GREEN VALLEY FARM + MILL
October 14 • Sebastopol
Get Invested In Our Local Food System
Convening Entrepreneurs and Investors
Rebuilding Local Economies, Starting with Food
For Investors
Looking for a more sustainable, place-based way to invest your money?
For Entrepreneurs
Seeking funds to grow your local food business? Without access to Wall Street?
Rethinking Investments
What are the models and tools for rebuilding our local economies, starting with food?
Open Community
Slow Money is about local community. Join our meetings and showcases. Volunteer?
FOOD FUNDED 2018
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INVESTOR FAIR
May 24, Presidio, San Francisco
Featured Enterprises in Northern California
Examples of presenters at previous showcases [see more]
“Re-imagined”, new world krauts and kimchis. Fermentation revival!"Re-imagined", new world krauts and kimchis. Fermentation revival!- Farmland LP acquires conventional farm land and converts it to organic farm land using sustainable agricultural methods.Farmland LP acquires conventional farm land and converts it to organic farm land using sustainable agricultural methods.
- To preserve farmland in Marin County, California, MALT acquires agricultural conservation easements on farmland in voluntary transactions with landowners.To preserve farmland in Marin County, California, MALT acquires agricultural conservation easements on farmland in voluntary transactions with landowners.
- Worker-owned grocery store in West Oakland fostering community healthWorker-owned grocery store in West Oakland fostering community health
- Fresh food store and community space supporting a healthier West Oakland.Fresh food store and community space supporting a healthier West Oakland.
- Purveyors of Premium Poop. Organic, premium compost products.Purveyors of Premium Poop. Organic, premium compost products.
- Specialty food producer creating unique products from regional foodsSpecialty food producer creating unique products from regional foods
- CSA for families and institutions to buy 100% local, seasonal food direct from 40+ small, family farms. Click below to read more about how this investment happened.CSA for families and institutions to buy 100% local, seasonal food direct from 40+ small, family farms. Click below to read more about how this investment happened.
- Organic cream-top French-style artisan yogurt crafted in small batchesOrganic cream-top French-style artisan yogurt crafted in small batches
- Berkeley butcher shop selling high quality, sustainable meat and poultryBerkeley butcher shop selling high quality, sustainable meat and poultry
- The first sustainable, urban farm Eco Village with co-housing in the East Bay.The first sustainable, urban farm Eco Village with co-housing in the East Bay.
The Slow Money Principles
I.
We must bring money back down to earth.
II.
There is such a thing as money that is too fast, companies that are too big, finance that is too complex. Therefore, we must slow our money down -- not all of it, of course, but enough to matter.
III.
The 20th Century was the era of Buy Low/Sell High and Wealth Now/Philanthropy Later—what one venture capitalist called “the largest legal accumulation of wealth in history.” The 21st Century will be the era of nurture capital, built around principles of carrying capacity, care of the commons, sense of place and non-violence.
IV.
We must learn to invest as if food, farms and fertility mattered.
We must connect investors to the places where they live, creating vital relationships and new sources of capital for small food enterprises.
V.
Let us celebrate the new generation of entrepreneurs, consumers and investors who are showing the way from Making A Killing to Making a Living.
VI.
Paul Newman said, "I just happen to think that in life we need to be a little like the farmer who puts back into the soil what he takes out."
Recognizing the wisdom of these words, let us begin rebuilding our economy from the ground up, asking:
What would the world be like if we invested 50% of our assets within 50 miles of where we live?
What if there were a new generation of companies that gave away 50% of their profits?
What if there were 50% more organic matter in our soil 50 years from now?