We have two farmers markets that are pretty close to us that run on the weekends. We were thinking that (in the future) we could set up a small table and sell seeds and/or small plants.

Seeds:
It looks like you have to have a seed license, send in seeds for testing, send in quarterly reports. (I think seeds would be to much of a hassle and $)

Plants:
Looks as you need a class m floral license, event permit license

Insurance:
CYA in case someone trips at your table

Farmers Market
Cost to sell your products

Experience anyone?

Sounds like a money loser to me.

But my XDH and I once had a plant sale in our front yard in Austin. We had a (bad?) habit of dividing plants and potting up everything and well it really was getting out of hand. Thus the sale. It was for one afternoon only, word of mouth, and we raked in $435. (This was in the early 90s for anyone who wants to factor inflation.)

Of course it probably helped that we were on a side street that was a footpath / bicycle route near the U of T. Students always need a little plant to talk to.

Just cracks me up that you have to have a license to sell seeds or plants because they need to find out if any bad pathogens or anything else that could cause a disease is being sold. But, if you find a vegetable plant growing in glowing water and it produces a fruit you need nothing to sell it.

I guess time will tell. We will continue to layout and build up our garden and overflow. And I completely understand about the dividing plants

I'm not surprised about the seeds. Dallas recently opened a Seed Library within the Dallas Public Library. That got me to surfing the web about seed libraries and seed banks. Many states, backed by the big Ag Companies, fought these efforts with strict laws or outright bans. Eventually things changed, probably due to lawsuits (just guessing) and possibly not everywhere. But there are now over 400 cities that have seed libraries. So maybe there's a difference between being able to 'borrow' seeds as opposed to selling them.
You might want to check with the Texas Dept of Ag. Is that who you send your seeds to for testing? Is this just a local regulation?
In the meantime get your floral license!

You know, I started thinking about the seed testing trip. I mean, you could send in some perfectly good seeds and get the thumbs up. But how would you or any agency know that every single seed after that would be ok?

Just mulling this over. Don't mind me.

$50 per test for germination test. I went through all of the Laws on the website but just get more confused (not hard for me to do ). One part says if you have all of this information on a label then you do not need a license and then another part states you are violating the law if you do not have you don't have the license.

I guess if we really really want to get into this then we will have to lawyer up later. Not like we will retire right now, but would like to have something that we enjoy and can make some extra cash off of when we do get to that point. Suppose we will start off next year or so just selling veggies or something.

Oh and I re-read what I thought was the right license for Floral which was a Class M , that one cost $180.00 per year but it says that you do not grow what you are selling. We would need to go with a Class 2 for $110.00 a yr since our grow area is less than 10 acres.

Geesh. That is so ridiculous.

According to our local Farmer's Market manager (Brown County), we in Texas are allowed to sell vegetable plants without a license - but not vegetable seeds. We are also allowed to sell ornamental seeds without a licence - but not ornamental plants or seedlings. Of course, different cities and counties may also have rules.

I looked into a State license and it was $300 a year for vegetable seeds. I understand the need to prove viability with germination testing, but it is a shame that access to the markets isn't more accessible.
So many things that once were ways to start a small home business are not available any more.

Tina

So true, Tina. All of the rules and regulations take the fun and profit out of tiny hobby businesses.

@PlantMania Have you considered using Craigslist to sell your plants? I had too many rooted cuttings to take care of without bumping them up to bigger pots. DH wasn't thrilled with having people come to house, but plant people are fun! I posted an ad on Friday afternoon and had first customers Saturday. They all went home with plants they paid for (and a few with free cuttings of plants they admired). I'm ready to take the ad down since I sold nearly all, and am holding nine for someone picking up Sunday.

DH just shook his head.

Your DH sounds like me.

We are not by any means ready to start selling veggies or plants but that is a good idea for the future. (I am looking ahead at a two to three year plan)

We have been here 8 months which most of that time has been getting settled in the house and starting to get the land how we want it. I figure if I can get a really good layout, we could have one area set aside for growing plants in pots and then we could turn around and make a little cash on the weekends markets. (Veggies, veggie plants,fruits, trees, shrubs, ground cover, flowers, whatever we can grow and sell)

I was hoping that someone has had experience in small production sales that could throw in their .02 cents ideas, thoughts, pain, etc..

Ahhh, I thought you were ready to sell. I'm taking my two cents back!

Hey!!! wait!!! I can use that two cents, actually I could any (cents or sense)

Nope, gonna buy new shoes....already made $158. And now I can add two cents!

Very Nice!


(but didn't your parents teach you to share? )