Life is expensive. Doing good for the world shouldn't be.
Project Description
Birdhous is a co-working landscape in Vermont's picturesque Northeast Kingdom. Our 49 acres span forest, field and stream. Here, ecologically minded farmers, chefs, artists and other land-based entrepreneurs are invited to explore their passions. By sharing this land we lessen the financial barriers to entry and provide laboratory space to try, try again. Birdhous is the place to build your brand and explore potential markets before setting off on your own.
Roosting, our residential program, allows budding environmental entrepreneurs to enjoy the independence and realize the demand of operating their own venture without the distraction of overwhelming financial responsibility. In addition to sharing our fields, forests, and streams: we provide housing, business planning, and entrepreneurial advice to launch new, diverse, sustainable farming enterprises in Vermont and beyond. This type of agricultural venture will become more and more relevant as our farmers retire and their agricultural land is turned over to a generation in debt.
Lady Mastermind, Jes Scribner, is the face of Birdhous. She completed her degree in Land-Based Entrepreneurship at Sterling College, the nation's leader in environmental stewardship education. She and her team of Roosters are supported by their business advisor, Stu McGowan, who has over 35 years of experience in profitable socially conscious business and community organizing in Vermont.
As an L3C, a low-profit limited liability company, we rely on the kindness of our community to continue to provide these services to young farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs. The money we make at every stage is funneled back into our Roosting Program to improve our offerings and ensure the future of farming is ethical, sustainable, and delicious. Thank you for your support.
- This campaign will support kitchen upgrades which will allow us to scale up our Pierogi operation and get these frozen dumplings into a freezer near you. Proceeds from our pierogis help to keep this place running and providing affordable land access to young farmers and land-based entrepreneurs.
- These upgrades will directly benefit next season's new "Roosters," providing an inspected and fully licensed kitchen for their blossoming value-added product lines.
Updates
The Campaign FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions:
- How far can you ship?
We're sending frozen pierogi all across the United States. If early backers give us the feedback that our packaging is failing on longer journeys, we'll readjust. So far, so good. Several of our other rewards are steam-canned, shelf-stable, or otherwise non-perishable: We'll ship those all over the world. - What if no one applies to Roost?
This little chunk of change (and buzz) should send us off the the races. Given enough wiggle room, Jes can spend more time on outreach and recruitment. We'll keep farming, we'll keep learning. We'll readjust our offerings, hang on to donated scholarships and keep spreading the word. Choosing to farm is as brave as it is important. Wait for it. - Is your food organic?
Technically, no. It takes several years and lots of capital to certify your land as organic. In year one, we utilized local non-GMO seed (High Mowing Organic), turned our land by hand, and applied homeopathic pest controls (homemade hot pepper spray, diatomaceous earth) sparingly. Our wholistic practices go beyond the USDA organic label. - Why Pierogi?
Why not pierogi? They are delicious. Jes loves working with dough. Heirloom potatoes are dope... and, finally: you can eat nothing but potatoes and survive. That's why we grew them, this is how we use them. - Can I buy this stuff elsewhere?
For now, no. This launch will help us get the word out about VT Pierogi and Birdhous at large to scale up production. We expect to be in retail locations all over Northern Vermont by the end of the year. You'll be able to find all of our products (pickles, pies, pierogi) and meat/produce at Farmer's Markets next summer. Join our mailing list and we'll keep you updated. - What does handprinted mean?
Before taking to farming, Jes studied graphic design and printmaking for a spell. It's not a big deal. We think the slight imperfections that arise from DIY hand-printing make the results that much more special. This season we'll print a collaborative crew neck, a pierogi t-shirt designed by Chef Liz, and some EXTRA one-of-a-kind stuff for folks with the big bucks.
Just Because I Care
Leave your address and we'll mail out a thank you card, complete with a pre-stamped postcard. Doodle us a bird and mail it back!
A mixed bag of our initial offerings! 20 frozen Handmade Pierogi, 1 Pint of Sauerkraut, and 4oz of Pesto all grown and processed right here at Birdhous.
Shipping frozen goods is pricey, but you'll be amongst the first to drop our delicate dumplings onto your stove and into your mouth. We think you'll think it's worth it. We'll give you 10 extra pierogi if you pick them up! Pre-stamped taste-test survey and Doodle Card included. Your feedback is so appreciated.
Two pints of pickles, grown and canned right here at Birdhous! Pre-stamped Doodle Card and a taste-testing survey included so you can mail it back. Your feedback is so appreciated. #pickles4life
In collaboration with all of you who've already doodled us a bird, we present: The Birdhous Crew. This limited edition sweatshirt is handprinted right here at Birdhous and will evolve as more and more people send us doodles. We'll include the pre-stamped Doodle Card so you can join in!
For some of our biggest fans! This type of gift (high dollar, minimal reward) goes a long way to helping us achieve our goals for the winter and making Birdhous that much better in our second spring. We can't thank you enough.
This package includes an EXTRA special hand-printed crew neck, 2 Pints O' Pickles, and a personal thank you card, all sent through the mail with our coveted pre-stamped Doodle Card.
As a thank you for this generous donation, we'll host you and your honored guests at our home in Barton and serve a duck dinner for 4. Our beautiful, happy ducks were raised on Green Mountain Organic Feed.
As a thank you for this generous donation, we'll host you and your honored guests at our home in Barton and serve a Pork Dinner for 4. Our fat, happy pigs were raised on pasture, quality food scraps from the Craftsbury Outdoor Center and a bit of conventional grain.
15 nights of camping for you and a guest in the 2019 season. Need your crew? Pick a weekend (Friday-Monday) and we'll reserve all of our sites for you and up to 15 guests.
Find more information and happy reviews on our HipCamp listing
Lower the barriers to entry even further by guaranteeing one lucky applicant reduced cost housing for the 2019 growing season! We'll send you our deepest gratitude, along with a one-of-a-kind "Sponsor" t-shirt printed right here. Next time you visit, you'll find a commemorative plague-- but (probably) not the kind you're used to.
Rewards
Just Because I Care
Leave your address and we'll mail out a thank you card, complete with a pre-stamped postcard. Doodle us a bird and mail it back!
A mixed bag of our initial offerings! 20 frozen Handmade Pierogi, 1 Pint of Sauerkraut, and 4oz of Pesto all grown and processed right here at Birdhous.
Shipping frozen goods is pricey, but you'll be amongst the first to drop our delicate dumplings onto your stove and into your mouth. We think you'll think it's worth it. We'll give you 10 extra pierogi if you pick them up! Pre-stamped taste-test survey and Doodle Card included. Your feedback is so appreciated.
Two pints of pickles, grown and canned right here at Birdhous! Pre-stamped Doodle Card and a taste-testing survey included so you can mail it back. Your feedback is so appreciated. #pickles4life
In collaboration with all of you who've already doodled us a bird, we present: The Birdhous Crew. This limited edition sweatshirt is handprinted right here at Birdhous and will evolve as more and more people send us doodles. We'll include the pre-stamped Doodle Card so you can join in!
For some of our biggest fans! This type of gift (high dollar, minimal reward) goes a long way to helping us achieve our goals for the winter and making Birdhous that much better in our second spring. We can't thank you enough.
This package includes an EXTRA special hand-printed crew neck, 2 Pints O' Pickles, and a personal thank you card, all sent through the mail with our coveted pre-stamped Doodle Card.
As a thank you for this generous donation, we'll host you and your honored guests at our home in Barton and serve a duck dinner for 4. Our beautiful, happy ducks were raised on Green Mountain Organic Feed.
As a thank you for this generous donation, we'll host you and your honored guests at our home in Barton and serve a Pork Dinner for 4. Our fat, happy pigs were raised on pasture, quality food scraps from the Craftsbury Outdoor Center and a bit of conventional grain.
15 nights of camping for you and a guest in the 2019 season. Need your crew? Pick a weekend (Friday-Monday) and we'll reserve all of our sites for you and up to 15 guests.
Find more information and happy reviews on our HipCamp listing
Lower the barriers to entry even further by guaranteeing one lucky applicant reduced cost housing for the 2019 growing season! We'll send you our deepest gratitude, along with a one-of-a-kind "Sponsor" t-shirt printed right here. Next time you visit, you'll find a commemorative plague-- but (probably) not the kind you're used to.