Charity Auction Ideas 

Say what? Benefit auction ideas for vegetables?

A group asked me about vegetables recently, so I thought some of you others might be wondering, too.

It’s not that crazy of an idea. I already cheap silent auction ideas broached the topic (sort of) this past summer in another article called Four Ideas for Farm-to-Table Donations.

Here are some benefit auction ideas for those not-so-lowly, rich-in-antioxidants vegetables.

* Centerpieces

Many fall-themed centerpieces use gourds. Heck, even a carved jack-o-lantern can be an unusual centerpiece.

* Decor

Use them as a “display” when showcasing a silent or live auction item. For instance, if you’re selling cooking lessons, or the opportunity for a chef to come to your home and prepare a meal, having a few potatoes and fresh green beans on a cutting board might get the idea across.

* Silent auction item

Put them in a basket and sell it as “A Farmer’s Market Special, without the trip to the market.”

Or if you’ve got a donation such as a crock pot, juicer, cookbooks, or cooking pots, throw some veggies into the donation to make the display look less sterile.

* Live auction item

CSA’s are hot! It’s a growing trend.

If you can get a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) group to offer you an annual subscription, that might be sexy enough to become a live auction item in your benefit auction. I’ve got a couple of clients who could easily sell this vegetable donation in a live auction and bring good money.

Or another option … that CSA donation would also be an excellent raffle item. This donation is not gender-specific, and it’s something many people wouldn’t necessarily think to get on their own.

Play around with them! I suspect you’ll create a few new ideas of your own.