Vegetable Growing for the Homeless

PLEASE SHARE OUR CAMPAIGN WITH EVERYONE!



OUR STORY

Hello, my name is Alvin and I am here to tell you about how this grand idea came about and how you can be part of it’s future. We are launching this campaign not only to raise funding but to raise awareness. So we invite you to join us on this journey. We developed our idea and our process so that it will become a sustainable solution for the community in order to provide jobs and healthy food to people who are struggling. This will be a proactive change for their future and the future of our community.

You may have heard the quote to you can't know where you're going until you know where you've been. This rings to our story that started two years ago. We want to share it with you so you can fully understand how “Vegetables for the Homeless” was born.


We are three guys, here in the Greater Goldsboro and Greenville NC area of Eastern NC, that had a dream about 2 years ago. We wanted to build a restaurant in Goldsboro, NC and serve beautiful and fresh Southern Food. A true Farm to Table restaurant, using only fresh and organic products found in our community and farms.  We figured that with our total combined knowledge of 44 years as business men with other venutres, we would have a good chance of success in the restaurant business.

After months of hardwork and dedication, we made that dream a reality by opening Ed's Southern Foods here on Center Street in Goldsboro. The hardest part was actually taking a chance on revitalizing this property and opening while massive amount's of construction was taking place here in the downtown area. But they will be finshed in November of 2015 






Since our grand opening, during the last week of October 2014 it has been a whirlwind ride and I am glad to say that we have been fortunate to have a community that has embraced our idea of a farm to table restaurant and continues to support us.











HOWEVER, with that being said, there are those that are less fortunate in our community. They need help in their daily lives with a basic necessity, that being FOOD!!  It is shameful that there are so many people in the community that go to bed nightly that HAVE NOT EATEN all day, or that have gone day's without having a proper meal!!

Our new idea, and one that we need your much needed  help with is a HYDROPONIC VEGETABLE GROWING OPERATION, a complete URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECT FOR FEEDING THE HOMELESS AND UNEMPLOYED. We are planning to create this, here on the third floor of our building.






Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil using water and mineral nutrient solutions. The setup is know as a continuous-flow solution culture. By using this process correctly a person is able to continuesly grow plants and vegetables under any conditions indoors. Which is a drastic change from regular farming techniques.

You may be wondering… What is Hydroponics? Well it is is a method of growing plants without soil using water and mineral nutrient solutions. The setup is known as a continuous-flow solution culture. By using this process correctly a person is able to continuously grow plants and vegetables under any conditions indoors. Which is a drastic change from regular farming techniques. This will increase our likelihood of successful by having the ability to control our output.

As you can see in the picture below the cost can be overwhelming. This picture was taken from an indoor growing operation in the midwest, which is similar to our idea. Much of the cost associated with hydroponics is in the initial setup. Those things included in the setup are

1. Proper air conditioning and duct work
2. Proper lighting by LED lights
3. Containers and tables
4. The proper meduim's
5. Nutrient rich water conditioner's 
6. Seed stock
7. Air Filtration Capabilities
8. Carbon Dioxide additives
9. Irrigation piping 
10. Water Containment

This entire project will be labor and time intensive, but we are willing to give it "our all" in this new endeavor.





OUR PROGRESS


Here are pictures from our third floor, as you can see we have completely emptied it out...  In addition you can see there is going to be a prepping stage. We will need to do some additional construction in able to go forward..




The total expense thus far for us, was the complete cleaning out process, where we have spent a total of $3,255 in dumpster and landfill fee's, as well as employee wages. Many of the individuals that have helped us were the unemployed and were seeking an honest days wage for a day of work...

We feel that once  this operation is off the ground we will have 4 main objectives.

1. Giving jobs and teaching a skill to those who need a job and skill to become marketable in the community. Hydroponics is not a new way of growing plants and vegetables, however many places throughout the state and country are now picking up on this process. 

2. The vegetable's grown by using the hydroponic process will be given to foodbanks, church's and  shelters in the greater Eastern NC area. 

3. The grow operation will provide healthy alternatives for those that may not have the proper resources to buy fresh organic vegetables. As reported in many article's on feeding the hungry, fresh vegetables are especially important for this population. Many are vunerable to certain health conditions including diabete's, heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity.

4. The grow operation will offer a theraputic outlet for those that may need something new in their lives, in order to enrich their daily life.







We have filed for our 501 (c)3 status to create a non-profit foundation, however we will not recieve our status for many months.  
We have decided to start this process and will be using our own money until donations start coming . We are also  focused in being completely 100% transparent in our crowdfunding project.  So if THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS  what so ever please feel free to drop us an email or come by and we will give you the tour...

HOW CAN YOU HELP??????

For us to bring the “Vegetable Growing for the Homeless” to life, we need your support!
Your generous funding will help us get things started in order to realize our concept. It will assist us with the cost of further development, manufacturing and production. More importantly you get the chance to be one of the first to see and visit the “Vegetable Growing for the Homeless” facility. We will also use our funding to test our concept to make it better. We are committed to continuous improvement so we are always giving people the best possible solutions.
The “Vegetable Growing for the Homeless” needs pledging but above all it needs your attention and interest! If you love this product as much as we do then please take a moment to click on one of our social media buttons (Facebook, Twitter and YouTube at the bottom of the page). Help us spread the word and get things started!





We feel so grateful to everyone who has taken the time to read out campaign and for those who contributed what they could to make a difference and helping us spread the word. We have spent the last few months working hard to bring our vision to life in this campaign and it was worth every minute thanks to all our generous supporters. Please know your efforts, even the smallest, don’t go unnoticed. We will continue to keep you posted on what your donation helped us achieve. You are part of our family.

If you cannot donate but you are interested in helping, please contact us so we can set you up with a referral program! You might even be able to earn perks, just by spreading the word!

THANK YOU !! PLEASE SHARE OUR CAMPAIGN

ANY DONATION, even $1.00 would be much appreciated. We will be in constant conversation with all who donate concerning this project..We are hoping to make this new dream a reality with help and support from those that are interested. 



Our Business Facebook and Twitter Page
https://www.facebook.com/edsgoldsboronc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/eds_goldsboronc

ED'S SOUTHERN FOODS
103 NORTH CENTER ST,
GOLDSBORO NC 27534
919.947.5143
919.396.3311


GCW, INC
105 NORTH CENTER ST,
GOLDSBORO NC 27534
919.396.3311