My husband Alfred and I own Native and Uncommon Plants, a small plant & tree nursery in Jacksonville, Florida. Born and raised in North Florida, we both grew up spending our time outdoors – fishing, surfing, hiking, kayaking, hunting and just reveling in nature. With more and more of our unique and beautiful natural landscape disappearing, we want to make sure that our four beautiful daughters — and all children — have the same opportunity to find joy in the natural world.
Alfred grew up gardening with his grandmother, inheriting her green thumb and developing a lifelong passion for plants. He shared that love with me, and when we married in 2014 we resolved to transform our passion into action and start our very own native plant nursery. Soon, an opportunity presented itself. The original owner of Native and Uncommon Plants was retiring and wanted to sell. Together, in 2015, we bought Native and Uncommon Plants.
We love running a family business offering sustainable Florida native plants to restore the natural landscape. Native plants not only create habitat for bees, butterflies and birds but healthy home gardens that reduce the use of pesticides, fertilizers and water for irrigation. Eight years into this, as more families discover the beauty and necessity of native plants, we’re finally seeing a big increase in demand. Now we need to grow our business so we can produce more plants to serve a bigger market.
Currently, there are no wholesale growers in Northeast Florida that focus on supplying native plants to landscape companies and retail nurseries. We can fill this niche and have a bigger impact on our community. We can enable other retail nurseries, landscapers, and even other wholesalers, expand the use of native plants and help the entire region achieve greater sustainability.
Adding to basket
Funded
A loan helped this family farm expand native plant supply to nurture people and wildlife in North Florida.
Leslie And Alfred's story
This loan is special because:
More about this loan
Business Description
Native and Uncommon Plants was established in 2001 as a specialty retail supplier of select native and hard-to-find plants. Purchasing the business gave us a website, a customer list and a small stock of plants with which to start. We have supplied the retail public, mostly native plant enthusiasts, and designed and planted numerous native landscapes to help support ourselves. We proudly worked with wonderful nonprofits like our local chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society to help educate the public.
We began looking for a bigger property that better suited our dream of growing and supplying native plants to regional landscape firms and local garden centers. A few years ago, we were able to move to just over 2 acres of rural land where we can grow. We have continued the landscaping service to support our family. As time and funds permit, we steadily acquire and build what we need to grow plants in volume. This loan will help us make the shift in our business and meet the demand we’re seeing now.
Our region really needs greater access to native plants. Together, we can reduce pollutants in our landscapes and provide food and refuge for so many beneficial bees, butterflies, birds and animals. With a high demand not only in Florida but in other southeastern states with similar ecosystems and climate, we’re starting to see shortages of plants. We know that we can serve this market as it continues to grow in leaps and bounds. We just need the infrastructure that will enable us to grow more plants.
What is the purpose of this loan?
We have one irrigated pad to hold plants for landscape jobs and other clients, and we have lots of pots. What we need is to produce more volume and quickly, to supply the coming surge of spring plant sales and landscape demand.
We will use this loan to purchase:
1. Seeds and liners (trays of seedlings already rooted)
2. Quality potting soil to move new seedlings into larger pots and to sow our seeds in for future crops.
3. Material to build a small greenhouse. A greenhouse is essential to protect plants during cold weather and better regulate water needs for sensitive seedlings. We need UV protective plastic, building material for the frame, PVC pipe, miscellaneous irrigation parts, a vent and fan combo to move the air, ground cloth and aggregate for the floor.
These acquisitions will help us successfully transition our business and focus on growing on a scale large enough to supply the region and make possible a true sustainable transformation of the area’s landscapes.
Loan details
Loan length:
Repayment schedule
Monthly: One repayment made per month
End of term: One repayment made at the end of the loan term
Irregular: Any other repayment schedule
To see a detailed repayment schedule for a specific loan, click the "Repayment schedule" link on the loan profile under "Loan details."
What is the disbursed date?
In the case of partner loans, many of our Lending Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Lending Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Lending Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
Funding model
What does "Partner covers currency loss" mean & how could it affect my Kiva loans?
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Yes" means the Lending Partner will cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation
"Partial" means that the Lending Partner has opted to cover losses only up to 10%. If the U.S. dollar appreciates more than 10% against the local currency, those losses will be passed onto lenders.
"No" means that the Lending Partner is not covering any currency losses and all losses will be passed onto lenders.
"N/A" means the Lending Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Do Kiva borrowers pay any interest on their loans?
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Lending Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Lending Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
We also encourage you to read the following articles if you are interested in further educating yourself on the topic: Microfinance 101 (https://www.kiva.org/microfinance), Top 10 things to know about microfinance (https://www.kiva.org/blog/top-10-things-to-know-about-microfinance), Microfinance interest rates explained (https://www.kiva.org/blog/whats-up-with-microfinance-interest-rates)
What is a risk rating?
The Lending Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Lending Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Lending Partner section of every loan. Lending Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Lending Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
How are loans facilitated?
Kiva loans are facilitated through 2 models, partner and direct, that enable us to reach the greatest number of people around the world.
For partner loans, borrowers apply to a local Lending Partner, which manages the loan on the ground. Lending Partners are responsible for screening borrowers, disbursing loans, posting borrowers to the Kiva website for funding, collecting repayments and otherwise administering Kiva loans on the ground to borrowers.
For direct loans, borrowers apply through the Kiva website and may or may not be endorsed by a Trustee. Unlike Lending Partners, Trustees don't handle any financial transactions or have any duty to repay loans on behalf of their borrowers. Instead, Trustees take the role of providing support and business advice to their borrowers throughout the term of the loan.
More information about successive and concurrent loans
Most borrowers take out loans consecutively, meaning that they receive a second loan after having repaid the first. However, sometimes our Lending Partners give out concurrent loans, allowing borrowers to take out one primary loan and a secondary "add-on" loan along with it. These additional loans are typically smaller than the borrower's primary loan and serve a different purpose. We trust our partners to determine whether a borrower has the means to be able to repay a successive or concurrent loan.
About Native and Uncommon Plants
Industry: Agriculture
Years in operation: More than 5 years
Website: nativeanduncommonplants.com
Lenders and lending teams
Country: United States
Trustee: Native Plant Horticulture Foundation
What are Trustee tiers?
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
Why are you endorsing Leslie And Alfred?
Leslie & Alfred have the passion, knowledge and land to succeed in growing native plants. We’ve seen their farm; reviewed their plans and financials. Adding a greenhouse and other supplies will help quickly supply plants the region needs and wants now to be sustainable.
Tags
Loan tags help lenders find loans that match certain areas of interest.
Loan details
Loan length:
Repayment schedule
Monthly: One repayment made per month
End of term: One repayment made at the end of the loan term
Irregular: Any other repayment schedule
To see a detailed repayment schedule for a specific loan, click the "Repayment schedule" link on the loan profile under "Loan details."
What is the disbursed date?
In the case of partner loans, many of our Lending Partners choose to disburse loan funds before the loan request is posted on Kiva. We allow pre-disbursal because it ensures that the funds reach the borrower as soon as they are needed. Loan funds from Kiva lenders then go to backfill that amount and as a lender you assume the risk of the loan. By doing this, our Lending Partners assume the risk that, if the loan isn't funded by lenders, they will have to fund the loan without any funds from Kiva.
If a partner loan is not pre-disbursed, it will be listed on Kiva with an expected "post-disbursed" date. If a post-disbursed loan is not funded on Kiva, there is a chance that the borrower may not receive their loan. Some Lending Partners choose to disburse loans with other sources of funding, while other partners don't have the resources available to fund loans without Kiva lenders' support. No direct loans will be disbursed unless they fully fundraise on Kiva.
Funding model
What does "Partner covers currency loss" mean & how could it affect my Kiva loans?
Potential for currency exchange loss is noted on every loan profile under the loan details:
"Yes" means the Lending Partner will cover any currency loss. Lenders will not bear losses due to currency fluctuation
"Partial" means that the Lending Partner has opted to cover losses only up to 10%. If the U.S. dollar appreciates more than 10% against the local currency, those losses will be passed onto lenders.
"No" means that the Lending Partner is not covering any currency losses and all losses will be passed onto lenders.
"N/A" means the Lending Partner disburses loans to borrowers in USD so their loans are not subject to any currency fluctuation.
Do Kiva borrowers pay any interest on their loans?
Our partners collect interest from borrowers because there are many operational expenses associated with microfinance in developing markets, especially in rural areas. Many of Kiva's Lending Partners also provide additional services alongside their loan products such as business training, financial literacy lessons, or health services.
Kiva will not partner with an organization that charges unreasonable interest rates, and we require Lending Partners to fully disclose their rates. In addition, we only partner with microfinance institutions and organizations that have a social mission to serve the poor, unbanked, and underserved.
There are some 0% interest loans on Kiva, including all direct loans in the United States. To learn more about the interest rates Kiva borrowers pay, you can review the "Average cost to borrower" field on a loan profile.
We also encourage you to read the following articles if you are interested in further educating yourself on the topic: Microfinance 101 (https://www.kiva.org/microfinance), Top 10 things to know about microfinance (https://www.kiva.org/blog/top-10-things-to-know-about-microfinance), Microfinance interest rates explained (https://www.kiva.org/blog/whats-up-with-microfinance-interest-rates)
What is a risk rating?
The Lending Partner risk rating reflects the risk of institutional default associated with each of Kiva’s Lending Partners. A 0.5-star rating means the organization has a relatively higher risk of institutional default, while a 5-star rating indicates the organization is at a relatively lower risk of default, based on Kiva's analysis and the available information displayed in the Lending Partner section of every loan. Lending Partners with the lowest credit tier undergo a lighter level of due diligence and do not receive a risk rating; instead, in places where a risk rating would normally appear, these partners are labeled as “Experimental.” For more information, see "What is an Experimental Lending Partner?"
Direct loans also do not receive a formal risk rating. Instead, these loans are approved through “social underwriting”, where trustworthiness is determined by friends & family lending a portion of the loan request, or by a Kiva approved Trustee vouching for the borrower. Direct loans will appear as "Unrated" and lenders should always assume these loans represent the highest level of repayment risk on Kiva.
How are loans facilitated?
Kiva loans are facilitated through 2 models, partner and direct, that enable us to reach the greatest number of people around the world.
For partner loans, borrowers apply to a local Lending Partner, which manages the loan on the ground. Lending Partners are responsible for screening borrowers, disbursing loans, posting borrowers to the Kiva website for funding, collecting repayments and otherwise administering Kiva loans on the ground to borrowers.
For direct loans, borrowers apply through the Kiva website and may or may not be endorsed by a Trustee. Unlike Lending Partners, Trustees don't handle any financial transactions or have any duty to repay loans on behalf of their borrowers. Instead, Trustees take the role of providing support and business advice to their borrowers throughout the term of the loan.
More information about successive and concurrent loans
Most borrowers take out loans consecutively, meaning that they receive a second loan after having repaid the first. However, sometimes our Lending Partners give out concurrent loans, allowing borrowers to take out one primary loan and a secondary "add-on" loan along with it. These additional loans are typically smaller than the borrower's primary loan and serve a different purpose. We trust our partners to determine whether a borrower has the means to be able to repay a successive or concurrent loan.
Trustee: Native Plant Horticulture Foundation
What are Trustee tiers?
For for more information about Trustee tiers, visit: kivaushub.org/trustee-tiers
Why are you endorsing Leslie And Alfred?
Leslie & Alfred have the passion, knowledge and land to succeed in growing native plants. We’ve seen their farm; reviewed their plans and financials. Adding a greenhouse and other supplies will help quickly supply plants the region needs and wants now to be sustainable.
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