Membership · Two tiers
The Planters' Guild is free to read for everyone. Members and Founding Members are how a smaller group helps fund the work and gets a few extras in return.
How membership works
The publication itself is free. Plant Profiles, Substrate Library entries, Field Manual procedures, Garden Planner, Grow Guides, and the video work as it comes online — all freely available to read, watch, and use without paywalls or ads. That's the point. No tier to join, no account required. You can stop here, and most people will.
Members and Founding Members are the smaller group who decide to fund the work. They get printable bench-notes formatted for the workshop, the Founder's monthly note, and (for Founding Members) lifetime status and a place at the future physical Guild.
Member
$5 / month or $50 / year
Or pay annually: $50 / year (save $10). Cancel anytime.
Founding Member
$200 once · Capped at 1,000
1,000 lifetime spots. Then the tier closes for good.
One-time support
Memberships are how the publication sustains itself over time. A one-time pledge does the same work without the recurring commitment. Choose any amount; send it once. No perks owed in return — the publication’s first year benefits directly because of supporters like you.
Support the Work · One-time pledgeAny amount from $5 up. Not tax-deductible — The Planters’ Guild LLC is a for-profit publication, not a nonprofit.
Common questions
What's free?
Everything published on the site. Plant Profiles, Substrate Library entries, Field Manual procedures, Garden Planner, Grow Guides, the Journal, and the video work, all freely accessible, no account, no payment. The Window Box newsletter (biweekly) is free too. There is no paywalled editorial content; the publication is free by design.
What's the difference between Member and Founding Member?
Member is the ongoing way to support the work — $5/month or $50/year, cancel anytime. Founding Member is a one-time $200 payment that locks in lifetime access to every Member benefit, plus your name at the future physical Guild and founding privileges there. Founding Membership is capped at the first 1,000 supporters, then closes permanently.
Why is there a Member tier at all if the publication is free?
Because publishing costs money — hosting, photography, the eventual physical site, the working capital reserve. The Member and Founding Member tiers are how the publication funds itself without venture money, ads, or paywalls. The bench-notes PDFs and Founder's note are real perks for paying members, but the core editorial stays free because that's what The Planters' Guild is for.
How does Member checkout work?
Click the Subscribe button on the Member tier above and you'll be taken to a Stripe-hosted secure checkout page. Enter your email, billing details, and payment method. After successful payment you'll land on a welcome page with what to expect next. Monthly subscriptions bill on the same day each month; annual subscriptions bill once a year on the anniversary of signup. Cancel anytime from the email receipt or by writing to [email protected].
Can I switch from Member to Founding Member later?
Yes, as long as Founding Member spots are still available. If you join as a Member and decide to upgrade, the $200 Founding payment converts you and any unused Member subscription credit applies. Once Founding closes (cap or June 2027), the tier is gone permanently.
Is membership tax-deductible?
No. The Planters' Guild LLC is a for-profit publication and membership is a paid product, not a donation. If you'd like to support garden access and horticulture education in your area, look up local nonprofits doing that work — most counties have one.