Live plants, travel: Kansas woman takes her business on the road

The wheels on the bus keep south-central Kansas green. What started as a way to save money for college is now a growing business for Renata Gosson — no pun intended.

Goosen operates Renata Garden’s mobile plant bus, which she uses to sell plants and accessories from her location for the day. What used to be a yellow school bus is now a traveling business. It is painted white with flowers, plants and insects native to Kansas.

And on the front and back, in all capital letters, it reads – “Plant Bus.”

“I think it’s really fun to be kind of like a plant car,” Goosen said. “I go around like, ‘Okay, the plant bus is in town…let’s go get some plants.’

“And I love that access to rural areas.”

Gosson often travels to small communities like El Dorado and her hometown of Potwin, where she developed a love of plants.

“I was always exposed to nature,” Goosen said, “which was a great thing for me. And I thrived on it. I really like plants.”

Gosson went to Kansas State to study horticulture. But after trying a few things here and there during an internship and working in a commercial greenhouse, she eventually returned to her pre-college plant sales business.

“It always saddens me when people feel like they don’t have enough support on their plant-growing journey,” she says.

With that in mind, Goosen educates her customers about plants and plant care through her weekly video series on her YouTube channel.

Each plant you sell has its own QR code that directs you to their website. The website has extensive care guides for dozens of plants, from tomatoes and perennials to many traditional houseplants.

Goshen offers her phone number for customers to call with questions.

Plant Bus customers find the personal interaction beneficial compared to shopping at big box plant stores.

“I want to go home and grow a healthy collection of plants,” Yesi Perez said after visiting the bus.

To find those healthy plants, Goosen works with connections she made while in college. She also uses her own greenhouse.

“For a small business, and starting with less than 1,000 square feet of growing space, I can’t keep up with the demand to support my new business,” Goosen said.

“So it’s always good to have some friends in the horticulture world to help me, and I can help them. And the great thing about the horticulture industry is that we’re all very… willing to work together to be successful.”

In the future, Goosen is looking to incorporate compostable or reusable jars and containers into her inventory.

“I like to see things with life, new life, breath,” Goosen said.

And maybe expanding into the actual storefront.

“Up until that point, I have a mobile business that serves a lot of communities,” Goosen said, “and even though I have a storefront, I’m going to stay there.

“So I know the bus will be around for a while. And I hope this will be a major symbol of support for gardening and plant care in the community.”

Copyright 2022 KMUW | NPR for Wichita. To see more KMUW | Visit NPR for Wichita.