Why do we have a Membership?
Sustaining the Ripples
At Ripples and Leaves, we believe in the power of small, intentional positive actions. We believe in the power of a community of wonderful people like you. These create lasting change over time. Our community thrives because of the care we put into it.
To protect and sustain this space, we have a modest membership fee. Here is why:
Tending the Soil
Ripples and Leaves is a labour of love. We are a grassroots, volunteer-run community. While no one is paid, running the Ripples and Leaves community at scale, involves costs. We have experimented with various ways to cover these costs and your membership helps ensure stability so that the community is sustainable long term.
The modest funding from memberships covers the costs that come up supporting a community at scale. It covers modest but thoughtful thank-you gifts for those who host workshops, sharing their knowledge so others can learn. It covers speakers fees for the legendary speakers that keynote our events. It contributes to donations to worthy causes like conservation and supporting the vulnerable. It covers costs associated with events like Freezing Woman, Needles and Knots, and more.
Most importantly, it ensures our labor of love can still be thriving years from now.
Protecting the Magic
“Free” services can often come at a hidden cost. You give up your privacy. Massive companies pay extremely talented people to design their apps so that you get addicted to scrolling, and constant outrage. It’s all to sell advertising, for things you likely don’t even need. Somehow this has been normalized, so the harm they cause is brushed away.
They are often fundamentally misaligned to the values and principles of a socially and environmentally conscious community. We believe all people are peers and equals, and everyone receives dignity and mutual respect. We offer a contrast of soothing peace, fun, learning, and community.
A small fee acts as an "intentional gate," effectively keeping out spammers, hate, and misinformation. This significantly reduces the "weeding" for our volunteers, which means our volunteer time is spent on activities that provide value to you. It ensures that when you join, you receive a positive experience, and you are also among people who are genuinely invested in being here.
A Shared Commitment
Community is everything to us. Moving from a newcomer to a "member" creates a shift in mindset. You move from simply consuming, to contributing in ways that you can. It helps nurture a circle of trust where we can have fun, explore, and learn together safely.
This collective support also keeps us independent. We answer to our members, not to advertisers.
A shared Investment
We are realistic. We can’t change the whole world. But we can help grow and maintain a happy little bubble in the universe. A safe, fun, and soul nourishing environment that we choose to participate in. This is how our community has grown, while nurturing the magic.
Membership Details
We offer a flexible monthly memberships that can be started and stopped at any time. For those who wish to provide steady, long-term support, our annual memberships are discounted by 50% as a thank-you for helping us plan our year-round adventures with confidence.
Thank you for being the rain and the sunshine that helps this community grow. Your support helps the community remain vibrant and healthy for years to come.
