Co-op Gardens' FREE SEED Distribution - Year 3!
Tax deductible
Founded in March 2020, the Cooperative Gardens Commission is a grassroots collective working to support food sovereignty efforts in response to the COVID19 pandemic and persistent injustice. Our primary work is a massive free seed distribution project focused on historically oppressed communities.
Through over 400 local and regional hubs, reaching tens of thousands of people, we’ve distributed millions of free seeds (mostly donated by small-scale and organic seed companies). Up to this point, we’ve relied exclusively on unpaid volunteers, including some working almost full-time at our central seed hub in Philadelphia. But this situation is neither fair nor sustainable.
In 2021, our shipping and packaging costs alone totaled nearly $7,000, and our primary coordinator in Philly (the miraculous Kate Illes) worked nearly 600 hours. If she had been paid $15/hr, that would have cost $9,000.
For 2022 we aim to raise at least $16,000. Most of our work will continue to be done by volunteers, but this sum would at least allow us to pay a fair wage to one key person. This is the minimum we need to continue providing seeds to communities in need.
If we are able to raise $28,000 we can ensure more organization and support for people who rely on the Cooperative Gardens Commission to continue growing into a resource for our substantial 300 Seed Hub network. Additional raised funds would go towards Administrative and Communications staffing or stipends, which would ensure that emails and phone calls are responded to, working groups are supported with technical assistance, work that we’ve created is built upon - not lost - and adapted in response to ever-changing times. This will mean we need the ability to provide critical updates and information as things develop internally, so we can share new opportunities as they come in a timely way, and that new resources are developed when needed, as requested by Hubs and Commissioners.
We also want to provide stipends for the Seed Club in Philadelphia who spent upwards of 330 hours last year preparing, sorting, repackaging, and shipping.
As we grow into partnerships with other organizations we would be able to consistently and effectively continue developing new pathways and means to support regenerative food and nutrition security - food sovereignty - in all our regions, together.
For 2022 we aim to raise at least $16,000. Most of our work will continue to be done by volunteers, but this sum would at least allow us to pay a fair wage to one key person. This is the minimum we need to continue providing seeds to communities in need.
If we are able to raise $28,000 we can ensure more organization and support for people who rely on the Cooperative Gardens Commission to continue growing into a resource for our substantial 300 Seed Hub network. Additional raised funds would go towards Administrative and Communications staffing or stipends, which would ensure that emails and phone calls are responded to, working groups are supported with technical assistance, work that we’ve created is built upon - not lost - and adapted in response to ever-changing times. This will mean we need the ability to provide critical updates and information as things develop internally, so we can share new opportunities as they come in a timely way, and that new resources are developed when needed, as requested by Hubs and Commissioners.
We also want to provide stipends for the Seed Club in Philadelphia who spent upwards of 330 hours last year preparing, sorting, repackaging, and shipping.
As we grow into partnerships with other organizations we would be able to consistently and effectively continue developing new pathways and means to support regenerative food and nutrition security - food sovereignty - in all our regions, together.
Please dig deep and help us.
Thank you.
*NOTE: CGC is fiscally sponsored by The Experimental Farm Network Cooperative, a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Philadelphia.
Organizer
Cooperative Gardens Commission
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA
The Experimental Farm Network Cooperative
Beneficiary