Natural Entrepreneur: After School Program Sells Flowers

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After School Program Sells Flowers

The pots of cheerful daffodils, narcissus, and hyacinths now available at Hannah Grimes Marketplace are not your ordinary fragrant spring flowers. These flowers have been grown – and now are being sold -- by area school children for the “Many Options” program – an after school program for area youth in the 5th through 8th grades.

Hannah Grimes has partnered with Stonewall Farm to provide a retail outlet for the projects created by the students participating in the Many Options program, which is an alternative program for children -- some who may otherwise be home alone after school. The program is administered by Monadnock Family Services (a Monadnock United Way agency). Each day, participating students have several programs from which to choose -- one of the options is Stonewall Farm.

Two days a week, the students visit the farm. They divide their time between growing plants, making farm products, caring for small livestock and exploring general farm activities. Students not only acquire the general skills associated with each task, but also learn about the business aspects involved in selling their products.

“We’re happy to provide a high-exposure outlet for these products,” said Beth Butler, manager at Hannah Grimes Marketplace in Keene. “The students are responsible for caring for the live plants, staying in stock, and monitoring the sales. The program provides a realistic and hands-on look at taking a product from the farm to the retail sales floor. They learn very quickly what works, what doesn’t, and why.”

Since the program began in September, the Many Options students have created a variety of products to sell including pesto, dried herbs and potted herbs. Their current project is potted tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, “cat grass”, and catnip toys — perfect for spring gift-giving.

Through the program, students earn Stonewall Farm currency—“Farm Bucks,” based on how much they produce and sell. (Actual income goes toward reimbursing the Farm for incurred costs; any profit is directly returned to the program.) The students can then use their Farm Bucks to purchase special privileges on the farm, such as riding horses, making ice cream, or making cheese for pizza.

Contact: Mary Ann Kristiansen, Hannah Grimes Marketplace, 603-352-6862, mak@hannahgrimes.com

Upcoming Events

Feb 21 (8-9:30a): NH Forum on the Future, NHHTC, CR Sparks, Bedford, NH

March 1 (6:30-8:30p): Women's Business Center and MicroCredit-NH Networking Event, Bank of America, Portsmouth, NH

March 6 (10a-noon): Growth Capital Resources in New Hampshire, City of Nashua, Office of Economic Development, Daniel Webster College, Nashua, NH

March 8: (12pm -1pm) Break the Rules and Close More Sales, Amoskeag Business Incubator, Manchester, NH

March 16: Peak Pitch (pitch your plan to invstors on the chairlift), Mt. Sunapee, NH ($)

March 22: Breaking Trends in Web Develoment, UVCIA, Hanover, NH ($)

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