Save Poet's Garden Alchemist after Med. Emergency

Poet's Garden Alchemist was born with the idea to not only bring toxic free, good quality skincare to all, but to help support amazing poets and writers all across the world through helping their work be known. It opened in Breckenridge, Colorado, USA in December 2022, and after only a month of business, its doors are being threatened to close due to a medical emergency.

Virginia Guarddon, the founder and CEO of Poet’s Garden Alchemist, recently suffered a terrible fall and broke her femur and her hip. She underwent surgery and was in the hospital for 9 days before being discharged for in-home rehab. She began physiotherapy to work on walking again. However, she suffered post-surgery complications and a recurrence of her injury and has now returned to the hospital for further testing, including investigating for signs of osteoporosis or bone cancer. She has undergone a second surgery on January 4th, this time with a titanium prosthesis inserted from her hip to her knee; this will make sure her bones are better supported through the healing, but will require a longer healing time.

Virginia is in a lot of pain, physically and mentally, and fears above all her beautiful store going bankrupt. As a small business owner, being unable to run her store has cost her her sole source of income. Her recovery could take 6 to 18 months, but she has less than 6 months before she is forced to declare bankruptcy. This store is a dream she has worked on for so long and has sacrificed so much for, and its loss would be devastating. If she has to declare bankruptcy, her home will be repossessed to help pay the business loans. She has over $15 000 in medical bills, including surgery and pharmaceutical treatments, and that number will increase with this further testing, surgery, new treatment required, and physiotherapy. She has to adapt her home so that she can take care of herself, including an accessible shower, bed, and toilet. On top of business and medical expenses, she is also paying for her home and her children’s college education.

The Poet’s Garden Community is a group of writers whose works are featured on Poet’s Garden Alchemist’s shelves. With her store, Virginia has made our dreams come true, and with this GoFundMe we hope to help save her dream. Our goal is to raise $60 000 to cover three months of expenses while her store is closed. Please consider donating whatever you can—every little bit helps.

Testimonies from the Community:

I am a small Canadian writer who published her first poetry book in January 2022, and as an indie author trying to get the word out about my work has been challenging. Virginia gave me the opportunity of a lifetime when she reached out to stock my book in another country. She is a kind soul who is passionate about helping others, and she has helped make my dream come true. - Ris V. Rose, author of Supernova

Virginia was one of the first people to support my work as a poet. As a self-published author it is rare to find someone so committed to helping indie writers succeed. She’s not just an incredible businesswoman, but an amazing friend. She has built an incredible community over the past few years and I’m glad we can help support her in this time of serious crisis. - Alix Klingenberg, author of Secrets & Stars and Of Darker Seasons

V is one of the most incredible people I know. I've never met someone who works harder. She has poured all of her love into her business, Poet's Garden Alchemist. She has an incredible knowledge of skincare and her purpose of her business is to help people. On top of devoting her whole self to her business, she also has the biggest heart, and a love for poets and artists. She is incredibly active and devoted to indie authors and artists and wants to help their work reach the world. She does everything she can to help others and I've loved watching her dream grow. She deserves every chance to keep her mission going. - Brittany McCauley

Virginia is one of the most generous humans I’ve ever met. She spends her life supporting and lifting up others, now it’s an honor to be part of supporting her in a time of real crisis. - Catherine Hammond, author of hope(less)

If there is anyone deserving of a stranger’s generosity and compassion, it is Virginia, for this is exactly what she would have done for others! Virginia is one of the most uplifting and kind-hearted people I have ever had the chance of crossing paths with. Not only has she worked tirelessly to open her own small business, but she has also been dedicated to helping other artists and small creators succeed. She’s made so many poet’s dreams come true by creating spaces to showcase their work and does this completely from the heart! She has supported so many people out of a passion and drive to see others thrive—and it’s our turn now to return the love and help Virginia keep the dream alive as she recovers. - Felicia Watterodt, author of Wild Words

Virginia is the most beautiful soul, always ready to bring a Ray of sunshine to everyone. I am so grateful for everything she does in the poetry community and her wonderful business. With all my best wishes - Barbara Gianquitto, author of Awakening the Heart and 4:04AM Thoughts

Poet’s Garden Alchemist is a haven of wellness, self care, and poetry, a needed sanctum in the high country of the Colorado Rockies. And Virginia, founder and CEO, is a mindful and supportive steward of body, spirit, and the arts. That’s why it’s so very important to ensure Poet’s Garden Alchemist keeps its doors open after Virginia unfortunately suffered a recent serious injury only a month after opening her storefront in Breckinridge, Colorado. Please donate what you can to safeguard Poet’s Garden Alchemist during Virginia’s lengthy recovery, and ensure this haven for poetry, mindfulness, and nature-based self care remains well into the future. -Nicholas Trandahl, author of Mountain Song

Virginia has been a beaming source of support, kindness, and compassion in the poetry and self-care communities. Her shop is beautiful and exudes a positive, relaxing energy to everyone who enters it or views it through her online presence. She has been so kind in reaching out to poets like me to stock our books in her store, and as a self-published poet trying to market my first collection, this has been hugely helpful. I am so saddened to know her beautiful shop, and the dream she achieved by opening it, are being threatened by such unfortunate circumstances, and I can only hope we can support her through this hardship just as much as she’s supported me and other creatives all over the world. - Michelle Awad, author of Soul Trash, Space Garbage

Virginia’s kindness, work ethic, and genuine love for her business is a true inspiration. As an author, I was incredibly touched and humbled when she told me of her plan to open Poets Garden Alchemist and offered to sell my book at her store. I was even more grateful when the store opened and I saw what a stunningly beautiful shop she had put together. It breaks my heart to think of this store going under. I’m honored to be able to help any way I can. I hope you will too! - Jennifer Gordon, author of Poems to Read in the Rain

This beautiful soul is truly a blessing to both our poetry community and the natural beauty industry. She truly has a genuine passion for helping you uncover your most naturally beautiful skin in the least harmful way possible, to your body and ofcourse to all living things. An artist at heart, she has created so many incredible opportunities for her poets to share their work beyond borders they thought possible, myself included. Please support this earth angel, who has given so much. - Cheriese Françoise Anderson, author of Wild Chai and Sweet Kin

I am an intuitive writer & poet from The Netherlands - Europe. Virginia was the first small-business-owner in the US to believe in my poetry book and start selling it on her website. It was a dream coming true. I was super excited when Virginia's dream came true also as she opened her shop in Breckenridge. Virginia is an honest, beautiful, hardworking soul. She brings poets together and, last but not least, her natural skin products are the best I've ever used. I feel grateful to be able to help her in these tough times so that her dream - Poet's Garden Alchemist - can go on. - Bianca, aka Be Budding, author of Between Worlds

Virginia is a special soul, so kind and warm hearted. The passion she has for her store is immeasurable. The love she has for the poetry community is admirable and so noteworthy. I’m so grateful to have come across such a beautiful ball of energy. Under these unfortunate circumstances, it hurts my heart to know that she is hurting and feeling clutched by all the pain and worry she feels. I sincerely hope we can come together as a community and do everything we can to help this special human being. No one should have to fight alone. We’re with you my sweet friend. Keep fighting. - Francisco Guerra, author of all things considered

I cannot begin to explain the amount of support and well wishes I want to pour and extend to Virginia and her beautiful Poet's Harden Alchemist. She is truly a light in the poetry and beauty world with what she does for other's and with such passion. I hope for her very best possible recovery. - hergreyside, author of Grey Silver Linings

Virginia has a beautiful heart and thinks of others in everything she does. Her skincare products are not only aesthetically calming and gorgeous, but are also produced without toxins because she cares about others. She is a unique and creative soul, and blended her skincare with her love of poetry. She uses her platform and store to support the work of her fellow poets which has meant the world to so many of us. She finally realized her dream to open a store and in the midst of this, she had a terrible accident. We have an opportunity to show our love and support to Virginia now in whatever way we can. It is time for the good she puts out to flow back to her in her time of need. - Jen Holly, author of All Is Fair in Love Poems

https://poetsgardenalchemist.com/