Earthen Market- Zero Waste Mobile Startup

Who we are:    

     Earthen Market, LLC is a mobile refill store startup focusing on zero waste & circular economy efforts. By providing customers the opportunity to bring in reusable containers & bags to have us fill (following all COVID-19 guidelines) with their desired quantity of each product, we eliminate the need for disposable & single use packaging. Therefore, we significantly reduce our environmental impact as consumers.

*(We will have plenty of clean, sanitized up-cycled jars & containers that customers will be welcome to use at no cost if they do not have their own with them.)

    As a mobile store, we will be able to bring zero waste grocery shopping to all of San Antonio, Texas via farmer's markets, hosted locations and planned delivery routes. Imagine the bulk food aisle at a Whole Foods...now imagine that plus body care, cleaning and household supplies (all plastic free) in a bus! Many areas of town have little to no access to healthy sustainable options, and we can help solve that problem by offering a variety of natural, unprocessed bulk foods such as oats, flours, pastas, nuts, beans, legumes, dried fruit etc.  Along with bulk foods, we will supply refill options for personal and household products, i.e. shampoos and cleaning products. Maintaining competitive pricing to help save our customers money is especially important to us.    

How it works:

Use of Funds:

    We are seeking funding to help with the start up costs, such as the purchase of the vehicle, point of sale system, food bins, product, required licenses, and other start up expenses. A solar panel unit & A/C to keep the vehicle temperature controlled during the summer is also essential. As you can imagine, this is all very expensive and our $20,000 goal will only cover a portion of the expenses. Any contribution you can make will be so greatly appreciated. Funding will be used as conservatively as possible to maximize our donor's contributions. 

     It is our mission to make zero waste shopping accessible and affordable in order to normalize it. Every single person that is able to change their shopping habits and shop more sustainably can have a tremendous impact in reducing waste in our city. We are so very grateful to all of you who back us, and cannot thank you enough for helping to make this dream come true! 

A letter from the founder: 

Dear friends,

     I have been interested in environmentalism for as long as I can remember, and I have been searching for ways to make a positive impact. Earthen Market answers that calling in my heart. Not only will it be the answer to the struggle to find zero waste options for myself & my family, but my hope is that it will also put the calling in the hearts of others to live sustainably. We can influence SO many lives and help people make more sustainable choices by providing package free/low waste shopping in San Antonio, Texas. We have a responsibility to leave this Earth in good shape for future generations. I want my children and grandchildren to see the beauty that God created in the world, and to know how to care for it. We have to work for it. This age of convenience that we are in is destroying the planet, and changes need to be made.

     Thank you for time and consideration. It is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Jamie Chalk