Our mission:
RESTORING A COOPERATIVE BALANCE
we elevate healing spaces by
ACTING TOGETHER,
between humanity and nature
TO EMPOWER US ALL .
HOW WE ACT TOGETHER
BUT WHY NOW?
Because America is dealing with trauma, malnutrition and isolation.
23%
FROM 2019
15%
Americans experiencing a post-traumatic stress diagnosis
13%
FROM 2019
2%
U.S. households feeling long-term food insecurity
28%
FROM 2019
11%
Americans separated from emotional or social support
NATURE CAN HELP
Regular time spent with nature reduces despair and restores wellbeing.
95% of people who maintained or increased outside time during the pandemic experienced a sustained sense of good mental health.
98% of urban households who foraged wild foods or grew home kitchen gardens demonstrated taste satisfaction and improved nutrition.
82% of Americans now feel mental health is every bit as important as physical health (up more than 10% from pre-pandemic beliefs.)
95%
95% of people who maintained or increased outside time during the pandemic experienced a sustained sense of good mental health.
98%
98% of urban households who foraged wild foods or grew home kitchen gardens demonstrated taste satisfaction and improved nutrition.
82%
82% of Americans now feel mental health is every bit as important as physical health (up more than 10% from pre-pandemic beliefs.)
Behind every number is the story of a valuable person's future.
– Joy Ellsworth, co-founder
Clement Waters Retreat helps people celebrate and respect nature's bounty so all of us can regain better health.
IMPACT 2018-2025
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25 families sharing seed + harvest
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50 cubic yards of dumped waste removed from our urban forest project
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80 cubic yards of invasive honeysuckle removed from our urban forest project​
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254 varieties of food plants distributed
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450 native or edible trees planted
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625 volunteers engaged, age 5 - 60
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7,000 social media audience members​
MULTIPLYING IMPACT
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We began as two founders with a few helpers, shaping what good we could by hand. When the scale of need outgrew us, we found the answer in partnership. Since 2020 we've supported 28 grassroots efforts who are doing similar mission work in their unique way, carrying our shared work farther than we ever could using our original model.
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Our core goals remain: Get more people growing kitchen gardens, help people experience therapeutic nature, and encourage community among people who need each other as much as they do nature.
THE MULTIPLYING DIFFERENCE: COMMUNITY-RAISED WISDOM
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We know firsthand that big change grows from small means. Our founders, volunteers, and partners share time, tools, and networks. This crew does more with connections and in-kind resources than most can do with cash. They truly embody 'doing a lot with a little.'
But when extreme hardship hits, your support keeps these leaders running steady so the public health benefits they bring while growing food and aiding mental health won’t ever waver.
No outside expert can heal a community’s heart like a community leader who has been there for the people in times of need.
Our consulting arm Groundswell Growth honors their lived wisdom, clearing red tape and guiding their growth so trusted local healers directly acting on 'upstream issues' can keep helping their neighbors with the highest long-term health improvements possible.
Join the circle that keeps this good growing.
