Our Proposal
Farm CSA + Educational Center
Educational Opportunities
From Permaculture To Personal Growth
Our Educational Opportunities
Permaculture Based Hands-On Programs
• Biodynamic & Permaculture-Based Gardening Course - for local homeowners to learn backyard practices for healthier living (Rebecca Maria Carlson + Naia Wilkins)
• Biodynamic & Permaculture-Based Farming Course - for small farmers and medium size producers (Rebecca Maria Carlson + Naia Wilkins)
• Permaculture Design Course + PINA Certification* - for anyone looking to understand Permaculture Principles for daily use (Rebecca Maria Carlson + Naia Wilkins, *affiliated with Boulder PDC)
• Carbon Farming, The One Straw Revolution, Etc: Alternative Solutions for Your Land - For anyone ready to expand their possibilities and practices (Rebecca Maria Carlson + affiliate)
• International WWOOFer Program - hosting local and international skilled seasonal labor in trade for services to the land (Naia Wilkins)
• Realtor Certification (Permaculture-based Property Assessment, Course, + Credit, to go hand in hand with Green Building Cert)
• Homeowners Certification (Permaculture-based Property Assessment, Course, + Credit, to go hand in hand with Green Building Cert)
• Meditative Garden Workshop - Educational intro to permaculture-based gardening together with mindfulness practices, meditation, other healing or self-awareness work, and farm fresh food (Rebecca Carlson, + associate)
• Eco-Mindful Weekend Retreat - Lodging available with local hotels, hostels, or outdoor camping. A farm or garden course, yoga or meditation, private healing or self-awareness session work, farm-fresh meals, and scheduled access to local attractions such as a mountain hike, lake visit, and in-town events. Great for a couple or family getaway.
• Farm-to-Table Dinners - Select themes or Launches hosted via a natural farm style setting, all food provided and prepared by the farm (Rebecca Maria Carlson)
• Youth Gardening - Give kids and youth a head start for falling in love with the land and how to work with it. Introducing bio-dynamic and/or permaculture principles, working with ladybugs, butterflies, seeds, and starter plants. Take home plants or flowers. (Naia Wilkins + Anna Wiley)
• Family Gardening Course - Intro for Moms and Daughters, Fathers and Sons, or the Whole Family. A chance to create family-togetherness-time with productive and fun activities that can be practiced and cultivated at home. (Rebecca Carlson + Anna Wiley)
• Kids Farm Camp, 3-5 days - Kids meet the animals, take a different tour each day of the farm and gardens, learn about growing food, engage in handmade crafts or herbal tinctures, and perform helpful farm activities that don’t feel like a chore! Plenty of play, healthy food, and learning, with supervised ‘field-time’ for integrating their daily experiences. (Naia Wilkins, Rebecca Carlson)
• Yellowstone Festival - 1-3 day annual or semi-annual potpourri of short intro-sessions, supplemented with eco-friendly vendors, for all our programs and presenters in order to build client relationships, memberships, and awareness. (Based on 'Botanica Festival’ at Three Leaf Farm in Lafayette)
• Successful CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) - Detailed how-to and walk-through of all the elements of our working CSA program, from the ground up. A look at options, benefits, risks, and comparable stories. (Rebecca Carlson, + associate)
Niche programs + Workshops (MINDFULNESS, INtegral, holistic, etc)
Geomancy For Healthy Living - Identifying and Harmonizing Earth Ley Lines (dowsing) and positive placement of gardens and structures for greater health and yield. Working with crystals for earth acupuncture and intentional resonance. (Rebecca Carlson + Kelley Springer)
Applied Integral Theory in Permaculture Design - A Meta-Map For Living In Wholeness (Rebecca Carlson)
Intro to Integral Theory & Integral Living Maps + Practices - (Rebecca Carlson)
Experiencing Soul Archetypes - Learn to identify 7 general Soul and Personality Archetypes and Experience One Another’s Natural Gifts (Rebecca Carlson)
Awareness in Community Relations, supported by Human Design - Learn how best to support one another’s process and active roles, by learning more about ourselves and others through the revealing wisdom of Human Design and Gene Keys.
Earth C.A.R.E. - Conscious practices engaging with nature to facilitate inner healing and transformation (Kelley Springer)
Sacred Ceremony & Medicine Circles - Positive Intentions and traditional practices for blessing our collective work and all elements of the innate wisdom of the land for continued harmony and benefit for the whole (Kelley Springer)
Path To Wholeness Program - Deep Soul Integration Work in partnership with Nature (Kelley Springer)
Our Structure
Creating Healthy Viable Core Relationships
GeoFlower Farm Flower Of Life Organizational Structure
Support, Guidance + Leadership
Center & Land Trust Funding: Currently Seeking
Board: TBA
Center Vision & Guidance: Michael Spitzer
Permaculture Partners: Jerome Osentowski, Avery Ellis (tba), Michael Maki (tba)
Business Organization Advisor: Adam Brock (tba)
Non-Profit Advisor: Mayana Kingery
Financial Advisor + Funds Manager: TBA
Property Manager: Rebecca Maria Carlson
Utilities & Maintenance
Buildings, Hardscape, Vehicles, Machines, Tools, Parts, Services
Farmland, Gardens, Softscape, Plants, Veggies, Materials, Labor
Design & Build Augmentation or Installation
Directors of Educational Programs: Rebecca Maria Carlson and Kelley Springer
Marketing Specialist: TBA
Documentary Film + Media Specialist: TBA
Legal Specialist: TBA for course waivers and basic liability protection regarding educational, labor, lodging facilities and use
Insurance Specialist: TBA for basic coverage regarding educational, labor, and lodging facilities and use
Landscape Labor: Rebecca’s Gardens LLC
CSA Program Lead: TBA
TLC Program Lead: TBA
Colorado Affiliates, Programs, & Certifications
our resources and wisdom can come together to create a healthier happier community in-tune with the natural world
Boulder PDC (Permaculture Design Course) and Affiliates, in Boulder & Longmont, CO
CRMPI (Colorado Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute), Jerome Osentowski, founder
Three Leaf Farm & Botanica Festival, in Lafayette, CO, inspires the full time farm, supplemented by hosting educational events and classes.
McCauley Family Farm, in Longmont CO, inspires bio-dynamic practices, teachers, and CSA
PINA, Permaculture Institute of North America, certification program
Integral Center, in Boulder CO, inspires community and the wisdom of Integral Theory via Ken Wilber’s writings.
Rebecca’s Gardens, Landscape & Garden Design & Build, Boulder CO, inspires permaculture based gardening and classes for families and kids
Global Network Centers + Affiliates
Potential sister farms or centers dedicated to eco-friendly and mindful living practices and education. Representatives for the following centers are already in talks. Each will offer a collaborative vision as part of the eco-neural network, as well as nature-based educational or work-opportunities for expanding self-sufficient properties, networking, education, or travel.
Hawaii (Big Island): Chrissi Lemire* TBA
South Africa: Mike Maki* TBA
Peru or Chile
New Zealand or Australia
Europe: Mary Reynolds* TBA
Our Growth Timeline
Developing Our Land + Relationships
Property Assets
5 acres, AG zoned, with open potential for conditional use permits for proposed activities
Plan for Vegetable, Herb, Flower Gardens, & Fruit Trees
Honey Bees
Zoned for additional farm animals such as chickens, goats, pigs, sheep, horses
Aquifer Well Water, 2 Additional Cisterns, + 2 Adjascent Above Ground Tanks (1600 gal)
Multiple Multi-use structures: Farm House, Cottage, Stone Studio, and Sheds
Sufficient space for event hosting and parking
Farm Production + Management
Biodynamic CSA - 1-3 acre Vegetables, Eggs, Herbs, and Flowers Production, offered by the farm and run by the CSA Team
Woofer (USA & International) Program - Inviting select workers from around the world to live in a Tiny Home and to learn more in exchange for participating with daily use farm activities as outlined in support of the daily function of the farm
Land Development
To support adequate use of the land for proposed activities, the following developments are in consideration:
Acquire available Special Use Permits for AG zoned land for proposed activities related to people, structures, or land use
Open Bidding for Architect Companies to create 2-3 “Villages” of 3 unique Tiny Homes each with communal spaces for: (a) Woofers, (b) Guests, (c) Program Leaders & Staff
Develop Historic Farmhouse into modern multi-use space with updated kitchen for dinners, media set up for group events, classes, guest rooms, bathrooms, and an educational reading/research nook
see video inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mws1c9JhCI&list=LLWWgjmdwSRLaSqHbqugHAcQ&index=80&t=0s
Expand Biodynamic Vegetable Gardens to provide bounty for local CSA
Introduce farm animals and care: Goats, More Chickens, Ducks, Guinea Hens, possibly pigs, llamas
Plant a bio-diverse Food Forest consisting of a fruit and nut tree orchard, berries, flower guilds, ground-cover
Create a natural retaining pond for wildlife using existing aquifer, with sacred garden feature (reference movie: “Dare To Be Wild” for visual/philosophical inspiration)
5 Year Timeline
YEAR 1
Set Up Financial & Organizational Structures (Trust, LLC, NonProfit)
Appoint & Organize Leaders & Teams — Hold Initial and Regular Meetings
Set Up & Implement “Integral” Leadership Communication Structures
Apply for and Acquire Relevant Permits — (Educational and CSA)
Continue Current Farm Production — Hay, Vegetables, Flowers (with existing client list)
Begin Private Documentary Film Footage for all aspects of Our Process & Experiences
YEAR 2
Implement Initial Programs (Educational and CSA) — Build Memberships
Begin Vegetable & Herb Garden Expansion — Additional Plots & Variety
Introduce Farm Animals — Additional Chickens, ducks, goats, maybe a couple therapy horses
Implement Initial Stages of Biodiverse Food Forrest — Plant diverse trees, berries, ground cover
YEAR 3
Develop and Hone Program Structures (Educational and CSA) — Increase Memberships
Set Up and Implement TLC (The Land Collective) “Cooperative” (Independent Permaculture Worker Program) a la “
“Regenerative Dynamics”
Continue Existing Educational Programs — Expand Membership
Introduce Additional Programs — (Expand Membership Circles)
Continue CSA with Expanded Farm Production — Hay, Vegetables, Flowers, Herbs (with expanded client list)
Apply for and Acquire Relevant Permits — (Historical Barn Development for Groups and auxiliary barn addition for
horses)
Implement Barn Developments — (Architectural Design & Building)
YEAR 4
Programs are sustainable “hit their stride” — (Educational and CSA)
Set Up and Implement Initial Partnerships with various Global “Sister Centers”
Expand Memberships — Highlighting global travel and education opportunities
Apply for and Acquire Relevant Permits — (Retaining Pond)
Implement Retaining Pond— (Design & Waterway Plumbing)
YEAR 5
Continue Programs (Educational and CSA)
Continue Memberships (Eventually Hosting or Swapping
Programs and Participants At Various Global Locations)
Estimate of Funding for Fulfillment
Request for Funding + Sustainable Income Plan
Supporting The Dream
Before us now is the opportunity to combine a very unique piece of land on 36 acres in Boulder County, and combine it with a seasoned team of educators in the filed of organic growing practices, such as Permaculture and Biodynamic principles, to promote health, vital, and nourishing food for sale locally, and a global educational program. The aim is to make a local impact in demonstrating the merits and need for organic farming in order to add fresh momentum to natural living practices and to stem the tide of “Big Ag” which is destroying healthy food and healthy soil. This Center is specifically designed to be a lighthouse, a beacon to guide those who are wanting to promote and grow a healthy, non-toxic food supply and to live a healthy lifestyle inside and out.
With the leadership and vision of Rebecca Carlson and Kelley Springer, and the availability to purchase 8661 Yellowstone Rd, along with a complete team of respected industry leading experts in the organic farming world attached, we now need an angel, a sponsor who can align with our vision and with our mission, to fund the purchase of the land and to fund upstart and operational expenses for the first 5 years until we become fully self-sustaining. Our funding request is $8M. $4M for the land trust, and $4M for operations and education.
The current farm and property has hay operations in full swing, and we would benefit from continuing with the current client base. To put up hay we’d purchase from the property owner the equipment used for hay harvesting: a tractor, rake, and mower. There is no loader, however we plan to subcontract the baling service used by the seller.
The current greenhouse operation is fully developed and operational. We’d need to provide some additional shelving and tools for the storage area located at the north side of the greenhouse.
The current garden areas used for vegetable, herbs, and flowers are fully operational. In our vision, we’ll increase the production area by between 400-500%, in order to reach the level of production to sustain the CSA flower and herb sales. This level of expansion in terms of materials, tools, and labor will require funding for the first 5 years to establish a self-sustaining operation.
With regard to educational programs we have all the leadership and educators in place. This team of individuals is outstanding in their own right. They are well-respected, experienced, and knowledgable industry leaders, capable of drawing people both locally, nationally, and internationally into the educational programs we will create. What will take time and investment, is developing the actual programs and learning opportunities that will be offered on-site and online. The back office work to engage marketing and social media, etc, will take initial funding as well.
Overall, our business team, farm operations, staff, and program management, is also already in place. Headed by Rebecca Carlson and Kelley Springer, they will oversee all aspects of the farm and program development. Initial funding is sought to support the efforts to start this great vision and to sustain its operations and expansion until it is self sustaining in 5 years. What follows is a summary of annual expenses and income projections for the first 5 years:
Estimated 5 Year Timeline of Operational Expenses
YEAR 1
EXPENSES INCOME
3.95M Purchase of Property 0.04M Farm Harvest Sales
0.2M Purchase of Equipment and Vehicles 0.01M Educational Programs
0.2M Expansion of Garden Areas
0.10M Barn Improvements
0.25M Staff and payroll / Insurance + Property Taxes/Misc
YEAR 2
EXPENSES INCOME
0.08M Annual Operational Expenses 0.07M Farm Harvest Sales
0.25M Staff and payroll / Insurance 0.02M Educational Programs
+ Property Taxes/Misc
YEAR 3
EXPENSES INCOME
0.08M Annual Operational Expenses 0.10M Farm Harvest Sales
0.25M Staff and payroll / Insurance 0.10M Educational Programs
+ Property Taxes/Misc
YEAR 4
EXPENSES INCOME
0.08M Annual Operational Expenses 0.20M Farm Harvest Sales
0.25M Staff and payroll / Insurance 0.20M Educational Programs
+ Property Taxes/Misc
YEAR 5
EXPENSES INCOME
0.08M Annual Operational Expenses 0.40M Farm Harvest Sales
0.25M Staff and payroll / Insurance 0.60M Educational Programs
+ Property Taxes/Misc
YEAR 6+
Going into year 6 we anticipate becoming entirely self-sufficient…
% Estimates of Total Farm + Program Income by Year 6
• Sale of produce and products – 40% – such as organically certified hay and vegetables, free range eggs, honey, fruit and nuts, nursery plants, and flowers via CSA membership, Farmer’s Markets, and Additional Local Sales
• Educational Programs, Tours & Media Sales – PDC, Workshops, DVD sales – 37%
• Educational Grants 10%
• Cottage Industry contributions - 10%
• Consultancy Service – 1-2%
• Small plant and flower nursery – 1-2%
Comparison of a 5 yr Farm Funding Plan
Based on current research, a 5yr established, smoothly running permaculture-based CSA and market garden with good sales outlets can generate $60,000 to $100,000 annually per acre in diverse vegetable crops and hay.* For Yellowstone, a 35 acre farm actively cultivating 10 acres of vegetables, herbs, and flowers, and 19 acres of hay, this could potentially generate $600,000 to $800,000 in annual revenue.
A niche educational center for permaculture related techniques and self awareness practices, with an international values-matched consumer pool** can generate $80,000 to $500,000 per annual season in courses, retreats, and consulting.
Initial start-up costs might be in the $500,000 range for a 10 acre biodynamic-cultivated growing area, and $500,000 for educational programming and business operations.
A starting budget of $1M spread over 5 years resolves to an annual container of around $200,000 which is reasonable compared to the potential revenue a niche educational program and active CSA market garden offer together. That’s a potentially viable profit margin of over 40%.
Factoring in the property purchase of $3.9M together with business, maintenance, organization, and development expenses $500,000 (see budget for breakout), and the $500,000 starting costs for the CSA market garden and Educational Programming, the total estimate of $5-6M for fulfillment stabilizes the opportunity, allowing operations to “hit the ground running”, and increases the viability of a quicker success rate and higher profit margin (40% to 60%) benefiting all involved in perpetuity. Even so, the initial costs that support this proposed holistic fulfillment are still smaller in comparison to the multi-layered costs and associated risks of mechanized mainstream crop production (that perpetuates an unsustainable eco-social structure and limiting mindset as well as ecological and health risks of soil depletion, GMOs, and pesticide use).
The Yellowstone Integral Network, an Integral Level Organization, is open to receiving financial support, either in the form of a gift or a grant, in alignment with its sound business plan, accessible educational programs, healing land, and collective vision.
*Source: https://permacultureapprentice.com/how-to-make-a-living-from-a-1-5-acre-market-garden/)
**Client Lists including: Integral Institute and Affiliates, Local and International PDCs, Local Farms, Local Educational Institutions such as CU, and Childrens’ Schools, & Other Relevant Organizations.
Fulfillment Requirements for Educational & Land Needs
√ Securing Purchase of the Biodynamic Land and Projected Maintenance
√ Securing Provision for Biodynamic Plants, Seeds, and Organic Materials
√ Securing Operations Team Salaries and Administrative Materials for Farm and Program Management
√ Securing Tools, Building Materials
√ Securing Provision for Animals, Bees, and Related Food and Materials
√ Securing Facility Development, Permits and Building Structures for planned community and guest use
Budget
In sight of acquiring and maintaining a flagship center near Boulder, CO, here is the proposed value and estimation of each unique element that contributes to the total value of Yellowstone Farm as a Permaculture Collective & Educational Retreat Center for inspiring nature-aligned supportive community:
VALUE Elements
$3.9M
$500,000
$500,000
$1-2M
$1-2 M
Property Sale : buildings and acreage
Property Tax, Maintenance, Machinery, Materials, Transportation, Tools
Administrative, Farm Operations, Plants, Animals, Materials, and Programs
Facility Development for multi-use purposes, Contracts, Building
Global Digital Database, Multi-Platform Leadership Applications, Member-Use Applications
Fulfillment $8M
Summary
This small scale farming offers the possibility for growing diverse crops and economies of scale to earn money in an organic certification practice for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).
This flagship educational center aims to set an example of a keynote portfolio property that draws in the interest of people, which is then channelled into revenue from Educational Programs, a PDC, a local client-worker Cooperative (TLC), and sister center eco-tourism and WWOOFer worker exchange.
This network of integrated educational programming offers uniquely diverse topics and essential content showcasing applicable permaculture based practices, ancient wisdom, and self awareness techniques to build both inner and outer relationships, with each other and with the land. We aim to better discover our true nature as individuals and as a mindful conscious collective aligned with natural systems.
This CSA offers stable membership both for high quality produce yields and local relationships in concert with relevant learning opportunities designed to expand people’s healthy earth-based understanding, self awareness, and local practices which in turn positively impact our social and collective climates.
This TLC (Regenerative Collective) introduces a dependable worker pool and community organizing without the chaos. Introducing a project-labor model that offers trust and harmony for both clients and service providers in the Permaculture based sector through an innovative new structure that features an independent client and worker affiliate program based on Regenerative Dynamics. This group offers the possibility of securing experienced help for clients in permaculture farming and related projects at the intersection of skillful trade and conscious community in a local sustainable marketplace collective.
Thank you for your interest, understanding, and support!
We are available to expand your picture of what’s possible and what is already in motion with regards to our commitment and experience. Please contact Rebecca to schedule a good time to talk. Let us know where your interest is and how you would like to support and/or be a part of our Farm + Community! Welcome to GeoFlower!
Rebecca Maria Carlson
(303) 915-4483 cell
RMariaCarlson@gmail.com email
Our Legacy
May We All Experience Eco-Social Alignment Health + Happiness
Observation
People are inspired the world over to learn to live in greater harmony with nature. We travel to wild untouched places of natural beauty to feel the aliveness and health of nature and ourselves. Yet in our own backyards and neighborhoods, the health of our land, waterways, and air, along with the awareness of our relationship with it and our responsibility as custodians has been increasingly challenged. Fortunately, we can learn to cultivate our properties and practices through hands-on learning at a designated local educational and retreat center to restore this coherence, this inner and outer balance between nature and our own Nature. By example, we can create a nature-based movement within our community, spreading the wisdom and experience, and making a world of difference each in our own way, in our gardens, farms, and backyards.
Objective
We must take action to preserve, protect, and participate in sharing the wisdom and traditions that support healthy thriving examples of cultivated land in balance with nature before this delicate balance is lost forever. It is imperative that we sustain and showcase land that embodies biodynamic diversity, permaculture principles, and mindfulness practices in daily life, as a living example from which to study and enhance our own local properties and heal ourselves and our neighborhoods. We have the unique opportunity to create a flagship eco-social farm and exemplary educational hub that helps lift people’s daily lives, health, and spirits into a beautiful, respectful, and grounded future for all, one course, one garden at a time, and to create affiliations with exemplary farms and gardens as sister centers around the world for continued learning and travel.
Offering
By preserving an existing biodynamic cultivated local farm & garden as an integral center, we support relevant conversations and tangible ways to come into right relationship with the land on which we live, thus facilitating the green socio-economic revolution right from our own properties and neighborhoods. Together with mindfulness and greater awareness we are positively shifting the cultural collective in our own backyards and around the world. Our programs are designed to support individual practices, groups, and certifications that help make it a desirable imperative for mindful citizens and property owners to actively cultivate green living through private properties as well as public marketplaces and positively impact our world.
Our Legacy
We are the stewards of what is to come. The actions we take now in support of our land, our educational focus, and our conscious communities will determine the support systems for future generations and earth balance. We have an unique window in time, an unprecedented opportunity to come into a greater understanding of nature’s rhythms and cycles and to find a deeper respect for the balance of natural law in alignment with human evolution. This is a process destined yet unique for everyone. Along the way there are identifiable patterns that speak to each of us. We can focus on and enhance everyone’s experience by focusing our education and services that promote understanding, encouragement, peace, self-growth, acceptance, awareness, kindness, fulfillment, and gratitude.
Llike the seed pattern in a sunflower, or light shining through a lotus, these patterns (of consciousness, of community) are like the flowering pattern of life. Each person’s lessons are a link to greater awareness for us all. We can support our collective evolution through the daily, local, and networked practices and education offered here. This allows everyone’s values and participation to evolve together, even when our collective spans the spectrum of learning.
Imagine a world where people live in harmony with Nature, where technological advancements weave seamlessly with ancient earth wisdom, and where daily lives are enriched and empowered by working WITH local land and community rather than outsourced or depleted by outmoded methods or limited earth-based education.
Imagine the way you live reflects your most inspired creative philosophy and purpose in greater balance with your sustenance and society.
Imagine the wisdom, learning, and practices that empower us to live like this are available at a center, at many centers, in a spectrum at a local and an international level. Some are here to practice Permaculture design principles, some work with biodynamic land cultivation, some practice integral ways of greening their lives, some use herbal remedies and self growth practices, mediation, yoga, and community based services. We all come together and create much needed transformation. May we each be the change we wish to see in the world.