How it works

Every year we source the best, most interesting and useful plants we can find, so we can offer the Asheville community affordable bare-root perennials.

1. Pre-order online

Around mid-December we open the online store for pre-orders (this season: Monday, December 15). Until the deadline (Sunday, February 15, noon), you can browse our inventory and pick your varieties. Once your order is paid, you'll get a confirmation email with sale details.

2. Pick up your plants

Pickup days are Thursday, February 26 and Friday, February 27, 12–6 pm, at Smith Mill Works. Our staff will pull your order with you and help you choose the best plants of each variety. Then it's off to the garden or orchard!

3. The general sale

Saturday, February 28, 12–6 pm is the general sale. It's a great time to grab the plants you forgot to pre-order, or to bring friends and family to stock up. Some of every variety on the website will be there, even varieties that sold out during pre-orders.

Volunteer for plants

One of our favorite things about the sale: you can trade work hours for plants, at $15 an hour. Our volunteers are usually fellow plant lovers, and working together is a great way to meet like-minded people.

• Decide how many hours you want to commit and plan your order to match.
• Choose the volunteer option at checkout, and email us to say you're interested.
• Volunteers help set up at Smith Mill Works the week before, staff the sale, and clean up afterward.
• If you order more than your hours cover, pay the balance at pickup.
• Pick up your plants at the end of your shift or on a pickup day. If you're working the general sale, ask us to set your order aside first.

We email all past volunteers and new sign-ups in early January to build the schedule. Questions? Email us. We'd love to hear from you!