El Huerto Escolar Open Meeting Thur 4pm
Posted by Miguel Huerta on February 27, 2018, 7:47 am
Hello everyone, I was drafting a response to the previous thread posted by Gail. I decided to start a new thread because that one got more negative and then devolved into name calling. It's unfortunate how nasty things can get on here. Dogs on the beach is one things but this is a youth program. Gail, while your requests are entirely valid as a past donor and on-going supporter, I have serious doubts about the appropriateness of these conversations taking place on the message board. However, Davison asked that I respond. I hope to move forward after this post. I will post such things in the future on the Tierralegre facebook page. I also hope supporters and donors will approach us directly. In the future, please always feel welcome to email the project at tierralegrehuerto@gmail.com or email Davison at davison.collins@gmail.com and I am always open to emails at huerta0m@gmail.com Please note that "El Huerto Escolar" is a project of Tierralegre with the mission of teaching concepts of ecology and organic growing practices to the youth of La Manzanilla for a sustainable future of this incredible community and ecosystem that we are all lucky enough to visit and experience. It seems that misinformed, malicious, or merely false claims continue to circulate. If you did not thoroughly read our earlier thread, I encourage you to do so: http://members5.boardhost.com/lamanzanilla/msg/1518901704.html Peter gave Davison an ultimatum that the entire team believed was contrary to the best interests of the project. I am no stranger to small town gossip and politics. I will show my values and intentions through the work. I will conduct myself in a way that exhibits the mission and values of Tierralegre. We're here for the kids. I'm here for the kids. I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has stopped me in the street, sent me an email, or taken the time to sit down with me and offer warmth, encouragement, and enthusiasm for the ideas that I'm helping Antonio and Davison carry forward. The recent outpouring of support and encouragement from locals, year-round expats, tapatios, teachers, snow birds and everyone in between has been touching. It far out weighs any negative message board posts or passive aggressive slights. It emboldens me and helps me know to push forward. I truly appreciate all of the positivity and warmth I've received here and most especially in the last few weeks which have been very difficult personally and as a teammate of this organization. Below please find estimated recurring costs, money spent on recent projects, eco fest financials, projected income and projected costs through the end of September 2018. Please note that as I have only recently been put into the coordinator position, I have a lot to organize to sort through and organize. Due to lack of organizational capacity and established processes and tools, the financials and records of this organization are going to take some time to reconcile. Please note that I do not yet have the main ledger of the organization that Lynda has been using as volunteer bookkeeper. We greatly appreciate the time Lynda has spent in this role and know it is a role she has been hoping to pass on. I have no historical data on the organization before Feb 1. Also, please note that the Tierralegre Huerto financials are split up into grant funds which are in a bank account held by Davison and local funds which have been cared for by Lynda and Peter. Antonio and I are working to establish an official local bank account but this has been an on-going dilemma for the last 2 years as no one locally wants to fulfill the bookkeeping duties and have the responsibility of a bank account. As a team, we are currently assessing our options and believe we have a solution to be discussed. On-Season Monthly Expenses 170 drinking water per month 400 grocery subsidy per month 3,000 grant funded salary for Garden Manager 2,000 Full time Garden Manager supplement (unknown electricity monthly-on/off season) $16,952 Composting project (To be completed in next 2 weeks with no additional costs) $6,169 Platform construction (To be completed by mid March) $8,753 Platano and Piņa field (To be completed by end of March) $665 Youth Council Ceviche Eco Fest Financials $31,965 Gross Revenue -$5,385 Supplies -$20,000 Muy Rico (100 people at $200/pp) $6,580 Net Revenue Funds raised allocated to: $4,600 Youth Employment pilot to identify youth leaders $1,980 towards Platano purchase $4,795.50 Current balance Projected income 5,000 to 10,000 from BasuraSHION 9/3 event at Magnolia's 3,500 weekly sales of 700/week through March 30 15,000 Miguel's goal for individual donors in his network to support 10,000 Goal for Individual donor contributions for summer program (ICF funding not included) $43,295 Total projected income through September 2018 Projected costs 3,000 Hose to complete platano and piņa field 4,000 End of year party with secundaria students (annual commitment) 5,000 Seeds and planting costs for 2018-2019 season 20,000 Full time salary supplement for Garden Manager 10,000 Youth employment stipends to support Garden Manager as needed May through September $42,000 Projected costs through September 2018 Antonio and the team are very confident that the first harvest of platanos and piņas and their on-going value as a crop will put the program on a path towards self-sufficiency. We merely need to foster the organization through this summer. However, to position the program for maximum impact, we are also working towards diversifying our revenue stream and focusing in on what works and getting better at it. Throughout 2018, Community Coordinator will be working with Executive Director to form a "Friends of El Huerto" individual donors group to deepen relationships and engagement of current and past individual donors. We have also discussed a potential crowdfunding campaign for a specific project to be decided by the team. This is the last year the project is eligible for funding from the ICF. Through summer of 2018, I will work with Davison to find foundations and available grants to apply to for 2018-2019 funding. I have grant writing experience from 2 other projects. Events in 2018-2019 season will be another focus with the goal of hosting at least 3 fundraising events October to March. And I learned a LOT from Eco Fest to improve upon. Thanks to all the encouragement and feedback on this. We will also be exploring the potential for specific marketable products that can be youth produced such as Antonio's secret organic insect repellent, Moringa and mixed herb seasoning... just to name a few. Seguimos! | ------------------------Re: El Huerto Escolar Open Meeting Thur 4pm
Posted by Teresa Perry on February 27, 2018, 8:50 am, in reply to "El Huerto Escolar Open Meeting Thur 4pm"
Hmmm One person delivered a nasty comment regarding Gail's comment and the result is a new thread because the forner comment is likened to " dogs on the beach ".... I find the openness of the message board refreshing, although like all things, nasty can come along If this is a town project, let's keep it open for the town .... Who are the entire team? What gossip and lies are circulating? Peter and Linda did an amazing committed job for the school project He saved the day many times through hard work and love of the task and earned the respect of those involved I hope you can emulate his openness and hands in the dirt approach
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Posted by Jean on February 27, 2018, 8:57 am, in reply to "Re: El Huerto Escolar Open Meeting Thur 4pm"
Teresa, really?? Miguel, your professionalism is outstanding ! Thank you. | ------------------------Re: El Huerto Escolar Open Meeting Thur 4pm
Posted by Judith Boel on February 27, 2018, 1:55 pm, in reply to "Re: El Huerto Escolar Open Meeting Thur 4pm"
Thank you Miguel. I know getting a foothold and a feel for a new project takes time and is more difficult than most people can imagine. BEst wishes to you and your team. | ------------------------Re: El Huerto Escolar Open Meeting Thur 4pm
Posted by Davison Collins on February 27, 2018, 11:56 pm, in reply to "Re: El Huerto Escolar Open Meeting Thur 4pm"
Thank you, Miguel, for your genuine enthusiasm and dedication to the school garden in such a short period of time, and for restating the purpose of the garden and explaining its current and longer-term goals. Unfortunately, I have not been able to be as present as I would like to be with the school garden over the past several years, but I continue to do what I can to ensure that it endures as it is a project close to my heart and its impact is real and beautiful. No one is more sad to see Peter and Lynda step away (hopefully only temporarily) from the program as I. Admittedly, the program may have indeed collapsed without Peterīs consistent hands-on tireless work and dedication to it. I, the students, the teachers and the community are forever grateful that Peter was there to save it during a precarious time in its evolution. It is one of my greatest hopes that Peter will continue to participate as a core team member of the school garden. He is indeed one of its greatest blessings. And, once again, thank you to all of you in the community who continue to support the school garden however you are able. The need for a pro-active, creative and collaborative Community Coordinator to help drive the program toward more prosperity, self-sufficiency and community autonomy is ripe. This is not a position that Peter was ever asking to fill. It is not a volunteer position, though it certainly doesnīt pay much. The only thing we can really count on is change, and the school garden is going through significant change at this point. Itīs all part of its evolution. I have faith in Miguel, Antonio, Mabel, the teachers, students and volunteers to care for the seeds that have been planted since the school gardenīs founding and to plant new seeds that will produce yet unseen fruits. Miguel has been elected as the new Community Coordinator of the school garden for a number of good reasons. This decision was made not only by me, but also by the Board of Directors of Tierralegre. I ask everyone to please give him a chance to prove what he can accomplish. He brings passion for the hard work at hand and ahead and solid tools to get it done. Thank you.
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Posted by Linda Mandala on February 28, 2018, 4:18 pm, in reply to "Re: El Huerto Escolar Open Meeting Thur 4pm"
My heart is very sad to hear that Peter is no longer coo-ordinating the huerta...I have nothing but respect for that man. He put his heart and soul into that garden and the kids and we were so lucky to have him and Linda. He grew this project to something that is remarkable and I know how much he loved what he was doing there. He will definitely be a very hard act to follow. Change happens...who knows why? but I do wish those who continue to forge this garden project ahead the best of luck in teaching the students about organicaly growing our own food supply. I had the most beautiful amazing salad at Magolias last night that was made entirely (except for a few added extras) from greens from the kids garden. How amazing in La Manzanilla that this is possible now. Thank you to Peter and Linda..you will be sorely missed. Linda Mandala
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