Frequently Asked Questions
🌎 GENERAL QUESTIONS
What is Earth Rebirth?
Earth Rebirth is a nonprofit organization based in Norman, Oklahoma, focused on teaching people how to take control of their food, energy, and water through sustainable solutions they can apply in daily life.
We believe that education is the first step to action — and our mission is to empower families and communities with the tools to thrive sustainably, even in uncertain times.
What does Earth Rebirth actually do?
Our work centers around three core programs — what we call the FEW Pillars:
🌱 Garden Your Own Growth (Food): Teaching families and schools how to grow their own food and build healthier diets.
đź’ˇ Homemade Sustainability (Energy): Helping homeowners and businesses cut waste, lower bills, and become energy-conscious.
đź’§ Take H2Ownership (Water): Supporting communities with water quality testing, conservation tips, and local cleanups.
Want to explore these for yourself? Check out our DIY Kits & Resources to get started.
OUR MISSION AND MODEL
What are Earth Rebirth’s core values?
We are built on three core pillars:
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Education: Knowledge empowers action. Our work starts by making sustainability understandable and accessible.
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Economic Sustainability: Every environmental problem is also an economic opportunity. We help families save money while helping the planet.
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Community Support: We believe that the most meaningful change starts at the local level — one garden, one project, one neighbor at a time.
Why was Earth Rebirth founded?
Earth Rebirth began from a deep love of nature — and a frustration with the disconnect between environmental awareness and action. Our founder, Andrew Sartain, believed that real change would come not from waiting on broken systems, but from equipping people to solve problems at home, school, and work.
Where did the name “Earth Rebirth” come from?
The name came from a simple but powerful idea: the world needs renewal. “Earth Rebirth” reflects the optimism and action needed to regenerate our planet — from the ground up.
What does Earth Rebirth mean by “sustainability”?
To us, sustainability means creating systems that maintain — or improve — their value over time. It’s not just about protecting nature; it’s about making sure the solutions we use today don’t come at the expense of tomorrow.
What issue is Earth Rebirth trying to solve?
In a world where many are aware of environmental issues, the real challenge is: What can I do about it?
We help answer that question — with resources, tools, and projects that are both actionable and affordable.
What is Earth Rebirth ultimately trying to accomplish?
Our vision is a world where people are empowered to meet their own needs — growing food, saving energy, protecting water — without waiting for permission or policy.
We’re here to build resilience from the ground up.
 GETTING INVOLVED
Can I volunteer or intern?
Yes! Earth Rebirth offers both volunteer roles and college-credit internships, especially for students at the University of Oklahoma.
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Internships require a formal project, advisor approval, and reflection paper.
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Volunteers can jump into community events, school garden support, content creation, and more.
đź’¬ Want to explore options? Send us an email or apply via our Volunteer Interest Form.
What are the most common volunteer roles?
Most Common Ways to Help
🪴 Garden Support (Local & Remote)
Check on school gardens weekly, pull weeds, water plants, and report any issues via our garden tracker form.
Perfect for: Parents, students, or anyone near one of our garden sites.
🎪 Event & Workshop Volunteers
Join us at garden builds, workshops, or outreach events. Help set up, teach, or document the experience.
Great for: Social people who love hands-on work and sharing stories.
📸 Photo/Video Submissions
Can’t attend in person? Submit photos, short videos, or quotes from your own sustainable efforts — we’ll feature them in our outreach.
Great for: Digital creators, students, or community members wanting to contribute from home.
Remote & Digital Roles (Easy to Start)
🌍 Garden Map Checker
Help us verify and maintain our digital map of school and community gardens. Just 15–20 mins/week!
Great for: Online volunteers and students needing flexible hours.
📢 Content Ambassador
Share Earth Rebirth eBooks, kits, or posts in your local Facebook groups or school networks.
Perfect for: Volunteers looking to earn service hours from home.
🧰 Kit Tester or Resource Reviewer
Try out a free garden, energy, or water guide and give us feedback — your input helps us improve every tool.
Great for: Curious learners, teachers, or sustainability-minded families.
🔍 Want a More In-Depth Role?
We also offer internships, remote assistant roles, and content-specific tracks.
Click here to view our full Intern & Volunteer Roles List
or Join the Interest List on Substack to hear when new roles open.
When and where are volunteer meetings?
Meetings are held virtually or in-person (varies by semester). Sign up for email or text alerts to get upcoming dates. Meetings typically include updates, planning, and collaboration and last around 60–90 minutes.
How many people are on your team?
We currently operate without full-time paid staff, but work with contract garden coaches and a rotating volunteer and intern team of 6–20 active individuals each semester.
Who usually volunteers with Earth Rebirth?
We’ve worked with: College students, Teachers and administrators, Parents and local families, Retirees, Business owners, City employees…and anyone ready to take action locally.
OPERATIONS & SUPPORT
Where does Earth Rebirth get its funding?
We’re powered by people — individual donors, monthly members, grant funding, and proceeds from our workshops, events, and garden builds.
🌿 Want to help grow this mission? You can Sponsor a Garden or become a paid subscriber on Substack.
Why are you a nonprofit?
We believe education and empowerment should never be gated behind profit. Being a 501(c)3 allows us to:
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Accept tax-deductible donations
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Apply for grants
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Keep our focus on impact, not income
What challenges does Earth Rebirth face?
Like many grassroots orgs, we face:
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Limited consistent funding
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Staff/volunteer burnout
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Scaling while staying community-centered
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Expanding into rural and underserved areas
We turn these into opportunities by automating outreach, developing digital tools, and training local leaders.
Where can I learn more about your work?
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Earth Rebirth Substack (articles, updates, exclusive downloads)
Can I write a report about Earth Rebirth?
Yes — and we’re honored when students choose us!
You’re welcome to use content from our website, Substack, or published reports. For interview requests, email info@earthrebirthnow.com.
Questions?
