The First Dinner
On November 10, 2013, SEAM hosted its first participatory-grant dinner. This cycle focused on emerging High Country farmers and food producers. The call for proposals prompted 14 diverse project submissions, ranging from agroforestry equipment to website development. From these outstanding submissions, a panel of area food systems experts chose three projects based upon the creativity, feasibility, readiness, and sustainability of the projects.
On the night of the dinner, over 50 people gathered at CoBo Sushi Bar & Bistro to support Boone Barr, High Country CSA, and Homestead Mushrooms, Inc. The event raised $1,163.10 in ticket sales. From this and additional donations, the total amount awarded was $1,506.90, which will support Homestead Mushrooms purchase of a large HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter for performing sterile mushroom cultivation, Boone Barr's purchase of a vending machine, and High Country CSA's website development. However, as Rusty Kuhfeld and Matt Webb of Homestead Mushrooms stated, "Here, at the end of the first dinner, we look at ourselves and both realize the monetary benefit from this event is not by any means the greatest reward we received from this SEAM organized event. The experience from marketing ourselves and witnessing the positive reception of our ideas by fellow community members has been priceless."
On the night of the dinner, over 50 people gathered at CoBo Sushi Bar & Bistro to support Boone Barr, High Country CSA, and Homestead Mushrooms, Inc. The event raised $1,163.10 in ticket sales. From this and additional donations, the total amount awarded was $1,506.90, which will support Homestead Mushrooms purchase of a large HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter for performing sterile mushroom cultivation, Boone Barr's purchase of a vending machine, and High Country CSA's website development. However, as Rusty Kuhfeld and Matt Webb of Homestead Mushrooms stated, "Here, at the end of the first dinner, we look at ourselves and both realize the monetary benefit from this event is not by any means the greatest reward we received from this SEAM organized event. The experience from marketing ourselves and witnessing the positive reception of our ideas by fellow community members has been priceless."
The Second Dinner
On May 4, 2014, SEAM hosted its second participatory-grant dinner. Open to all emerging entrepreneurs in the High Country, the call for proposals prompted 9 diverse project submissions. Each proposed project was innovative and held a strong commitment toward sustainability. From the submissions, a panel of small business leaders chose three projects based upon the creativity, feasibility, readiness, and sustainability of the projects.
On the night of the dinner, over 38 people gathered at Basil's Fresh Pasta & Deli to support luthier Chris Capazzoli farmer Caroline Hampton of Octopus Garden, and Susan Wright of Shady Grove Gardens and Nursery. The event raised $1,205 in ticket sales. From this, SEAM connected the entrepreneurs with $868.91, which supported Octopus Garden’s purchase of a seed germination chamber; Shady Grove’s purchase of an SLR camera; and, luthier Chris Capazzoli’s purchase of a duplicating machine.
This dinner also served as the capstone event for Watauga County's first Greening My Plate Week, where over a dozen community events took place from April 27th – May 4th, 2014, celebrating spring and our community's growing season.
On the night of the dinner, over 38 people gathered at Basil's Fresh Pasta & Deli to support luthier Chris Capazzoli farmer Caroline Hampton of Octopus Garden, and Susan Wright of Shady Grove Gardens and Nursery. The event raised $1,205 in ticket sales. From this, SEAM connected the entrepreneurs with $868.91, which supported Octopus Garden’s purchase of a seed germination chamber; Shady Grove’s purchase of an SLR camera; and, luthier Chris Capazzoli’s purchase of a duplicating machine.
This dinner also served as the capstone event for Watauga County's first Greening My Plate Week, where over a dozen community events took place from April 27th – May 4th, 2014, celebrating spring and our community's growing season.
