Plant bargains to be had

The plants are cheap and the cause is good at Pauatahanui School on October 23.

The annual plant sale - a fundraising fixture on the school’s calendar for more than 20 years - offers very low prices for thousands of natives, hedging plants, vegetables, perennials, shrubs and much more.

The sale has come about after preparation through the year by a dedicated group of about 10 volunteers, known as the Potty Planters. They come once a week, and much more often the closer the sale date looms, to cultivate seedlings and cuttings at the nursery behind the school.

‘‘We’ve worked pretty hard towards this and it is satisfying to see what we have,’’ Potty Planter Janine Sorenson said. ‘‘It’s been a tough year to get the right amount of plants that we wanted to, and there’s been a few setbacks, but we’ve got there.’’

Each year the sale raises between $10,000 and $15,000, which goes towards projects at the school.

Potty planter Amanda Caradus said some green-fingered members of the public come and get a few plants for the garden, but others really swoop due to the low prices.

‘‘It’s wall to wall people, especially when we open,’’ she said.

The sale takes place from 9am till 3pm, rain or shine. Cash is preferred, but there will be one eftpos terminal available. Sheep manure is also for sale. Free parking is available.