Root Tube Community Impact Calculator (sponsor)

Model Root Tube deployments across households, community gardens, schools/churches, and city/county programs. Generate a conservative, credible impact estimate: pounds grown, servings delivered, people-fed equivalent, gallons saved, grocery value replaced, plus a GTG Impact Score (0–100) and a grant-ready summary.

Planning tool • Conservative assumptions
Scenario compare • Save A/B
Sponsor-ready outputs

Inputs + Results

Updates in real time • Local-only save • No data leaves your device
Funding mode can auto-calculate this from budget.
Most Root Tube installs are 1 plant per unit.
Crop mix affects default yield assumptions.
Use 1 for short seasons; 2–3 for long seasons / succession.
Accounts for transplant loss, pests, heat, etc.
High = strong management + healthy soil + good varieties.
Reduces yield slightly under extreme conditions.
Used to compute % community impacted (program modes).
Distribution reach; defaults adjust by mode.
Total Pounds Grown (annual)
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Total Servings Delivered
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Gallons Saved
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People-Fed Equivalent
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Equivalent annual produce coverage based on a 5 servings/day benchmark.
Grocery Value Replaced
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% Community Impacted
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Based on households receiving vs. households in area (if provided).

Grant-Ready Summary

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Measurement Plan (Suggested)

  • Harvest logs (lbs by crop + date)
  • Distribution logs (# households served + pickup dates)
  • Water tracking (meter, irrigation schedule, or estimates)
  • Short household survey (frequency, satisfaction, barriers)
Used for Equity Reach scoring.
Used for Equity Reach scoring.
Used for Participation & reliability scoring.
Improves reliability scoring when aligned to your program.

Score Subcomponents

Production Efficiency (20%)
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Based on annual lbs per Root Tube (conservative benchmark).
Water Savings (20%)
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Percent water reduction vs. baseline per-plant usage.
Access Improvement (15%)
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Weekly servings delivered per receiving household.
Participation (15%)
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Adoption / reach and volunteer capacity.
Economic Relief (15%)
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Grocery value delivered per receiving household.
Sustainability (15%)
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Fertilizer reduction + composting + organic practice.
Defaults adjust by crop type; keep conservative for grants.
Rule of thumb: 3 servings per pound for mixed produce.
Accounts for losses between harvest and delivery.
Used for People-Fed Equivalent calculations.
Annual Plants (adjusted)
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Tubes × plants/tube × survival rate.
Annual Pounds Delivered
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After waste/loss factor.
Weekly Servings per HH
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Based on households receiving.
Scaling prompt: Increase tubes, cycles, and survival to model training, better varieties, shade structures, and integrated pest management. Keep yield assumptions steady to stay credible for funders.
Per plant per growing cycle (or season).
Root Tubes often reduce water significantly.
Adds a resilience boost and small water savings multiplier.
Adds sustainability points and optional diversion estimate.
Directional estimate (optional).
Boosts sustainability score.
Water Reduction (%)
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Root Tube vs. traditional per-plant baseline.
Bathtubs Equivalent
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Approx. 80 gallons per bathtub.
Resilience Rating
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Directional (low/med/high) based on configuration.
Use local average for fresh produce.
Directional: dollars circulated in local economy.
Very light proxy based on servings delivered.
Annual Grocery Value Delivered
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Delivered lbs × price per lb.
Savings per Receiving Household
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Annual grocery value / households receiving.
Local Circulation Value
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Grocery value × multiplier (directional).
SNAP-Equivalent Value
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Presented as “food purchasing power replaced”.
Healthcare Benefit (proxy)
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Only shown if proxy is enabled.
Cost per $1,000 Invested
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Derived from unit cost in Funding mode (if used).

Action Plan Generator

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Scenario Compare (A vs B)

Scenario A

Score—
Pounds—
Gallons Saved—
Value—

Scenario B

Score—
Pounds—
Gallons Saved—
Value—

Impact Delta (B − A)

Score—
Pounds—
Gallons Saved—
Value—

Method & Assumptions

This calculator is designed as an educational planning tool. It uses transparent, conservative assumptions so outputs can be used in grant narratives and community planning. Adjust inputs to reflect local conditions and your Root Tube configuration.

  • Pounds grown = (tubes × plants/tube × survival) × (yield/plant/cycle) × cycles × efficiency × climate factor.
  • Delivered pounds apply a loss factor (handling, storage, distribution).
  • Servings = delivered pounds × servings per pound (default 3).
  • People-fed equivalent converts annual servings into annual produce coverage at a benchmark servings/day.
  • Water savings compare per-plant per-cycle water usage vs. Root Tube usage.
  • Economic value = delivered pounds × local grocery price per pound.

Score weights (as a GTG Signature baseline): Production 20%, Water 20%, Access 15%, Participation 15%, Economic 15%, Sustainability 15%. Customize if you want a county-specific or sponsor-specific version.