High Garden Tea Rebuild
Update 3/12/20:
Words cannot express the gratitude we have for each and every one one of you. The generosity, in all ways, that you have shown and continue to show is beyond anything we could have ever imagined. All of your contributions have given us the strength and means to start rebuilding our life and for that we are eternally grateful. It will never be forgotten. May your kindness circle back to you 10 fold.
As far as moving forward, we've been working day and night sifting, sorting, ordering, and organizing and have finally finished updating our little workspace on our property to tend to all wholesale. As of next week, High Garden tea can begin filling your cups again, at our beloved coffee shop and restaurant partners, as you have overwhelmingly filled ours.
Our next step is getting enough inventory built back up to resume online orders. We are looking at beginning-mid April. Online will eventually have even more selections than before so you can have your own little High Garden apothecary right in your own home.
As far as brick and mortar location, we are not looking to simply recreate High Garden as it once was for a variety of reasons. One very important reason is that we are allowing space and stillness to receive messages of how High Garden wants and needs to evolve to better serve this community that has kept it alive. The only certainty is that it is no longer a place birthed only from our (Joel and Leah's) spirit, path, and love. It will rise as a space birthed from the entire community and beyond's kindness, vision, love, and connection. It is all of ours. If you have insight or a dream of what your High Garden could be, please do share it with us! email us at [email redacted].
Do not mourn the 935 Woodland shop. Admittedly, when I think of it my heart longs to step through those doors and feel its warmth one more time. But then, I think about the fact that she stood there for us as a nature outpost in the middle of the city embodying and signifying Mother Earth, holding safe space for us when needed. When it was time, she became nature. She flew, she roared, she scattered seeds all over this state to burst up from the ground this spring. She expanded and she will rise again in just that manner. An expansion and expression of an unstoppable force... LOVE.
Beyond grateful,
Leah, Joel & little Woods
Update 3/5/20: Hello friends, Leah and Joel here.
We first want to thank you so much for coming to this page and offering much appreciated help. If you are reading this, that means you must be part of our High Garden community and we want you as informed and involved as possible in this rebuild process. High Garden is yours too.
There are still plenty of unknowns, but as we begin to navigate the world of insurance, it looks like we aren't going to get anywhere near the needed funds to rebuild or restock what we had. We are still extremely hopeful and optimistic but are changing the goal to $1 since the actual financial need for rebuild is so high, it would look overwhelming to see it. Everything you donate is appreciated and the moment the first $1 rolled in here, we felt blessed. Each $1 donated is one closer to a smaller business loan. A large loan can create such stress on a business that it is difficult to succeed. We may build a much smaller shop, we may start with minimum contents, we dream, we create, we will adjust as needed.
For numbers people, here's where we are. Contents, product and equipment of the shop we had equaled about $180,000 which we had built up over the past decade. Insurance can cover $44,000 of that. Leaving $136,000
Building our last shop costed around $80,000, even with Joel and friends as builders and me as decorator and general contractor. Thats lumbar, plumbing, electrical, structures, codes requirements, paint, etc, etc, etc. It adds up so fast.None of this is insured so there is another $80,000 needed.
Total need looking at around $216,000. You have offered us $45,000 so far on here so take that down to $171,000! However, we can be smaller, we can have less inventory, we can be just a little further out of town. We can work with anything so don't think we are waiting on the full amount to proceed. We are just seeing all the possibilities before jumping in to anything.
Thank you for everything. Thank you for Maggy beginning this blessing of a page. There has been so much devastation around us, it is remarkable that you have been so kind to us among all the need. Thank you.
3/4/20***I just talked to Leah and she was updating me on details. Unfortunately, insurance will only pay 1/7 of what they will need to rebuild, restock product, and replace equipment. They are so grateful for your contributions. Thank you all again so much for everyone who has donated, will donate, sent good vibes and helping hands. You all are freaking awesome!
My name is Maggy Wheeler and Leah and Joel are extremely long time best friends of mine. I had someone ask and wanted everyone to know this is a legit fund raiser completely for them.
3/3/20 Words cannot even describe how sad the entire community is that High Garden Tea has suffered such terrible damages. Leah and Joel are two of the most selfless, nurturing humans on this planet. They never think twice to help anyone whether they know them or not and they pretty much never ask for any help. I really didn't even know what amount to put on here but any amount will help. I know they were concerned about their employees being out of a job right now (because that's what awesome people they are) so this could help with that, clean up, childcare so they can handle things or anything insurance will not cover. Insurance only pays for contents. Any rebuilds will be out of their pockets. Leah and Joel work so hard to take care of our community and now its our turn to take care of them.
We will let you know as soon as they begin cleaning because they will need lets of help. So if you cannot help by donating this is another huge way to help.
