Make Iraq Veteran's Dream Come True
WHY YOU ARE HERE
In short, because an Iraq war Veteran has a chance to make his dreams come true.
In 2007 Pinellas County had 134 Farms, at the last farm census in 2012 there were only 118; and it is expected that during the next census in 2019 that number will have plummeted. Of those 118 remaining farms in 2012, 107 sold less than $50,000 in goods, 72 of those sold less than $10,000.
Agriculture in Pinellas County is dying. Tasteless fruits and vegetables are flown in from around the world to feed a growing population. The only way left for citizens to obtain fresh, locally grown produce is to grow it themselves using urban gardening methods.
I started this campaign because a once in a lifetime opportunity had come up, and I don’t want to miss my chance.
The owners ofSimply Hydroponics & Organics, a local shop that has been here for 25+ years have decided it’s time to start a new chapter in their lives. Instead of selling their business, and the valuable land it sits on, they decided to give it away in an essay contest.
Unfortunately, there were not enough other entries and the competition was cancelled. I can now raise the funds to purchase the business outright!
The Purchase Includes:
- The building and land
- The inventory
- The distribution deals
- Popular website and social media
WHY I WANT THE STORE
For those who are reading this but don't know me. I am a service-disabled Veteran who was medically retired from the Army after six years and a tour in Iraq.
I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Management & Organizational Leadership from St. Petersburg College and a Master's of Business Administration from the University of South Florida, GO BULLS!
I am looking for a career that would allow me to continue serving the community through my membership in Rotary, and this would do that as well as be a great benefit to our Hydroponics For Humanity service project. More information on that can be found at www.HydroponicsForHumanity.org.
I personally use gardening as a way to relax. Like many people, it is a form of free therapy for me instead of piles of drugs from the VA. It is important to me that independent retailers like Simply Hydro continue to serve the community in the face of big box stores and faceless internet transactions.
This is a place where people can come regardless of their comfort level with hydroponics and find everything from supplies to working demonstration systems where they can learn new techniques.
As we run out of useable land in Pinellas County, urban gardening techniques like hydroponics are critical to ensuring that ourt children have access to delicious,fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables and I want to be a part of that solution!
Best of all, my family is behind me in this so we would be able to work together to ensure the long term success of the store and to help the citizens of Pinellas County grow their own!
I thank you for taking the time to read this, and for your support in keeping the shop local, and open. Don't let it go to someone who will just close it and sell the land!
NOTE: ANY AMOUNT OF SUPPORT IS HELPFUL.
$1, $5, $10, $20, $100, etc.
