Growing Hope for Humanity

g consumers with100% organic produce. [See; Final Summation for explanation of “Paying it Forward”]

It is a highly efficient vegetable production system capable of supplying “alive and growing” organic vegetables right to our commercial consumers’ kitchens, all year round’. As well as supply the vegetables for ‘weekly pick up’ or ‘paid delivery’ to subscribers of our 3, 6 or 12 month memberships in “Community Supported Agriculture” (CSA's) which we will set up. We also hope to be offering 3 foot towers for in town delivery weekly for a reasonable fee option’ [available to the elderly, shut-ins and the other mobility challenged at a reduced rate]

As well as also “introduce” and then set up of ‘grow towers’ with clear water circulation in “Living Food Wall” displays where possible at health food stores, specialty stores, and the farmers market, etc. Because with this method of growing the plant stays alive until it is cut off for the consumer to take home. Undisputedly; this is an ultimate assurance of ‘optimum freshness’. This is a nearly complete cycle of waste recovery, reducing and reusing organic kitchen waste by employing “Black Soldier Fly larvae” to “eat the garbage” as their food and grow to maturity at which time they become food for the captive tilapia fish growing in their tanks. The ‘fish waste laden water’ is circulated through the growing media where bacteria convert it into nutrient plant food which the plants live on, producing lush green organic growth, returning the filtered clean and clear water to the fish; a truly symbiotic relationship. Setting this up for 365 day year round production will require leasing a warehouse space of about 1,000 square feet in the downtown area for easy access to both our workers and customers; which is also capable of maintaining a suitable ‘green house’ atmosphere all year round. Utilizing the most advanced production method and lay out as shown in the drawing [ see the site picture] ... with a grouping of 100 “Zip Grow Towers” and since each provides 10 ‘plant sites’; then with each tower completing ten ‘five week cycles from seedling to harvest’ it will produce 100 plants for every tower in one year. When this is multiplied further by the100 towers, then the 100 plants produced by each now totals an amazing 10,000 plants a year per greenhouse and when further extended; with 2-4 pounds per plant as the average production it would total an incredible 30,000 pounds of FRESH organic vegetables. At a very conservative estimate each pound would sell at a minimum of $4+ [wholesale price] and so each installation would generate an annual cash flow of $120,000+.

$30,000 is the annual budget allowance, including $10,000 allowed for electricity and heating utilities, to lease and run an appropriate 1,000 square foot ware house space capable of a consistent green house atmosphere near or downtown Prince George complete with office space, meeting room and washroom facilities . The remaining roughly $90,000 after government taxes and fees, plus liability insurance and other operating overhead costs, would be moderate but much improved income for 3-4 of the ‘extremely low income people’. But more than that ... allowing them to again become “contributing members to society again free of social assistance but rather becoming more ‘self sufficient’ for life”. In fact the funding for a first installation of "Growing Hope for the Homeless" will gainfully employ (2) people, immediately...
Starting with manager as well as an assistant manager, to build the whole “Aquaponic system” and set it up. This is expected to take about 3 months because much of it has to be imported from the manufacturer in the USA with the rest found locally and then it all installed. Since it is 100% organic; next will be getting all of the integrated ‘biological cycles’ activated and interacting symbiotically until they become stabilized which experienced professionals in the field say takes six months or more, after ‘flow in the system’ is first started. During which time the necessary knowledge and information compiled to form a basic educational curriculum of instruction will be developed for ‘prospective’ and also ‘paid volunteers’. Covering the system design, function and construction plus important information gathered through the first year of operation and conscientious observation along with any relevant internet sourced information. Competing with regular attendance and achieving “top marks” in the course material will show the applicant ‘prospective’ as well as the ‘paid volunteers' eagerness, eligibility and readiness for regular employment’ notably for the ‘prospective’ moving up to be a ... “Paid Volunteer" and from there both ... looking to progress onward to “Assistant” and "Manager" as vacancies materialize. Keeping in mind ... "Most managers become ... Green house OWNERS" ... . In preliminary discussion with '*eligible and eager sounding' street people, a 'sign-up-list' was asked for and in a month it is swelling with the names of interested applicants, and already plenty enough to staff several green houses! Encouraging and inspiring since so many “Seem and sound genuinely” hopeful. Projected pay scale, duties and hours. No ‘Free’ lunch nor lunchtimes paid. Open Hours 8:00 > 5:00 Mon. - Sat. However ... “Proficiency ... Is ... Valued and Payable”

Manager -
$20.00 per hour for 8 hours a day x 5 days a week = 40 hours > *$800.00. (Unpaid 24/7 monitoring of automated alarms in greenhouse growing system as well, with assistant manager emergency on call 24/7 too.) [*$40,000 with 50 weeks year]

Assistant Manager -
$10.00 per hour for 6 hours a day x 5 days a week = 30 hours > **$300.00 ... (Paid overtime or emergency, on call 24/7 @ $15/ hour)
[**$15,000 with 50 weeks year]

Paid Volunteers -
As token payment for what would be earned collecting 160 cans x $.10 = $16.00.
$2.00 per hour for 8 hours = $16 PAID Cash at the end of the shift. With 40 hours of attendance and showing application including attaining 60%+ on the... “Friday Quiz” =
$20.00 BONUS! Plus the $16.00 for Friday totals $36 for the weekend! So, ... instead of picking cans, choosing to apply their basic knowledge and time, to hands on assistance in interesting education about the operation of an aquaponic greenhouse. By growing organic food and breeding /producing fish, proving their understanding and growing knowledge in a ‘class-room setting’ complete with ‘Friday afternoon Quizzes’. ... and with earned reward Bonuses! This is all geared to learning a soon to be ‘firmed-out’ curriculum of knowledge and understanding needed to advance their climb 'up the ladder' by learning what the assistant manger has learned he needed to know to retain his position; in preparedness to challenge for the responsibilities’ of that position, when it comes available. Meanwhile the Assistant manager is learning all about the running of the green house in its entirety too. Get this! ...
Working to become a 'trusted' protégé manager in a green house he aspires to own! How? By operating proficiently, with a proven method and following a set curriculum of education towards this attainable goal;

“Paying it forward to pay it back”... To own and run his PAID FOR business! And then facilitate the 'set up the next green house', promote his Assistant to Manager to manager and promote their ‘paid volunteers” with the best attendance and high grades to the next Assistants and start 'them' growing to self-sufficiency’ too. In Final Summation;
With the $100,000 ‘*seed funding’ provided for this ‘initial’ ... “Growing Hope 4 the Homeless” project by “Crowd or Community Funding” it is expected and only fair that 75% of the ‘year end profit’ gained be “Paid Forward” yearly to a total of the original $100,000.

[Seven years with a projected $15,000 Paid Forward a year from a $20,000 projected annual profit]

In this way each operation will have earned its’ “Pay-out by Paying forward” and shown to be of high integrity and a reputable, profitable and equitable business for the both previously ‘homeless adults’ and, or ‘at risk youth’ ...

AND this could be replicated anywhere around the globe feeding millions.