We've launched an exciting new project of our own! Introducing the Kickstarter app for iPhone!

Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on December 7, 2011.

Windowfarms in 2012

Update #9 · Feb 21, 2012 · 5 comments

Manufacturing in America

The new year started with a bang for Windowfarms as we wrapped up our successful Kickstarter campaign, thanks to the support of all of our backers. Our team immediately got to work on the big job ahead. It has been an exciting and busy time. We want to share our progress with you to date. 


Since last you heard from us, we’ve been crisscrossing the country, visiting factories and seeking out manufacturing partners here in the States that are committed to environmental and ethical practices. It has been an eye-opening experience. We have learned firsthand of the challenges facing the American manufacturing industry. We have had the opportunity to visit factory floors, meet the workers, and learn exactly how every single part of our product is going to be made. Since half of the money from Kickstarter is going to making several gargantuan ton-weight precision metal molds (like the one pictured above) that produce hundreds of thousands of windowfarms to come, it has been critical to commit to partners who we know will share our passion for environmental innovation and who we will love to work with for a long time. This experience inspired us more than ever before to stand firm in our belief to have the new windowfarms manufactured in the USA. 

Inspired by our favorite TV episodes from childhood of factory tours on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood (listen to the NPR Marketplace story about the disappearance of Mr. Rogers’ factories), we are creating our own factory tour video that will give you an inside peek at how your windowfarms are made . . . coming soon.

Who is Windowfarms? Meet the Team!

Windowfarms is a now a team of four! As a start up business, we all wear many hats and collaboratively work on almost every facet of the business together. Many of you know Britta, the founder of Windowfarms—our fearless leader. She is equal parts design visionary, tech nerd, maker, and artist. She runs our opensource d-i-y project and collaborates with top designers, engineers, and programmers on the new products coming your way. 


Now, meet the rest of the team. Shivani (pictured on the left) is our CFO, a startup finance rockstar who works with social enterprises to create effective, sustainable business models, teams, and infrastructure. Our Operations Manager, Pirapha (pictured in the middle), has the organizational skills and execution of a military commander. With a background in the industrial design, years of experience in art production, and passion for food, Pirapha could build a kitchen and then prepare five course meal in it for you, all in days work. In January, we welcomed Destiny (pictured on the right) as our newest team member, who is focusing on community, customer service, and marketing. Destiny will be doing her best to keep our backers regularly updated with progress reports. Destiny grew up in rural Texas and spent her childhood tending to her grandparents' garden which produced enough fresh vegetables to feed her whole family and sometimes the neighbors too. After moving to NYC more than a decade ago to pursue a career in the non-profit world of art, education, and development, Destiny is thrilled that Windowfarms is making it possible to grow and harvest some of her own food again. We all love our jobs!  


My.windowfarm.com: A Customized Webpage Just For Your Windowfarm

Your green thumb is on its way, but you may have to use both thumbs to get it. Your windowfarm will come with it’s own smart gardening webpage! In a few weeks, each and everyone of you who bought a Windowfarm will receive a custom link for your windowfarm. 


We have been working with some top programmers on a new website dedicated to indoor food gardening. You will discover which plants best suit your conditions, determine your window’s microclimate profile, connect with other windowfarmers as you care for your micro-crops, and contribute to a new kind of almanac for the future of indoor home agriculture. You will learn together with windowfarmers around the world, all delighting in the gorgeous, delicious and particularly nutritious edible plants livening up their homes. We can’t wait.

Getting All Your Questions Answered

New industry, new product, new manufacturing process, new way of funding . . . whew! This all generates a lot of questions! We have found out the hard way that Kickstarter is not really built for handling new product logistics, it’s really a creative project funding platform that we are pushing to its limits.


Handling shipping, gift delivery, and payment information via one-off emails and comments from thousands more people than we expected is not an ideal way to start off our business. So, in an effort to keep all your information in one place, we are building a way of capturing your Kickstarter information, comments and special handling instructions into your My.windowfarm custom webpage, mentioned above. You will gain access to that and be able to tie up all the loose ends there in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, check out our Kickstarter-specific frequently asked questions page on our website at www.windowfarms.org/faq-kicks

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!    

Comments

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      Creator Alnisa Allgood on March 17, 2012

      It's super warm here in Wisconsin. I'm excited for my WindowFarm. I already have some starter herbs—oregano, rosemary, thyme, and mint sitting in the window sill waiting to be elevated. Is the timeframe still by the end of the month? or has that been changed by trying to find a factory?

    2. Fb_profile_picture.small

      Creator Tabitha Borchardt on March 5, 2012

      I am so ridiculously excited about getting my new windowfarm. Do you guys think you'll still be shipping them to backers this month? How's production on the app going? If you need test users, I'm on Android / Galaxy S11, just shoot me a message. I'm also a graphic designer if you need any help in that capacity. ;-) I LOVE WINDOWFARMS! So excited…

    3. Fb_profile_picture.small

      Creator Terry Gill on February 24, 2012

      A lot of snow today in central Ontario Canada---looking forward to the Windowfarm

    4. Missing_small

      Creator Aaron Beebe on February 22, 2012

      You guys are really amazing. Congratulations on all this and on making it all really happen. What a thing! I'm very excited to be a part of it. Thank you!

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      Creator maggie kaplan on February 21, 2012

      Fabulous news! What a testament to the power of creative thinking and manifestation!

1,577
Backers
$257,307
pledged of $50,000 goal
0
seconds to go

Funding period
Nov 17, 2011 - Dec 7, 2011

  • Pledge $25 or more

    45 backers

    For all the staples you can't grow in your Windowfarm, bring them home in this nylon shopping bag featuring the Windowfarms cityscape.

    Estimated delivery: Jan 2012
  • Pledge $49 or more

    5 backers

    Get even more room for grocery shopping in this stylish Baggu canvas tote.

    Estimated delivery: Jan 2012
  • Pledge $49 or more

    2 backers

    Already a Windowfarmer? Get 8 fresh seedlings delivered to your door to jumpstart your winter crops. (US ONLY)

    Estimated delivery: Jan 2012
  • Pledge $99 or more

    564 backers

    The classic Windowfarm, ready for you to start growing your first crops. (Add $15 for shipping within the US, and $19 for Canada.)

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $169 or more

    351 backers

    The classic Windowfarm, plus baby plants and nutrients. Everything you need for your first harvest. US ONLY. Please add $15 shipping.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $169 or more

    105 backers

    INTERNATIONAL ONLY: The classic Windowfarm without a pump or timer (for power supply reasons), but international shipping included.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $169 or more

    112 backers

    A two column Windowfarm. (PLEASE ADD $25 for shipping to the US and $34 for Canada.)

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $229 or more

    94 backers

    Perfect for schools! Two-column Windowfarm with seeds and nutrients starter pack. US ONLY, SHIPPING INCLUDED.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $269 or more

    107 backers

    Max out your windows with this four column Windowfarm! (Please add $35 for shipping to the US and $42 for Canada.)

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $369 or more

    4 backers

    The New 1-column Classic Windowfarm plus baby plants & nutrients shipped to you quarterly for 1 year. US ONLY. Please add $15 shipping.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $449 or more

    8 backers

    A four-column Windowfarm, with 16 baby plants and your first bottle of nutrients. US ONLY, SHIPPING INCLUDED

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $599 or more

    25 backers

    The four column Windowfarm plus a subscription for one year of baby plant and nutrient delivery. US ONLY. Please add $35 shipping.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $10,000 or more

    0 backers Limited (3 of 3 left)

    Great for restaurants! A custom designed windowfarm similar to new windowfarms with beautiful handmade containers and reservoirs. Windowfarms have been featured at the Whitney Museum and at the 21c Museum/Proof on Main Restaurant in Louisville, KY. Be the first to get a very special system installed at your home or business! The actual required donation for this reward may vary depending on your location; please contact us to discuss before selecting this reward.

    Estimated delivery: Dec 2012

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