Kickstarter Follow-Up: CitySprout Beats The Odds

Kickstarter campaigns are anything but sure bets.

Last month, CitySprout fell short of its goal to raise $25,000; aimed at starting a farm-to-city initiative, that would bridge the gap between local farmers and city folk, hosting an online marketplace for the two to connect.

Ideally: You would go to the CitySpout website, enter your zip code and see what farmers were planning to bring to your neighborhood that week, what the costs would be and where you could pick up the goods. It would be more convenient than a farmer's market or a CSA, which requires a long-term commitment and usually a down payment.  But alas, times are tough and running a start-up ain't easy.

Good news though, folks:

CitySprout is plowing ahead! Kickstarter money be damned. It might take them slightly longer to get things up and running, but it's a worthy cause and these people are determined.

So, if you want CitySprout in your neighborhood, sign up on their site and let them know. Their farmers are ready to deliver, and once a mere 100 people express an interest in one area, they'll start the shipments. Feeling ambitious? Take it upon yourself to organize a local initiative to sign 100 of your neighbors up--if you do, CitySprout will credit you with 100 "CitySprout Bucks"--that's a good amount of kale, people.

Either way, next time you're feeling beaten by the Kickstarter odds (or any shortage of funding, really), remember these particular entrepreneurs--driven enough and passionate enough to still make it happen.

Kickstarter Pick: CitySprout, A Revolution in Food Distribution

When you want local produce you have two options: You can go to a farmer's market, or grow the fruits and vegetables yourself.

While farmers' markets are a wonderful resource, many are only held on the weekends and sometimes inconvenient locations. And though most apartment dwellers we know would love to grow their own food, we're limited by a few small pots crammed onto our windowsills and fire escapes. Which brings us to our Kickstarter pick for the week:

CitySprout, a project that aims to help close the gap between local farmers and city folk by hosting an online marketplace for the two to connect. It works like this: You enter your zip code to see what farmers are going to be bringing to your neighborhood, when they'll be there and how much it will cost.

"For example, if you live in Williamsburg, you may see that there are several drop-off locations spread throughout the borough, one for each day of the week." You can see that on Monday, between 9-11am, Farmer Ned will be two blocks away with crates of carrots, apples, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, green beans and broccoli for $25 a crate. You pay for your share ahead of time and then head over on the assigned day to pick it up. No ordering a month's supply like some produce delivery services. You pay on an as-needed basis.

CitySprout is only feasible if enough people in your zip code express an interest. You can sign up now so that by the time it launches your neighborhood will already be on the list. Better yet, back the project. Incentives include free shares you can use to order produce once the service launches.