Fundraising Goal
$5,000 / $10,000 / $15,000
Introduction
My name is John Larsen. For several years I have been podcaster, researcher, speaker, and friend for individuals finding their way out of high demand religions, particularly Mormonism. It has been a fantastic run and I’ve had the privilege of hearing many stories. We have laughed and cried as we journeyed together to find peace after conflict.
The time has come for me to hang up my spurs. My soul has been telling me that I need to let go of the conflict. Although my work will remain available on line, personally I am turning away from religious criticism and community development post-religion.
Two years ago my family and I purchased a small farm in Benton County, Oregon. On the farm we are working towards food independence from corporate and industrial food products. We are also looking for ways to share gardening and farm space with the community and to get in touch with the slow food culture that was common not that many years ago. This endeavor is also colored by our desire to develop climate change resilience and create a world that is not dependent on fossil fuels.
During the first two years we established our chicken flock and built an organic natural fertilizer system using bunny manure. We built a heated greenhouse to start and incubate plants. We also created two fenced gardens that provide us nearly 1400 square feet of plant growing space. One of those gardens is dedicated to experimenting with small space and low-water usage gardening methods that can be reproduced in an urban setting.
Our next area of expansion is to build 3 hoop houses: each 20 ft x 40 ft. This will allow us to create a continual supply of plant starts, herbs, and vegetables to use, share, and sell in the farmstand we intend to establish next year. We hope to expand to the farmer’s market in the next two years. This will allow us to finally convert to the farm from being an overall money loss to being able to break even — and possibly even to contribute a small income to the farm.
For those who are grateful for the content I have supplied and have the means and wherewithal to do so, I am asking for contributions to my final going away present by helping us build these hoop houses that will allow us to continue into my next mission.
I am deeply grateful to the many who have given time, energy, and means along the way within the realm of religious recovery and post-religion community building. It is so important to live a life of service. I have spent nearly 20 years investing my labors in this realm with you. For the latter half of my life, I want to devote my time and energy into helping, in a small way, to build resilience against climate change and to find healthier ways to engage with food and our communities.
A more detailed project plan and cost breakdown can be found at our website here: https://dabblerfarm.org/go-fund-me-hoop-dreams/
Thanks!
Project Overview
Between our barn and winter garden, there is an area suited for these greenhouse hoop houses. The area is about 55 ft x 80 ft. Given clearances and right-of-way, the section of ground can house three 20 ft x 40 ft hoop houses. They will be close to our existing small greenhouse and will round out the garden space nicely.
These will extend our growing season, increase our production, and allow us to begin to operate a farmstand. In another year we might be able to extend that to the local farmer’s market. They will also facilitate our vision of low-water usage organic farming, contribute in the hardening of the farm against climate change, and aid in pest control.
Cost Projections
The hoop houses will be locally sourced from Oregon Greenhouse in Yachats, Oregon, for minimum delivery costs, to lessen the carbon footprint of transport, and to support local business.
This is the cost breakdown per hoop house. We are hoping to fund one, but we have room for 3 should we receive enough donations.
Cost per Hoop House
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 20′ x 40′ Hoop House kit | $2,750 |
| 48″ Ground Stakes x 12 (6 per side) | $290 |
| 60# Bag of Concrete x 12 (1 per Stake | $55 |
| Side Curtain Hand Crank x2 (1 per side) | $150 |
| 2″x6″x8′ Base Frame boards x 15 | $90 |
| 24″ wood stakes (2 bundles) | $20 |
| Wiggle Wire 6.5′ x 13 | $130 |
| 1″ x 4″ Hip Boards x 10 | $85 |
| Lumber for end walls, beds, tables, and door | $500 |
| Hardware | $300 |
| Topsoil & Gravel | $300 |
| Misc. | $330 |
| Total | $5,000 |