There are several reasons why I was on a writing hiatus most of last year.
First, I did something I thought I’d never do – I enrolled in graduate school! Years of MOOC‘s has kept academia within reach but it took an affordable graduate program at Georgia Tech and the desire to become an engineer to open my eyes.
Georgia Tech offers an online Analytics program for less than $10,000. My job as a quality coordinator involved a lot of metrics and analytics as well as studying the ISO 9000 quality management system. As a result, my mind was continuously thinking about systems.
After the first semester of school, it seemed appropriate to understand the types of internships within the the system’s engineering industry. The internship search inadvertently told people I was looking for a job. I was headhunted by Kärcher North America as an applications sales engineer. I was able to negotiate a significantly better salary and was recruited to replace the product manager of the company’s water treatment unit upon his retirement. He is a guru in the industry and he is enthusiastically grooming me to replace him.
Most importantly I met Ryan.
I volunteer with our county’s Colorado State Extension Office on the Public Advisory Council as the community’s Horticultural representative. The county agents call me the hydroponic and fish guy and one day they happen to send me a serendipitous a business inquiry.
Ryan is a clinical counselor who wants to help troubled youth stay out of crime by teaching them STEM skills alongside cognitive behavioral therapy. He expressed interest in starting an Aquaponics Farm and Wellness Center several years down the road, once he learned how to farm fish and grow plants from me.
There are moments when the world seems to make sense and I boldly offered to become business partners. He didn’t hesitate but for a second and we soon combined our dreams and incorporated a nonprofit called Blooming Health Farms in April 2019. We began fundraising in September’s with plans to raise a whopping $2.5 million. We quickly realized that such a daunting task has to be done in multiple stages.
Our first campaign to raise money for our 501(c)(3) tax exempt filing and funds to construct a small Aquaponics system has earned us $750 of $5000 so far! Enough that we’re 501(c)(3) pending and are beginning to market vegetables.
Our momentum started off strong and we received a live interview on a local station called Pirate Radio. We also got an invite to record an interview with a regional media company called Townsquare Media which aired on multiple stations in Northern Colorado and is available to stream. Soon afterwards a reporter for the Greeley Tribune interviewed me but nothing was published.
This is our first foray into a major business start up and right now we are struggling to move forward. We are learning how challenging it is to make a name for ourselves and the other aspects of our life tend to compete until we figure out what we’re doing. We both started fantastic new careers, as I previously mentioned, and which adds a whole new layer to our challenges. We have been re-strategizing the past couple months and know that we must persevere. We also know that in order to build a community Aquaponics farm and wellness center, we need more help. We need help to spread the word and money to make the bigger dreams come to life.
Come check out what we’re doing at on Facebook and at http://www.BloominghealthFarms.com, if you haven’t already clicked on one of the hyperlinks I’ve thrown above. Have a look around, drop us a message, and donate to our cause. We would love any feedback and support from you!
Thank you for reading and I hope your 2020 is all you hope it to be!
A Blooming Scribe 
ohmygoodness this is incredible! How exciting !! I hope in and amongst all these life changes you’ll still have time to write but wow. I’m so happy for you and wish you much success.
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My poetry will stay and Ive been tasked to write for our farm blog so I’ll be sure to post here for those as well 🙂
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I went to donate but it looked like you only except “larger” donations. I’m poor lol but wanted to send something.
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Our initial donations have been generous but we appreciate anything. I never thought that looked that way. I appreciate your comment, the things we overlook 🙂
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Maybe I just got scared by the numbers. I mean, I know you need to raise a lot, but as a minimalist, I own very little. So for me, a little to someone is a lot for me lol. But I do think it’s important to support in whatever way a person can.
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We’re open to suggestions on how to make that more clear. We want people to be able to give what they can without feeling, “Oh nevermind, $1 wont help…”
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When I went back, I could see the type in amount spot. It makes sense the larger amounts for businesses to donate. Since I’m a regular joe, I’m just not used to seeing those sorts of numbers. Again: it makes perfect sense how it’s set up and looks great. I donated what I felt comfortable donating. I think what you’re doing is a really great thing. Just the type of business I want to support if I can.
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Wow, you’re awesome Tara! Thank you for your support! Please leave a comment on our donate page on why you donated if you could, I think that would be helpful for other “regular joes”.
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Congratulations Sean! We started Opal’s Farm this year with five acres donated by the Tarrant Regional Water District. Raising money was extremely hard until we had metrics to show donors (the foundation and corporate grants). We started with nothing but a few in kind donations and a lot of hard work. When our first year ended we had produced a little over 4500 lbs. of healthy produce for underserved neighborhoods and the community foodbank.
As a result, this year we are going to start Spring with a positive bank balance that will allow us to hire another person (job creation being part of our mission) and expand into our second acre.
I think what you’re doing is fantastic and sorely needed. If we can be of any help please let us know. Hang in there and congrats on the graduate work!
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That is extremely encouraging and I appreciate you sharing! It means a lot to read comments 🙂
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Sean! Thank you for visiting amhs last evening. I knew you right away and was so excited to see you. If I’m not mistaken you lost your brother and have been through a great deal in life. I recall reading something of yours perhaps as long ago as a year. I touched me very much and I thought to leave a long comment but kept myself at just a line or two and told you so. You were very kind in return saying you welcomed comments! 😊. Life sort of swirled about me and I lost you in a way but have been keeping my eyes open and now today here you are! I’m so excited for all the good things finding you in life! Please take care and thank you again! 😊🌷
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Appreciate your words. It’s funny how the world brings people together. Take care!
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Oops, forgot to sign off…suzanne 🌷
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