A Fresh Idea

[RayofSun]

Hi there!

I'm looking to open a Daycare in the distant *deflating balloon sound* future. Finances just aren't currently allowing to advance with my dream too much but I still hope and plan. You can never be to prepared. happyface
So I wanted to talk to a group of like minded individuals and parents to see if my idea was worth getting off the ground at all.
I want to open an organic daycare. I wish to offer baby care to fellow health contentious mommies. Only Eco friendly furniture and organic toys. I wish to accommodate children with glucose/lactose/peanut ect, intolerance's along with tots being raised vegan/vegetarian or even "traditionally" {quotes because parenting styles are all subjective} raised children who's parents just want them to learn healthy/eco friendly habits from a young age.

Please comment, tell me what you think, should I just archive this idea? Or should I push and look for a business partner? I'd love your feed back. Thanks in advance!
-Beth

[Pepperth]

I think it depends on your area. Where I live, people like the idea of organic. A lot of providers here provide mostly organic food. However, they are not able to charge all that much more, so I'm not sure how that plays out in their bottom line.

[MunchkinWrangler]

I am an organic daycare. I'm not 100%. Meaning some foods and snacks aren't always organic, but I also read labels like crazy. I believe the ingredients in a food are important and usually anything with more than 10 ingredients is really processed and should be avoided, even if the label says organic, remember companies can pay for the label. For example my DCK's prefer Goldfish over Annie's but to me that's not a big deal, Goldfish, in my opinion is not a bad snack for kids to have, chips on the other hand...

Your food expense will be higher. Organic fruits and veggies, meats, and other foods are priced much higher and you will need to set your rates accordingly. Most if not all municipalities require bleach and water solutions for cleaning, this is for the safe disinfection of your daycare space. This is a must, as bleach kills everything and as long as it's mixed and used correctly is safe. You can use organic cleaning products, but me personally, when it comes to daycare, I don't use them because IME some of it doesn't work as well and I'm a little old school.
Other providers in my area running organic daycares have their own gardens where they grow their own food and chickens they raise for true organic eggs. They involve the children in these activities as part of their programs. And it saves some money, although raising chickens does carry it's own expense.
Sorry this is long but hopefully I helped out with some things you are wondering about. There is a definite market for this type of daycare now. Most of my clients aren't strict on organic but like the fact that I do serve as much organic fare as possible. I wish my rates were higher though because, like I mentioned, your expenses are higher.

[Unregistered]

Many are 100% organic here in CA. Many like to do the 'green care for children' pledge even thought the organization is now defunct. For those that aren't 100% organic on food, they just use language like 'when possible' etc.

[RayofSun]

Thank you

I am an organic daycare. I'm not 100%. Meaning some foods and snacks aren't always organic, but I also read labels like crazy. I believe the ingredients in a food are important and usually anything with more than 10 ingredients is really processed and should be avoided, even if the label says organic, remember companies can pay for the label. For example my DCK's prefer Goldfish over Annie's but to me that's not a big deal, Goldfish, in my opinion is not a bad snack for kids to have, chips on the other hand...

Your food expense will be higher. Organic fruits and veggies, meats, and other foods are priced much higher and you will need to set your rates accordingly. Most if not all municipalities require bleach and water solutions for cleaning, this is for the safe disinfection of your daycare space. This is a must, as bleach kills everything and as long as it's mixed and used correctly is safe. You can use organic cleaning products, but me personally, when it comes to daycare, I don't use them because IME some of it doesn't work as well and I'm a little old school.
Other providers in my area running organic daycares have their own gardens where they grow their own food and chickens they raise for true organic eggs. They involve the children in these activities as part of their programs. And it saves some money, although raising chickens does carry it's own expense.
Sorry this is long but hopefully I helped out with some things you are wondering about. There is a definite market for this type of daycare now. Most of my clients aren't strict on organic but like the fact that I do serve as much organic fare as possible. I wish my rates were higher though because, like I mentioned, your expenses are higher.

This was so very helpful, thank you. I think it's wonderful that you run an organic daycare. Of course I've taken price into consideration which is part of the reason it's going to be a bit until I can afford to get into business. I think the idea of owning a few chickens would be wonderful, as well as growing some of our own veggies. It would defiantly make great, easy to plan, rec activities. It is a shame that being organic has to cost so much compared to severely processed or preserved foods. As far as cleaning goes I am a little nervous to use bleach based cleaners, I am currently a 2nd time mommy and have been using honest company cleaning products religiously since my first. I'm just afraid of the chemicals, I know if they are used properly it doesn't pose a threat but I'm a natural worry wart >.<
All the best,
-Beth

[LysesKids]

Many are 100% organic here in CA. Many like to do the 'green care for children' pledge even thought the organization is now defunct. For those that aren't 100% organic on food, they just use language like 'when possible' etc.

There is also this program which I became part of when it went nationwide in 2010

http://www.cehn.org/our-work/eco-healthy-child-care/

[Thriftylady]

I am no help. I have kids who mostly eat out or processed foods at home. I try to serve healthy, and they resist it. In fact I recently lost a family of three kiddos because "the kids didn't like the food". I am not sure that is the real reason, and I didn't loose any sleep over loosing that family. I think it may depend on the income of the area you are in? It seems to me lower income's eat more processed foods? I don't understand that, because while fruits and veggies do seem more expensive, I am not sure they are when you factor in what serving sizes people are supposed to be eating? I don't know. I do think it totally depends on your area. I also live in a small town, so that alone makes it harder for me to get clients.

[LysesKids]

Many are 100% organic here in CA. Many like to do the 'green care for children' pledge even thought the organization is now defunct. For those that aren't 100% organic on food, they just use language like 'when possible' etc.

There is also this program which I became part of when it went nationwide in 2010

http://www.cehn.org/our-work/eco-healthy-child-care/

[RayofSun]

I am no help. I have kids who mostly eat out or processed foods at home. I try to serve healthy, and they resist it. In fact I recently lost a family of three kiddos because "the kids didn't like the food". I am not sure that is the real reason, and I didn't loose any sleep over loosing that family. I think it may depend on the income of the area you are in? It seems to me lower income's eat more processed foods? I don't understand that, because while fruits and veggies do seem more expensive, I am not sure they are when you factor in what serving sizes people are supposed to be eating? I don't know. I do think it totally depends on your area. I also live in a small town, so that alone makes it harder for me to get clients.

No no! this helps a lot. I know what you mean by lower in come families eating more processed foods. Again it's a shame that organic has to be so expensive. Have you tried vegan baking? Even if you're not a baker there are some really nice online bakeries, for a really nice price that will send you vegan cookies cakes ect. I guarantee the kids won't be able to taste the difference ^.^

[RayofSun]

There is also this program which I became part of when it went nationwide in 2010
http://www.cehn.org/our-work/eco-healthy-child-care/

Currently looking into it! Thank you for sharing!

[Thriftylady]

No no! this helps a lot. I know what you mean by lower in come families eating more processed foods. Again it's a shame that organic has to be so expensive. Have you tried vegan baking? Even if you're not a baker there are some really nice online bakeries, for a really nice price that will send you vegan cookies cakes ect. I guarantee the kids won't be able to taste the difference ^.^

I just don't get the processed food thing either. I mean we are low income (adjusted gross for 2015 was a hair over 30,000 filing jointly). But we eat minimal processed foods. Now I do sometimes make hamburger helper from scratch, so it is the same thing, only a healthier version. And we don't eat steak, chicken and pork every night (daycare kids wouldn't eat it anyway). I do make homemade chicken strips (fried so not uber healthy). But I try to get in plenty of veggies. Of course this time of year I use a lot of canned and frozen, but I just couldn't feed my family processed foods all the time and feel good about myself.... Coming from the person who took my DD to McD's for breakfast this morning.

[NillaWafers]

I am in LA, and serve organic when possible. I am not 100% organic. I have my own veggie garden (which is it's own set of hurdles at times), and would love to get chickens. It really depends on your area. I do use chemicals to clean because I feel that the other brands are not as effective

I would have to raise my prices quite a bit if I were to go 100%. If you know your market I would say you could do it effectively, but definitely would have to have a higher price point than others. If you're in an affluent neighborhood, I could see this working. Poorer income areas won't really care.

[Unregistered]

I serve mostly organic or minimally treated foods. I do not live in an affluent area, but it is a value for lots of people here regardless of income. It does cost more but I offset by using the farmers market and our own gardens, fruit trees and bushes.
My rate is higher to reflect the expense but I don't have a problem finding families.

Will you also do cloth diapering and wipes? That is popular here.

[Unregistered]

Also you want to see if chickens are allowed with your license. Animals are restricted here.

[Thriftylady]

I serve mostly organic or minimally treated foods. I do not live in an affluent area, but it is a value for lots of people here regardless of income. It does cost more but I offset by using the farmers market and our own gardens, fruit trees and bushes.
My rate is higher to reflect the expense but I don't have a problem finding families.

Will you also do cloth diapering and wipes? That is popular here.

I also do a small garden. And I have a farmer's stand I use. The one good thing last year about the farmer's stand was the kids couldn't wait to try what we got at the farmers! We get eggs there also. She has meat but I just can't afford it very often.