- 01
Lead with the outcome
Your headline should name the result, not the struggle. Say what you will finish and when. A strong headline fits on one line and makes a stranger curious enough to open the story.
- 02
Tell it in three short parts
Who you are, what you are making and why now. A few plain sentences each. Never promise what you cannot prove later; Backers give to a person, so let your own voice come through.
- 03
Show, then ask
Add real photos of you and your work. Link each milestone to the proof you will post. End with a clear ask: what the first milestone needs and what Backers will see when it is done.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Unsuitable growing ground
Poor drainage or unsuitable soil can make planned beds unusable. Put a site assessment before construction and budget for raised beds or a smaller initial growing area.
- R2
Water access gaps
A nearby tap may not provide dependable access throughout the growing season. Confirm the watering arrangement early and include storage and hoses in the equipment budget.
- R3
Volunteer gaps
Planting days can draw more helpers than routine upkeep. Make a named watering rota part of the final milestone and keep the first planting area manageable for that team.
Example milestone plan
An example plan for a community garden dream with a goal of CN¥40,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
CN¥8,000 · 20%
Agree the growing site
Post the site agreement, a marked bed layout and dated ground photos, with private contact details hidden.
Milestone 2
CN¥14,000 · 35%
Prepare soil and beds
Share photos of completed beds, soil delivery receipts and a checklist showing paths and water access are ready.
Milestone 3
CN¥12,000 · 30%
Plant and equip plots
Post planting photos, seed and tool receipts and a plot map showing which crops and shared supplies are in place.
Milestone 4
CN¥6,000 · 15%
Start shared maintenance
Share the watering rota, a first maintenance log and dated photos showing how the planted beds are being cared for.
How Backers are protected
14-day review per milestone
When proof is posted, each Backer has 14 days to release their share or ask for more. Money not released in time goes back to the Backer.
15% fee, deducted — never added
Backers pay exactly what they choose. The 15% fee comes out of each backing: CN¥1,000 gives the Dreamer CN¥850. The fee is kept if money is returned.
Gifts, not shares
Backings are gifts. No shares, equity, interest or repayment, and Dreamers keep full ownership. Nothing on cohero is an investment or a loan.
Budget example
A typical cost split for a community garden dream in Xi'an, shown in CNY. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
CN¥40,000
- Soil and raised bedsCN¥16,000 · 40%
- Watering and shared toolsCN¥10,000 · 25%
- Seeds and young plantsCN¥8,000 · 20%
- Site setup and signageCN¥6,000 · 15%
What you receive
- Backers give
- CN¥40,000
- Platform fee (15%)
- −CN¥6,000
- You receive
- CN¥34,000
Questions and answers
What makes a community garden pitch convincing?
Specific numbers, real photos and a first milestone small enough to reach soon. Backers trust Dreamers who show where every amount goes and who have already started on their own.
Can we start without a permanent garden site?
You can frame the dream around a temporary growing space, but state its limits clearly. Make written site access and a layout the first proof, then choose movable beds and crops suited to the available season.
What should Backers see before planting begins?
Show the agreed site, prepared beds and a workable water supply before buying the full plant order. Receipts and dated preparation photos help Backers distinguish completed groundwork from a proposed planting day.
Ready when you are
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