Garden Angel Fund

Since the first set of Chilean Seeds to raise funds was gone so fast, I assume there will be enough demand for a second set (that I already mailed Dave on Monday this week).

Maybe, if we had a Garden Angel Fund FORUM more members would come up with creative ideas to raise funds. Perhaps some of our talented subscribers would donate handicrafts, or our farmers could donate a few "Basic Vegetable Garden" sets of seeds (the same can be made with Herbs, Daylilies, Cannas, etc.). Another item could be stamps. I understand we have some collectors that might be happy to get the international stamps we obtain from tradings seeds for a small contribution.

I'm sure there will be many more creative suggestions/donations if we have a specific Forum for this purpose.

Dear Webmaster, what do you think about this idea?
Dear fellow DGardeners, what is your opinion?

I would love to donate for stamps, I could do cash donation or seed company packages of seeds.

As soon as I have anything I will definatly donate something, until then I would definatly be inline to get some of those donated items.
I think a forum just for that is a great idea.

It would also be a great place for people who have benefitted from Garden Angel to express their thanks if they wish. Roundups that do something for the Garden Angel program could also talk about what they did and the money raised. What a great suggestion!

LimeyLisa Kay

Hey friends: I need more opinions. Constructive criticism is appreciated as well.

I think this is a great idea and I can think of a few things right now that I can send Dave to use for more Garden Angel donations. How would this work, though? Would we post ourselves what's available as a donation gift, or would we send everything to Dave and he can forward things, let the donor pick from a list, etc.?

That's right, Cheryl. If Dave accepts, donations would be sent to him. Dave would post (hopefully with a picture or a link) the items available (in separate threads). Members interested in a specific item would post a reply and send Dave the respective check and a SASE that Dave would use to forward the purchased item.

On donating we must bear in mind our Webmaster has already a lot of work to do. Therefore, items to be donated should be ready to be forwarded to the buyer. For example, when I prepared the 20 sets of seeds (12 packages each), each set was tied together so that Dave did not have to start sorting out packages.

To be a donor, you don't have to be an artist nor have the most exotic species in your garden. Remember we have lots of newbies that will probably be very happy to buy a pack of the more traditional seeds as a start.

Another donor could manufacture seed-boxes (even cardboard ones are helpful) to classify seeds you have collected for sowing next season, or the ones you have collected to trade. I use cardboard boxes that I subdivide with cardboard stripes to store my seeds in rows in alphabetical order, and per season to be sown. The same, but covered with a nice paper or maybe cloth, would be a very practical item for us gardeners.

There are so many possibilities!

I have been thinking what I could do for a Garden Angel project since I read about Ursula's generosity. I am organizing a DG quilt guild to make a friendship quilt on a flower theme. The quilt would be somehow auctioned off here on DG when it is done.

If you would like to see the thread on these plans or to join in go to:

http://davesgarden.com/t/419650/

LimeyLisa Kay

Kay, what a magnificent project! I love it!

Ursula

It's a great idea, I'm wondering if it would be helpful to ask what kind of things members would like to buy. For example, if someone has been after a particular book/soap/plant etc they could post it up and if an owner decides they are happy to donate, it gives us all a chance to offer something rather than just those who are good at crafts *G*

If Dave agrees, maybe a scifstore (possibly in auction format for rarer or very desiarable goods?) could be set up for donation items, then the cash donor could see the goods via a photo before they buy them?

As for posting items, not so easy for us International members with multiple items but if the owner could post it directly to the donor (having been verified as paid) it would take the extra work off Dave.

another idea to save dave work might be to double wrap the donation. package it ready to go except for the addy label. then write dave a note telling him what it is and wrap it up and send it. then all he would have to do is address it and send it on.

I think this is a great idea, I'm not very crafty, but I do have seeds, have some left over from last year, if we did something like this now, and I'm sure I will have seeds after the summer, plus I always grow too many plants (perennials) and wonder what to do with them, could donate some of them in the fall.