Imagine a world of happy pollinators.
We’ve got the seeds for that.
Our Story
In March 2020, a few friends were in an InterVarsity Bible study over zoom in Nashville, TN. During prayer requests, we discussed the impact of COVID on individuals with intellectual disabilities. At that time, the unemployment numbers in the United States passed 35 million, and we knew this meant a blow to individuals impacted by disabilities. One of our team members shared, "Lots of managers don't hire people because of disabilities." We moved from praying for jobs, to praying to create jobs. We chose to become the managers we would want to hire us. We wanted to move to make change and bring that commitment to an inclusive workforce to our own community.
So, as team members with and without disabilities, we started our own small business. At this time, millions of Americans were confined to their homes in spring and garden stores in our areas remained open as they were delegated to being an "essential business".
Instead of hoping for the right manager, we chose to become the managers.
We began to pursue gardening for wildlife and opening up a native plant vending booth at the Farmers Market in downtown Nashville. For three months we held zoom business meetings with people from different parts of the county, city, state, and nation, pulling together ideas for what our business would look like.
We were at the Nashville Farmer's Market that summer, selling quality items made by quality people. We make bird houses, bird feeders, hummingbird feeders, bug hotels, butterfly houses; sell native plants, native seed, and books that inspire others to garden for wildlife.
We are now a registered USDA farm and be able to provide greater access to affordable and fresh food to members of our community, especially those impacted by disability.
Thus far we have attained licenses to be certified seed and plant dealers, state vendors, seed sellers, seed collectors, as well as a certified nursery and native plant farm.
We value equitable and inclusive work environments. Nationwide fewer than 15% of individuals with intellectual disabilities are employed. We will work to increase TN workforce of those with intellectual disAbilities from 16% to 20% by 2025. We will work to bring individuals with disAbilities to the table of sustainability and conservation conversations happening around the city, state and country. We will work towards a more sustainABLE Tennessee.
As you may know, starting up a business during Covid was not easy, and we have been making ends meet month to month. But we know that with some capital to help take us a bit further, we could have the capacity to provide a service that is much needed in the community, and this is where we are calling for your support. As a new business, we don't qualify for grants or Covid relief. Your investment in our business would plant the seeds of a business that could impact neighborhoods in Nashville and increase the access to meaningful, quality and high impact jobs that are available to individuals with and without disabilities.
Your proceeds will also help us create business opportunities for individuals with and without disabilities as we aim to start our own bird seed brand and Tennessee native seed company.
Each month we are committed to contributing up to ten percent of our proceeds to funding conservation work in our state, in the nation, and in supporting the work of incredible nonprofits around the area. As oftentimes individuals with disabilities tend to be often served on the receiving end of charity, we desire to be contributors and active participants in the work of giving back to the community, and sustaining a greener planet.
We will work towards a more sustainABLE Tennessee.
We are saving funds up from proceeds each month to provide scholarships for other individuals to enter the Next Steps program at Vanderbilt, a post-secondary program for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
For the months of October and November, we are giving 10% of our store proceeds to supporting Shawnee and Cherokee communities in Oklahoma that once lived on the land today we call home. We will also be distributing land recognition plaques to each person who gives to our campaign as well as to each person who comes to our shop.
Thank you for your investment in equitable and inclusive career opportunities to develop our Plant for a Change team. Your support means the world to us!
Plant for a Change Co-Managers and Co-Owners
Charles, Diamond, Daniel, Jack, Nathan,