Barnraiser crowdfunding launched for Taproot Community Kitchen

Published on behalf of Taproot Lopez Kitchen Cooperative

Dear Friends and Locavores,

Over the past months, much has been accomplished in the effort to build Taproot, a shared use, commercially certified, community kitchen for Lopez Island. We have:

~Secured 501(c)(3) status with the IRS for tax deductible contributions
~Set up a detailed website at lopeztaproot.org
~Designed a multiple use kitchen and had our building plans conditionally approved by the San Juan Co. Health Dept.
~Developed a working business model

Now we have launched a crowdfunding effort through Barnraiser.us to generate funds needed to start construction. Once our facility is remodeled and in use, memberships and rentals will sustain ongoing kitchen expenses. But we need your help now to get there!

Our Barnraiser goal of $37,000 must be met by August 30th for us to receive pledged funds, and we would like to invite you to help by donating or by spreading the word. Any size donation is greatly appreciated, especially since we are anxious to see large numbers of backers indicating real community support for this worthy project.

Find much more information at our Barnraiser site: http://www.barnraiser.us/projects/taproot-a-lopez-community-kitchen

We see this kitchen as a perfect opportunity to strengthen our island food system, to help build our islands’ economy, and to support local farmers and entrepreneurs and enjoy the fruits of their labors.

Please join us in creating this community resource. Thanks for all your help, and spread the word!

In gratitude,

Jean Perry
Owner, Vortex Cafe and Juice Bar
Founding member and President, Lopez Locavores
“We need to think always more seriously and cooperatively about the urgent need for locally owned, appropriately scaled value-adding industries situated in the countryside… We need small food-processing and woodworking plants of all kinds, both to serve directly the local communities and to capture for those communities a larger share of the income from local products. We need to find ways to promote local investment in such local enterprises.”

– Wendell Berry, ‘A Long Job, Too Late to Quit’ from Citizenship Papers