Commercial Activity


BGCI: The global network Our work Our supporters and partners Join in Resource centre Publications Our newsletter Events BGCI Congresses Latest news News archives Tools and links Access and Benefit Sharing IPEN Tech tools About PlantSearch About GardenSearch Fundraising links Upload Instructions Jobs Botanic garden information Definition The history of botanic gardens Botanical illustration Living collections Role of botanic gardens Commercial activity Seedbanks Botanic gardens and conservation Herbaria Information management systems Starting a botanic garden Promoting a botanic garden Education centre Climate change information centre PlantSearch GardenSearch Sign up to our newsletter:	Resource centre > Botanic garden information > Commercial Activity Commercial Activity Botanic gardens can generate income in a wide variety of ways and one of these is by selling goods and or food in a shop. If your garden is promoting a sustainability or conservation message, its important you carry that through in the shop which may be the final stop on a visitor's tour of the gardens. Some guidelines include: Avoid selling invasive species. You could take the opportunity to sell propagated rare species to raise awareness, as in the case of the Wollemi pine, or to promote the planting of native species that benefit wildlife. Check the ABS guidelines on selling plants. Food could be locally produced and/or organic - you may be able to sell food or herbs that are grown in the gardens You could sell plants and goods made from materials grown in the gardens or by the local community Sell recycled products - you might even be able to sell compost produced on site Keep packaging and disposable items down as much as possible. There are so many biodegradable alternatives to plastic now, there is no excuse to avoid them. You can even use cutlery made from potatoes. Provide recycling facilities and show how you recycle the products - you amy even be able to show that for example, food waste is put into the garden compost, and used on-site If you sell garden products, stick to eco-friendly items such as peat-free compost, and you could offer bird boxes or other products designed to encourage wildlife Please contact BGCI if you have any queries about enhancing your botanic gardens shop. Below are some case studies and further information: Plant Sales at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Kew does not supply plants from its collection to the public, except in the case of the annual plant auction. Read more... Chelsea Physic Garden Chelsea Physic Garden has developed a simple system to sell seeds to support the garden’s running costs and at the same time educate buyers about their responsibilities to honour the CBD. Read more... The Gift Shop as a Site for Education for Sustainability This workshop developed the theme of the social production or construction of nature by suggesting to participants that the botanic garden gift shop could be a site of education for sustainability if there was careful attention to the origins and presentation of the goods on sale. Read more... Aburi Botanic Garden Plant Sales In the past Aburi Botanic Gardens, Ghana, raised ornamental plants for sale to the general public in order to generate much needed revenue to support the maintenance of the gardens. Read more... Plant Sales Botanic gardens sell plants for many reasons - to raise funds for running costs, for a specific project, to satisfy visitor expectations, to introduce species to ornamental horticulture or to promote sustainable use. But there are several things gardens should consider when selling plant material. Read more...	Related News Plastic Pots Recycling Sets Record in Missouri 5th November 2007 Botanic Garden Provides Windfall for Local Artisans 15th August 2007 Wollemis On Sale 26th October 2005 Like us on Facebook! Find out what's going on in education in botanic gardens around the world. Ethical Shopping This reader-friendly handbook addresses growing consumer concern about the conditions under which employees and communities in developing countries produce goods for the rich world. It provides all the information that concerned consumers need about ethical and fair trade.