About this project
Welcome to Veggie Island! We are located in Rockaway Beach, a little beach town in New York City. The neighborhood has gone through many ups and downs, and is currently in a stage where there is support and community interest in beautifying and increasing the over all quality of life on the peninsula. Here there is awesome natural beauty and opportunity to experience Atlantic coastal wildlife. Our business wants to foster the natural connections between the people, their environment, and the food we eat. Veggie Island's objective is to feed people fresh foods and offer ecologically friendly products, supporting a growing system of health and healthy living. In addition to creating a retail venue that can help improve the infrastructure in the Rockaways, we aim to provide multi-faceted outreach to the community involving gardening, cooking, youth internship, and overall environmental awareness.
Please check our bio below for more information and additional web links.
We appreciate your interest and fundraising support!
Funds received via Kickstarter will go the following:
We want to start a gardening program with greenhouses and raised beds. We will be growing everything organically, promote seed saving, and start a composting program to utilize our organic waste of both the garden and Veggie Island. In addition to the greenhouse gardens we need to repair and rebuild aspects of our shop. We plan on expanding our goods and services offered, to do so we need get the appropriate refrigeration and equipment. Not to mention certain licensing and legal fees.
Every little bit helps us grow, and you will be sure to enjoy your Veggie Island rewards!
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FAQ
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203
Backers
$15,115
pledged of $15,000 goal
0
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on May 13, 2011.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
A Veggie Island postcard with a personal thank you *sent via mail*
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Veggie Island vegetable seed care package *sent via mail*
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Your choice of 1 Smoothie or Juice *Rockaway Beach NYC special*
Pledge $15 or more Pledge $15 or more
Veggie Island's "World Dance Music of the World" mix CD vol.1 *sent via mail*
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
Juice or smoothies for 3 *Rockaway Beach NYC special*
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Veggie Island zine which includes recipes, medicinal uses of herbs, and foraging tips *sent via mail*
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
Pic Nic for two from Veggie Island *Rockaway Beach NYC special*
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Zine, tote bag, and a Veggie Island T-shirt *sent via mail*
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Pic Nic for 4 from Veggie Island *Rockaway Beach NYC special*
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
Zine, tote, T-shirt, plus a variety of organic vegetable and herb seeds to start your own garden. Includes a planting calendar *sent via mail*
Pledge $200 or more Pledge $200 or more
Same as above plus limited edition 11/17 silkscreened Veggie Island poster *sent via mail*
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Same as above plus surprise Veggie Island birthday care package *sent via mail*
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
Same as above plus limited edition Veggie Island Sculpture and Custom Kalimba with electric pick up *sent via mail*
Pledge $1,010 or more Pledge $1,010 or more
Private dinner for 10 at Veggie Island, BYOB *Rockaway Beach NYC special*
Pledge $2,000 or more Pledge $2,000 or more
6 Veggie Island care package deliveries. Once a month for 1/2 a year, includes a sampling of the products and goods we offer and sell. *sent via mail*
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
We throw a party at the marina in your honor, with grilled food, DJs, a keg, kayak rides, and live entertainment . Up to 25 guests *Rockaway Beach NYC special*
Project By
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In early summer 2009 Shaun Kessler was visiting his friend Elizabeth Gilchrist who was working on an organic farm in the Hudson Valley. They decided to start a produce stand out at the beach in Rockaway, where he was living, because there was no local or organic produce in the neighborhood, it has been classified a food desert. Most things available to eat on the peninsula were packaged or prepared in factories with few exceptions. The two asked the owners of Rockaway Taco if they could set up shop on the sidewalk adjacent to their restaurant. The next week they started a table and umbrella provincial style Sunday farmstand vending local and organic vegetables, fruits, and flowers to the surfers, Rockaway residents, and weekend beach goers.
In the spring of 2010 Veggie Island was born. Gilchrist and Kessler along with Taka Imamura and the help of friends and family renovated a dilapidated storefront that was once a vibrant soda counter in 1950’s . Veggie Island is an organic market and goods purveyor located on the corner of 96th street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard that currently operates seasonally, with the goal of being open year round.
We offer fresh made juices, smoothies, teas and coffee as well as a daily menu of sandwiches, soups, and a variety of baked goods. We are a health and environmentally conscious retailer whose mission is to provide access to organic foods and products all of which have been prepared on site, on nearby farms, or brought to us from other individual entrepreneurs and small organizations sharing our ideals. None of the products include harmful chemicals or are derived from gross industry practice. Some of the vendors we work with include Blooming Hill Farms, Goldie's topical products, Roberta's bread, Boomtown vegan baked goods, and more
In addition to helping revitalize the Rockaway Beach community, Veggie Island incorporates outreach initiatives emphasizing youth education, environmental stewardship and teen internships.
With your help we will be able to expand upon the services we offer, repair and do basic maintenance to our shop, get the refrigeration and kitchen supplies needed, expand upon our gardening program, and offer a wider variety of produce and goods to our community.
