permaculture

[Killian O'Brien <admin@pri-de.org>]

The Permaculture and Resilience Initiative - Detroit was founded in 2009 as 
my response to the Perfect Storm of the energy, environment, climate crises. 
We have completed four Permaculture Design Courses, introducing twenty-two 
individuals (some students are still completing their certification 
requirements) to regenerative design ethics and principles. Contrary to our 
expectations, rather than being a magnet to designers all over the world, we 
have yet to attract a single student from outside the United States and only 
three from outside Michigan. This is partially due to the collapse of our 
relationship with Geoff Lawton after he agreed to supply students at a 2.5% 
finder's fee, then later backed out after making rather incredulous demands, 
including rebranding our first course a PRI- Australia course. Our business 
plan was heavily dependent upon this external income. I assumed it was only 
through international and nationally-drawn students that PRI-De would be 
viable as a permaculture training center. This has proven prophetic, which 
has created a financial crisis as my personal reserves have run out.

PRI-De has restructured its business plan to a more conservative and stable 
focus on producing food for sale and providing design services. We completed 
our first two designs this spring, one a consultation with a former student, 
the other a back yard design in the Metro Detroit area. (I hope to have 
pictures up soon.) We have access to ¼ acre of land at or near our site for 
food production from which we will be able to make an income sufficient to 
maintain the company given our very low overhead.

We will continue to offer workshops, e.g., we will be presenting at the local 
Great Lakes Bioneers in October and did a two-day series at the Detroit 
Public Library back in April, but will conduct full PDCs only as requested 
for the time being, and only on very small scales without "name" teachers. 
Out attempts to bring in outside teachers such as Larry Santoyo, Rhamis Kent 
and Keith Johnson have only led to increased losses, whereas the two small, 
localized PDCs we ran each turned a small profit. I believe the primary 
reasons are the lack of international advertising and, perhaps foremost, 
Detroit's reputation as a dangerous city. This despite its growing 
recognition as a leader in urban agriculture and current attempts to redesign 
the city via the Detroit Works Project.

I still believe Detroit has the potential to create the blueprint for the 
post-carbon cities of the future.

Offers

I am seeking partners, investors or loans totaling $15,000 in order to retain 
our current location and provide sufficient funds to get to harvest next 
season and build our design business.

There are two possible futures for PRI-De. First, gifts, investors and 
business loans enable PRI-De to continue as described above. The available 
tranches are listed below under "Investments/Loans." Second, a partnership(s) 
is developed taking PRI-De in the same or a different direction.

Partnership

A partnership would be an opportunity to rethink and restructure PRI-De to 
reflect the new, egalitarian, dual/multiple identity, which was always the 
goal. The ideal partner(s) would:

·         Invest as a 50/50 owner at $15k (I've put over 60k into creating 
PRI-De including transitioning from Korea, buying the site, etc.)

·         Be an experienced permaculturist/gardener/landscaper

·         Have management skills and be interested in being Director of 
PRI-De.

·         Have excellent community-building and outreach skills

·         Pursue funding (As a L3C, rather than LLC, PRI-De can pursue 
Programmed Giving funds; 501(c)(3) status should be pursued.)

I'd also consider selling PRI-De outright. The price includes a 6k sq ft. 
site, home and truck, etc.

Investment/Loans

Tranch I

Non-deductible Donation to PRI-Det, L3C or personally to Killian O'Brien.

Tranch II

Invest: PRI-Det, L3C is a form of limited liability company. This option 
essentially makes you a partner. Returns based on net income after all costs. 
A 1% share costs $300. Security:  Home on two lots.

Tranch III

Business Loan: 0% interest. Term: 3 years beginning January, 2012. Security: 
Home on two lots.

Tranch IV

Business Loan: 1% interest. Term: 3 years beginning January, 2012. Security: 
Home on two lots.

Tranch V

Business Loan: 2% interest. Term: 5 years January, 2012. Security: Home on 
two lots.

Tranch VI

Business Loan: 3% interest. Term: 7 years January, 2012. Security: Home on 
two lots.


Cheers,

Killian O'Brien
Director, Permaculture and Resilience Initiative - Detroit
www.pri-de.net<http://www.pri-de.net>

admin@pri-de.org<mailto:admin@pri-de.org>
(313) 647-4015
killiankob@yahoo.com<mailto:killiankob@yahoo.com>