I am a enthusiastic and active amateur gardener. This is the second year I decided to start plants from seed, more out of the novelty of the experience than an expectation of cost savings. The savings are there for the taking, a packet of 20 sunflower seeds from Lowes might cost $2.25 while a single plant at a nursery might cost $5.00. Even when you add cost for potting soil and seed trays your per unit cost for seeds can't be higher than $.50 per plant, a significant savings, but not a real motivator.
That is where the Internet kicks in. I went online looking for a specific type of grass seed, Irish Moss. It is not the kind of thing you will find in a brick and mortar storefront, but like more and more niche items, you can find it online. Not only can you find seeds online, you can get them in quantities and at a price point you'd never imagine.
One of the great ecommerce opportunities is selling items in large quantities to niche audiences. Buying plant and grass seeds is a perfect example. I found an online store, outsidepride.com, that markets to golf courses and horse farms. We are talking about people who seed acres, not flower beds. Sunflower seeds for $2.25 for a packet of 20? How about $6.99 for 1/4 lb? A red hot poker plant will cost $6.99 at the nursery. At outsidepride.com you get 1,000 seeds for the same price. 15,000 White Foxglove seeds will cost you $10.99.
Not only have I learned a little lesson in the benefits of ecommerce, I know approach my garden differently. I am basically landscaping at these quantities.
