

• Publicize the sale with a press release, tear offs, constant contact postings,social media and print ads in local papers. Advertise sale at Symposium,community education programs and community outreach events. EncourageRMGs to pass the word to family and friends and advertise events at localplaces they frequent. Vendors’ postings help considerably and will beencouraged.

• Continue to put tomatoes and homegrown plant varieties on website prior tosale.

• Use Sign up Genius as main source for volunteer signup for days leading up toand actual sale day.

• Work with Treasurer and team well in advance of the sale to continue soundfinancial reporting. Attempt to get all expenses paid within the fiscal year.

• Provide lite snacks and food for vendors and volunteers on sale day. RuthLarson handled this beautifully in 2018 and will be asked to handle in a similarmanner in 2019.

• Work on getting final clean up staffed fully and handle efficiently.• Focus on Big Digs which contribute a huge portion of our Home Grown plants.

We will appoint captain(s), staff well and communicate expectations withRMG/homeowner.

• Continue staffing parking effort beginning at 7:00 a.m. when RMGs andvendors start arriving. Ask Nancy Putnam to continue Nancy’s Taxi Service, ahelpful shuttle service introduced two years ago.

• Plan a volunteer appreciation lunch for workers on Friday after work day.• Contact vendors with 2019 vendor application form before end of January.

Give vendors Save the Date flyer for 2020 Expo at end of sale.• Better define allocation of Garden Core credit so volunteers are fully informed.

Note Garden Core on Signup Genius.• Kick-off meeting for 2019 Expo is planned for February 6, 2019, 10:00 a.m. to

12:00 p.m., at Extension. If move occurs we will meet in Lobby Meeting Room,if not meeting will be held at current Extension in downstairs meeting room.

• Sale date is May 4, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.• Co-Chairs for 2019 are Carol Bencivengo, Stephanie Foy, Bonnie Ferriolo and

Harri Nowrey. Ann Calder will be missed as a Co-Chair but will continue tosupport the Plant Expo.

plant expo year end report 2012 co-chairs: carol...

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