Lisa Segler’s Story

Hello,

 

My name is Lisa. I am a recent Cal Poly graduate in nursery and greenhouse production. I am passionate about growing healthful organic herbs. I would like to start my own business growing and selling fresh organic herbs and specialty vegetables to local restaurants and markets.

 

Currently, I help to maintain two gardens organically. I provide herbs and some preserved foods to my family and friends. I also donate some of the herbs and vegetables I grow to local food kitchens. I volunteer at a local middle school. I maintain their fruit garden and manage their garden club so children can be part of the food cycle.

 

I am applying to your grant program so that I can pull all of these projects that I am passionate about into an opportunity to continue these projects and expand to new projects. These projects would include; additional opportunities for the school garden,establishing an herb garden to begin supplying herbs to local businesses, and supplies to expand current garden projects and make necessary repairs. These funds would allow me to start my presonal business.

 

I am asking for $4000. I have budgeted $500 to hire a business student to write a business and marketing plan. $500 will be used to create a brand to sell the herbs and vegetables I will grow. I can rent land for $600 annually to establish a space to grow these herbs and vegetables. $1000 will be used to add irrigation, ammend the soil, and burchase tools for the new area. $400 will be used for the materials needed to sell at local markets that are not currently selling fresh herbs, there are three in the area. $400 will be allocated to creating a fundraising opportunity for the school gardens. With the seeds and supplies I hope to raise $2000 for school garden maintenance and expansion. Finally $600 will be used to purchase seeds and plants from organic sources for the garden areas.

 

I am confident that with these funds I can create the business that I have been working to achieve. Thank You for the opportunity to share my story.