www.naturescrossroads.com

Nature's Crossroads is committed to getting kids in the garden and one of the ways we do this is by offering two school fundraiser programs. Our fall fundraiser focuses on bulbs and a few seeds that like to experience winter in the garden. Our spring fundraiser focuses on seeds and general gardening supplies. In all our fundraisers, 25% of the product sales revenue (excluding shipping and taxes) is returned to the schools.

The products offered through our fundraisers are useful gardening supplies instead of a bunch of stuff you don't need, but might buy because a child you care about is doing a fundraiser. These kits and seeds are sourced locally where possible and completely packed by local labor (ours!). Even the prizes for students come from local businesses to keep money circulating in our community.

We also provide a strong educational program with each of our fundraisers that is designed to get kids excited about gardening and to help them learn more about where food comes from, how plants grow, why local economies are important, and how to take the things they've learned in school and apply them to growing fabulous fruits, flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Our educational programming includes a "Gardening Guys" DVD made by our educational specialists, handouts for students, supplementary educational materials for teachers, and additional information distributed through our website.  For schools located within a 25-mile radius of Bloomington, we also offer an optional in-classroom educational experience.  Several of our staff members are available to give live presentations to groups of 20-200 students about gardening and plant life.  For an example of our educational materials, please visit our blog and click on the downloadable educator packets.

We offer two different fundraiser options:

1. Earth-Friendly Fundraiser
Our Earth-Friendly Fundraiser is an internet-based sales program for schools anywhere in the Midwest - or beyond!  Each school is given a special link from our fundraiser website (www.earthfriendlyseeds.com) with a piece of code to track orders. Simply ask friends and family members to visit the site and click through to our store to place an order. Orders will be shipped directly to customers and the school will be credited for each order earning 25% of the sales total (excluding taxes and shipping).  We will also track sales by student and by classroom to award prizes to top sellers.

2. Earth-Friendly Fundraiser - Local Plus Version
Schools located within a 25-mile radius of Bloomington can either use our internet-based sales program or can opt to use paper order forms.  With our paper order form program, students collect orders from friends and family member on a simple paper form  Turn the orders and payments in to us so we can compile the orders for delivery to your school. Orders will arrive in packages for each customer so it’s simple for students to complete the delivery to their customers.   (Note: customers can also opt to order through the internet for direct shipment.) 

Either way, your school earns 25% of all products sold and can participate in our sales incentive program and take advantage of our educational materials.

Our theme for Fall 2010 will be "The Art of Botany" and will use drawing as a way to better understand the secret life of plants and how bulbs and seeds transform into beautiful flowers and fruits.  Our fall fundraisers will take place in September with product delivery in October.  If your school is interested in participating, please contact fundraiser coordinator Laura Brown-Cano at laura@naturescrossroads.com for more information.