Identity.
Ready for a loaded question?
Who ARE we, really? That’s what’s been on our minds the last couple weeks as we look ahead into next year.
Let’s back up a little. A few weeks ago, we were reflecting on the last two years of The Nurtured Seedling and have been so focused on more clearly defining our mission, what we stand for, what we want to keep creating. We started this venture inspired by and for our community. So, because you are now a valued part of our village, our extended family, it’s important for us to give you a front seat to this process, and invite you to think about your own identity through these questions. We all love a little reflecting this time of year, right??
So what IS identity?
“Identity encompasses the memories, experiences, relationships, and values that create one's sense of self. This amalgamation creates a steady sense of who one is over time, even as new facets are developed and incorporated into one's identity.” We really love this last part. As a community that embodies a growth-mindset, we must also not only accept that change is constant, but but embrace the affects of change on our identity.
Flavia and I sat down recently to answer the following questions as they relate to The Nurtured Seedling (if you’re also an entrepreneur, do you have clear answers to all of these? You can even answer some of them for your own personal identity, as you start to reflect on how your identity might have evolved over recent years.)
What is our core purpose? Who is it that we’re going to serve? What are our guiding values? Why are we different? What are we solving for?
Here’s where we landed (maybe with a few more tweaks, but you get the idea!)
What is The Nurtured Seedling, really? Drumroll….this is our elevator pitch:
We are a home garden with the mission of nurturing the whole family, offering kids garden-based education, as well as curated family experiences.
Our mission is:
Fostering a vibrant community, connection to food and nature, and a growth-mindset around the seasons of family life.
And here’s how we do it:
Our kids after-school gardening enrichment series is the only program of its kind in the Bay Area.
Our family experiences are designed to deepen the connection between kids and their grown-ups, while our parent events provide support, education, and opportunities to spark creativity and encourage much-needed TLC.
We also offer fully-coordinated, garden-themed kids’ birthday parties, onsite preschool garden education, and rent the garden space for intimate private events.
What do you think? We really want to be crystal clear in who we are, so PLEASE share any questions, suggestions, give us the gift of feedback! And GET EXCITED for the 2024 calendar of events, coming in the next couple weeks!
