Help launch the Urban Seed Project

VancouverUrban Seed Project

$1,710

Raised of $1,700 USD

Successfully funded on May 29, 2012
13 supporters
100%%

About This Project

We have created five seed collections.

Collections will be sold through various stores and online. A portion of the proceeds will be used to create and implement programs which teach the value and joy of growing your own food to children
in Vancouver's inner city schools, community centres and daycares. The seed collections are intended to help spread the message and the tools to create sustainable local food resources to people who live in the city. They are also full of good information
from how to create your small space garden, to recipes and fun "seedy" projects for kids.

These seeds function in many ways:

-promote local food gardens in small urban spaces.

-promote sustainable seed harvesting and genetic preservation of heritage, open-pollinated seeds. Some of our seeds are becoming quite rare and we hope that people
will save and pass along seeds from their crops to family and friends to grow in their gardens.

-give children the opportunity to grow food crops through partnerships with community centres and day cares.

-help create jobs in Vancouver’s low-income/poverty-stricken Downtown Eastside - offering people a hand up instead of a hand out.

-help Vancouver reach its goal to promote local, sustainable food resources and a greener environment.

-remind us of generations past, when families always grew at least some of their own food.

Use Of Funds

$1,700 Tipping Point Goal

When we reach our tipping point we will be able to:


$550 to print our promotional materials (posters & printed post it notes to go onto cars, poles, fences, washroom mirrors and any other available flat surface that has a space on it.


$600 to hire 2 fearless youths from the DTES part-time to help distribute them to various areas throughout Vancouver 


$420 to buy seeds & create materials for 5 workshops with up to 25 kids each (including shipping & taxes) (this will include germination trays, printouts of botanical prints for them to colour, information sheets, soil, fertilizer, pots, seeds, curriculum
planners for teachers etc.)


$130 for a variety of vegetable seeds, plant markers and watering cans for two childrens' gardens at two daycares that operate though the summer. 


How we could use funds beyond our tipping point:


$1,000 to hire single mothers, people on disability and/or youth in the Downtown Eastside to help bag seeds and prepare 460 seed collection packages. Sales of packages would enable us to expand the scope of our workshops and grow the project.


$1,000 towards artwork, writing, printing and distributing of brochures to accompany samples of seed collections to be sent to potential retail partners throughout the Greater Vancouver Metro Area and Vancouver Island.


$1,200 towards additional packaging materials (each collection requires an information insert and envelope for each seed, most often 7 seeds, plus the printed wrap with recipe, activity, germination instructions etc. (It is a ton of labout to put these together)


$300 towards more seeds 


$1,600 towards developing an ecommerce website to generate future sales which will help us maintain and grow the project.




See where we work:


Cordova Street, two blocks north of the elementary school, community centre and one of the daycares we are working with.



This is a photo taken near the infamous intersection of Main and Hastings, three blocks east of the elementary school, community centre and one of the daycares we are working with.


$6,800 Stretch Goal


Latest News

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Rewards

Select Reward
$15.00

Kids Starter Seeds: You get a thank-you letter and a collection of four kinds of seeds that kids will love to grow and eat. (Dwarf Sunflower, Scarlet Runner Beans, Rainbow Carrots: red, white, purple & yellow/orange, Peppermint) Includes handling and shipping by regular post.

148 left

Select Reward
$25.00

Herb Sampler: You get a thank-you letter and a collection of seven tasty kinds of herb seeds perfect for growing in your kitchen. (basil, parsley, thyme, cilantro, chives, oregano) Includes handling and shipping by regular post.

149 left

Select Reward
$35.00

Foodie Combo
You get a thank-you letter and a collection of seven tasty kinds of salad seeds selected for container gardening plus the Herb Sampler. Includes handling and shipping by regular post.

145 left

Select Reward
$50.00

$50 Make Your Mother's Day!
You get a thank-you letter detailing all the good your contribution is creating plus the Kids Starter Pack and Foodie Combo. Includes handling and shipping by regular post.

97 left

Select Reward
$75.00

Double Your Pleasure.
You get a thank-you letter, two Foodie Combos and your name on our, soon to be added, contributor section of our website. Includes handling and shipping by regular post.

99 left

Select Reward
$100.00

Container Gardener
You get a thank-you letter, a Urban Salad Seeds canister with 11 vegetable seeds, including at least two rare heirlooms, an Urban Apothecary canister of herbs and your name on our (soon to be added) contributor section of our website. Includes handling and shipping by regular post.

98 left

Select Reward
$150.00

Master Container Gardener
You get a thank-you letter, a heirloom styled metal tin with an assortment of 17 vegetable and herb seeds, an Urban Seed Project t-shirt and your name on our (soon to be added) contributor section of our website. Includes handling and shipping by regular post. (please email us the size t-shirt you want)

28 left

Select Reward
$500.00

You Are Golden!
You get a thank-you letter, a heirloom styled metal tin with an assortment of 17 vegetable and herb seeds, an Urban Seed Project t-shirt and your name as a Golden Sponsor on our (soon to be added) contributor section of our website. You also will receive a framed, original drawing created by all the participants in a workshop. Includes handling and shipping by regular post. (please email us the size t-shirt you want)

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Select Reward
$1,000.00

Plant a seed. Save the world.
You get the You Are Golden reward, 2 Urban Salad Seed packs, 2 Urban Herb packs, plus 30 Kids Starter Seed packs with instructions on how to host your own workshop wherever you would like. Also includes coloring sheets for the kids. (Teach a class, host a birthday party - it is all good!) To top it all off the t-shirt you receive with the You are Golden award will be signed by a group of kids who have participated in an Urban Seed Project workshop. (Although given some of the age groups "signed" may be a stretch.)

If you are in Vancouver you can choose to participate in one of our workshops with the kids instead of hosting your own workshop. It is your choice.

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