I stir the pot, then forget to check back in.....
I know that for me, the fact that the plants I was interested in would be probably taken at the live auction stopped me from even trying. The rare stuff is like that.
I do think that the economy has alot to do with it, plus some contributors shipping prices. A one gallon plant shipped to the same shipping zone for $15? I guess I'm spoiled by fred and his willingness to charge only actual cost- but I guess the nursery had to make up for materials and labor.
Ideas for increase success in auction revenues:
I wonder if any would donate shipping too?
Simplify the process for donors? When I was helping with the auction, the top reasons for not donating seemed to be not wanting to deal with shipping, followed by people not having stuff to donate.
-if one person who was willing to take the time to gather the plants for a region, and take the time to ship, that could solve some of it....then how is the shipping paid for....
-in the above scenario, the letter about the auction could go out in late winter, giving folks a heads up on digging donations, then the regional person could pick up the plants between then and the time of shipping after the auction, our before, just to make sure the plants were actually available...
last thoughts, in years past, it seems to me the most money has come from people who own the nurseries buying the rare plants that were just being released. Not too many private collectors can pay what a large nursery is going to be willing to, and now, many of the plants donated are common species that most of us have, or as already stated, won't make it in some climates. Since the auction seems to be drawing mostly booweb people, maybe opening it up by having a craigslist ad that members can post in their various regions with a brief statement about the ABS, and a link directly to the auction page? Don't know if that would create some interest in the common plants?
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