Mobile Plant Shop / Seed Swap Shop

Strawberries are an excellent 'first kiddo's business' plant, as from one plant, will come runners which create many daughter plants within a year. However, location is critical - so having a mobile stall is vital for adapting to variable footfall, sun, and events like food markets, etc.

We've also been very inspired by Grow Your Own Food (LINK), which advocates Seed Swaps. If you've ever purchased Peas for example, it's mildly infuriating to spend £4 on a packet - which usually contain 300-400 seeds!! So Swaps are a perfect way to 'average out' your collection, and it is also where I learned that you can grow chickpeas (see the plant in the black pot in the middle). I never would have expected it in the UK!

So this Mobile Shop makes good use of a Wooden Box, you find at open markets, often from citrus fruit. And the wheels, although not especially long-lasting, are 'fit for purpose' on a fun activity as a one off (and you can always 'upgrade' to a better trolley if you find your kid has a taste for entrepreneurial activities).

UPDATE: Sold 20 Plants, and 5 Seed Kits in about 2.5 hours. Woah. Was not ready for that. Be ready for it!

Strawberries. 'Mini-Plants': https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152593617180?var=452017...
Pots 9cm: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160536684605?_trkparms=..
Compost: Any multipurpose will do.
So for me this worked out about £0.55/plant + effort.
So selling for £1.00, we were hardly going for the 'Farmer's Market' price, and could have easily got £2.50 if inclined, but this just seemed fair for a kid's first effort.

If you want to grow yours via Runners, like we did, check this video out:
(You also make more profit per plant - wooo!).

BOXES:
As shown here, at then end of the morning 'setting up' of stalls, there are usually stacks of boxes like this. They are often free to take (ask first), and make the base for the Mobile Stall.
Tip: Ideally try and get ones with 'reinforced' corners, as shown.

PROPAGATION BOXES:
These are simply strawberry punnets / boxes, which I used in another Instructable (LINK), which make excellent 'seed trays', but also double-up as a 'cover' to keep seeds warm, moist and free from pests.
These were also found as 'waste' at the markets. We picked up some 50 trays.

You will need:
- A Drill
- Drill Bits
(ideally one slightly bigger than your screws are wide)
(ideally another smaller than your screw shaft - for piloting)
- Screws (ideally with a un-threaded top part).
- Glue Gun (I highly recommend this if you have kids: LINK).
- Scissors, Pen, Tape, etc.
- Cardboard Cereal Box.

Tins for Wheels.
- I used small Tomato Puree Tins, but upon reflection, I think Tuna Tins are better.
(Any tin that is 'slim' is ideal). Good recycling / upcycling!

To make the centre of the wheel, a nice tip is to draw around the tin, cut the circle out, fold in to quarters, unfold, and use the centre-point to drill the mid-point in the tin - as shown.

Pass the screw through the tin.

Make a mark on the corner of the Wooden Box, such that the screw would pass into the reinforcing block. Also ensure the mark allows the wheel to contact the ground, and keep the box from dragging on the floor. As mentioned earlier - Tuna Tins are better than the ones shown here, as you get more 'ride height' / clearance.

Pilot the holes (smaller drill bit than the screw - e.g. 1.5mm bit, for a 3mm screw).

Screw in to place.

Check it spins freely.

A nice opportunity for a bit of drilling. I explain some safety considerations in more detail (see below).
Then thread string to make handle.
Knot as shown (Reef Knot).

Disclaimer: I create these guides with best intentions, but cannot accept responsibility for any harm caused by following these guides. The guardian needs to make the call themselves / if you are a minor - ask an adult. Thanks for being safe.

We tested this and it rolls really surprisingly well. Granted this will not last years, but I'm also a reluctant parent to shell out for a Radio Flyer on a whim, so 'test' with cheaper alternatives like this, and will 'upgrade' if the need is there.

A nice task is to get your kid to Quality Control the plants - removing any weeds, old leaves, and topping up with fresh compost if needs be. A good tip is to water the night before sales, so plants feel 'hefty', but are also not leaking everywhere. As you can see, I've used a 'tray' to keep them all tidy - I find Garden Centres usually gives these to you for free at checkout.

Making a sign is another good way to use 30mins, and allow your kid to have some self-expression with the design of the signs, and also to appreciate the messaging needed for the buyer. You can go as detailed or simple as you like.

The Strawberry one is basic, but the 'Grow Your Own Peas' kit, in hindsight should have been more explicit. Hard to tell if we're selling Soup or a Seed Selection! So even I need lessons in Marketing it seems!

To take your Garden Mobile to the next level, you can even create some cool designs on the sides. Simply stick down the cereal card with glue gun.

It seems the perfect day to sell Strawberries, and it's been great fun taking this around a few places. I'll update with new plants, as clearly this will be happening again next weekend from the enthusiasm of my son, and from his friends in the neighbourhood who want to do similar....I'll be building more it seems ;o)

Thanks for voting / sharing if you liked this. And do please share any other 'DIY Play' type of examples, website or projects you like. Thank you.

As mentioned earlier - I've found that many consumer packaging items can be easily re-purposed, whether this is for growing from seeds (the tray example), or as shown here - to use yoghurt pots to allow plants to grow taller.

The first images shows, Tomatoes (at the back), then Chickpeas (middle), and Cucumber (front) - in single plant:pot.

The second image shows Tomatoes, (after some 16 have been planted up) with still many left. I actually tested shop bought vs seeds from a packet, and I've not really seen any difference in propagation/germination time, or indeed the quality of the end results. I live in the UK, so it's better to grow cherry tomatoes, as they will ripen within the limited growing season.

Third image are chilis. Again, I've grown from Pack and from Shop and both work. The main difference is of course the type. Chilli seeds are popular thing, and there is a whole geek/cult following out there of weird and wonderful types.

Getting back to the hustle on the street corner, I'd wager that a mix of 'favourites' (Tomatoes, Sunflowers, and Herbs) will always sell to those who are leading a busy life, and it saves time and effort to buy these...but then the other customer is the 'novelty hunter' - and it was clear from the first day's sales, that thing like Chickpeas really draw engagement (at least in the UK, most people don't have Chickpeas growing!). Perhaps the third 'type' of buyer is one who is looking for a nice presentable plant, and things like Lavender never seems to not sell in garden centres (I did work in one when younger - never expected to be doing this with a kid - haha!).

Please do share any gardening tips and tricks in the comments. And do check out the book (LINK) - it is not that I actually believe that there are no economies of scale of modern faming and retail, and the book is not preaching that we all become Homesteaders, but it is a terrific provocation on being resourceful and getting a second use out fo so many things. Recycling is great, but Re-Use sparks Creativity.

OK, so when you start a project like this, you're all pleased with yourself for the fact that your kid just sold £25 worth of plants!! Woo!

But then it dawns on you - does s/he have autonomy to spend this as they wish?!

Although my son would certainly spend this on a RC Car, for example, I'd consider this a 'good purchase', but he can also buy nearly his own bodyweight in sweets also. I'd also like to introduce the notion that he could 'double down' and reinvest in more plants and sell more for a profit, but as any child psychologist* will tell you 'deferred gratification' comes with age.

And truthfully, I was not ready for this. So I need you Instructable-Parents! I respect this is not Fatherly/Mumsnet, but please do share any tips on how you managed pocket money at a young age. Would be fun to know the cultural differences, so please do include your country/cultural perspective, if you are willing.

*Interestingly, I heard from a friend in the Toy Industry that the famous 'Marshmallow Test' is no longer considered statistically significant. If you don't know this test, it basically says kids get more sweets if they wait than if they eat one right away. And the test tried to correlate this to a 'better life' if the kid could wait, but as the year have gone by, it turns out there was less and less correlation between the 'impulsive' kids, and them turning into 'responsible' adults. So, please see this as a bit of fun also, I'm not advocating to micromanage your kid's life through one Plant Stall - but it's interesting to reflect on what we teach kids at key moments.