Amy's Organics is like an ice cream truck, but we sell local organic vegetables, local honey, grass fed meats, and all natural soaps.
Last spring while I was planting my garden, the ice cream man drove by. I thought, "I wish he were selling homegrown tomatoes on that truck!" That idea stuck with me, and soon I was talking about it to my friends and family. They all said "Do it!"
So I got a truck, got a permit, and went into business. I found several great organic farmers in the area to stock my truck with fabulous vegetables- there were green beans, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, onions, cucumbers, so much great food! Soon I was also selling local honey, all natural soaps, fruit, and grass-fed meats.
Business steadily grew from July through October. I loved seeing the same customers each week and hearing how their kids were trying new vegetables and loving them! Some neighborhoods scheduled me to come at the same time each week, and they would all gather to shop from the truck while their kids rode bikes and ran through the sprinkler.
Unfortunately we live in Chicago, and even though we have had a wonderfully mild winter, farmers can't grow here October through May. I still sell the grass fed meats, soaps, and honey on the truck, but sales are slow. I need to outfit the truck with a cooler so I can sell free-range organic eggs, and another freezer so I can have fruit popsicles on the truck- the health department requires separate freezers for meat and ice cream. To add to my checkbook's distress, all of my licensing and annual fees are due in June, before high season even starts for local produce. Please help me get Amy's Organics through till summer when we can all enjoy a homegrown tomato again!
FAQ
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If you are hesitating because you don't want to pay the small delivery fee, good news! This summer I will have a regularly scheduled stop at Kindred Spirit in Oswego, and at Karma Skin and Massage Studio in Yorkville, as well as Plainfield Village Hall and CW Avery YMCA. Those days and times will be available on my website, www.amysorganics.org, as soon as they are final. You can come to any of those locations at the scheduled time to pick up your reward, or to shop off the truck.
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One week left- out of desperation I am going to add to the $50 pledge level. In addition to everything the $30 level offers, you will get one dozen farm fresh eggs this summer, once those little cuties start laying eggs (a $5 value)! You also get the Amy's Organics canvas tote and a mini-me Carrot Man. If you have already pledged at a lower level you can easily increase your pledge. And this weekend I have a benefactor who is going to match all pledges- so an additional $20 from you means an additional $40 to me!
99
Backers
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pledged of $4,000 goal
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Funding period
Mar 1, 2012 -
Mar 31, 2012
(30 days)
- First created · 5 backed
- Amy Wade Ernst 242 friends
- Website: amysorganics.org
Pledge $10 or more
4 backers
4 fruit popsicles, redeemable at the Plainfield Farmers' Market any Saturday in July or August.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $20 or more
18 backers
In July you get one pound of local honey, and in August choose $10 worth of organic vegetables off the truck! (Local only please). You can pick it up at the Plainfield Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings, or I will deliver to you free in Plainfield, or with a small delivery fee to local areas.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $30 or more
24 backers
In July you get honey, August you get $10 of veggies off the truck, plus come see me in September for a bag of heavenly Michigan peaches for free! (Local only please). You can pick it up at the Plainfield Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings, or I will deliver to you free in Plainfield, or with a small delivery fee to local areas.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $50 or more
21 backers
Everything you get in the $30 package, plus a reusable Amy's Organics canvas shopping tote and a mini-me Carrot Man. (Canvas tote and mini-me Carrot Man will be shipped to out-of-towners!). You can pick it up at the Plainfield Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings, or I will deliver to you free in Plainfield, or with a small delivery fee to local areas.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $75 or more
8 backers
Have you met Carrot Man, the co-pilot in the veggiemobile? For $75 you get your very own Carrot Man, a mini-me Carrot Man, a reusable Amy's Organics tote bag. You also get a pound of honey in July, $10 of veggies in August, peaches in September, and in October you get an all natural soap and lip balm. (If you are out of town, I will gladly ship you the tote, Carrot Man, Mini-me Carrot Man, and soap/lip balm.). You can pick it up at the Plainfield Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings, or I will deliver to you free in Plainfield, or with a small delivery fee to local areas.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $100 or more
2 backers
A ride-along! One person can ride along with Amy for a two-hour period of your choice, plus you get to go home with your very own Carrot Man and Mini-me Carrot Man, and a reusable tote bag filled with goodies from Amy's truck (tote bag will include honey, veggies, soap, lip balm, organic preserves, in-season fruit, and grass fed ground beef.)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $200 or more
1 backer Limited (9 of 10 left)
Kids love Amy's Organics.......for this generous amount, Amy's Organics will come to your children's birthday party/scout meeting/ book club! The kids can sample the veggies on the truck, and each child (up to 20) will get an all-natural fruit popsicle. This package is available within 20 miles of Plainfield. Scheduling will have to work around Amy's work schedule. OR instead of a personal appearance with samples, you can choose to get a bushel of apples, half a bushel of fabulous Michigan peaches, half a bushel of organic Roma Tomatoes, and two pounds of local honey- perfect for the chef or home canner!
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
