Betty & Lisa, Board Member and President, respectively, of Matter of Trust, outside our model Eco-Home in Haight Ashbury, San Francisco.

The front exterior of our Eco-Industrial Hub. SOMA, San Francisco.

STRUCTURE:  MofT Organization

Problem – Human activities over the last 300 years have polluted and destroyed parts of the planet and everyone knows this is culminating to a point where we undeniably owe a better future for today’s youth. Extreme weather, undrinkable water, unbreathable air, toxins in our food, global mental health crisis, fears of AI unknowns, teetering financial systems, political unrest… everything is connected.  When humanity works against nature, we see an unravelling… on the other hand, that makes it clear how to reduce the negative impacts of our actions and of those before us.  The buck stops here.

Opportunity(ies) – On the plus side, we have networked humanity and created conveniences and inventions that allow us to advance as a species.  We have the tools to fix our mistakes, we need the will.  We are able to see our planet from outer space for what it is and we can even launch into outer space thanks to our industrial and technological know how – standing on the shoulders of previous generations.  We have gone over the line but at least we advanced to an impressive point.  So now, we put our brains together and right the ship.  

Like many orgs and governments 2030 is a nice round number.  We see the opportunity for an allocated 1 year (2030) to be 365 days when modern conveniences are combined with Earth-friendly choices to the point where everyone sees how life can thrive.  We saw what only a few weeks of global pause did for the environment during COVID lockdowns.  Fish populations exploded, dolphins swam in the canals of Venice, India skies cleared and people could see the Himilayas from Jalandhar when smog reduced in the Punjab…  Imagine what 1 year could fix.  On day 366 everyone can go back to their old ways if they want to… we only ask for 1 year, a breather, a chance for Mother Nature to refresh the page.

Challenge(s) – Developing countries who are finally getting to enjoy the luxuries that 1st world countries have enjoyed for decades, find it understandably ironic that now is the time for everyone to take a step back.  Everyone may not agree that their personal, corporate, and governmental actions, decisions, purchases and habits add up to a big part of the issue. No one wants to be accused of being clueless, lazy, greedy, afraid, thoughtless, short-sighted… language, transparency, decision-making will make or break this mobilization.  

Cancelling, ranting, derailing, trolling, need to be expected, recognized and handled with diplomacy and conflict resolution.  The countries that are pillaging, extracting, polluting etc. from other countries that have food insecurity and disease won’t want to highlight what can be changed even just for one year.  The haves vs have nots even within the inner-city and rural areas of the developed world are having the same conversations.  The healing will need to be micro and macro, local and global – one year is a short time, goes by quickly and the problems are so great, to think of fixes is being idealistic.

Solution(s) – The answers already exist.  Those who know what to do are reachable on line and in person.  There is the will of the people, especially after every weather event or crisis – to make things better.  More and more conversations around the success of wholistic solutions, comprehensive, interconnected (vs. siloed) projects.  Inclusiveness with the general public, indigenous peoples, grassroots and big nonprofits, a voice at the table from those with boots on the ground and in factories, insights from all ages, high-tech, low-tech, bottom up as well as top down, mailroom to boardroom, feedback loops and back to the drawing board mindsets when things fail.  Affordable, realistic, practical, common-sense, small and large-scale, short and long-term actions that add up to massive benefits.

Perspectives and incentives are the key.  We need positive and critical weigh-in. Crucially new ecological plans and systems need to be well-planned, both time-tested by nature and disruptive to current dangerous human activity.  Carrying out solutions can be orchestrated while providing room for free-will.  They absolutely must be easily adaptable and fair at their core. Approaches must be multi-pronged, flow around obstacles, work with infrastructure and engage key players on all sides to ensure best chances for longevity.

Goal(s) – 

• To mobilize and celebrate practical, replicable, local-to-global systems that sort waste into resources.
(Hair Matters)

•  To research and showcase planet-friendly inspirations for households and workplaces.
(Eco-Home & Eco-Industrial Hub)

•  To develop and grow our kindhearted, environmental, social media platform for Humanity Adding Solutions.
(The Hum Sum)

•  To empower and support youth, interns, apprentices, green careers for all ages and integrated cottage industry.
(Eco-Academy)

•  To organize and implement our Worthy Actionable List of Projects nurturing healthy air, soil, water, energy and life. (The WALOP 2030)

Objective(s) – Sorting, sorting sorting

• Organizing tasks and participants via The Hum Sum – Humanity Adding Solutions
• Sorting waste into resources – everywhere!
• Modeling municipal / corporate bin infrastructure
• Transparency of donation and recycling systems – full life cycle assessment and brainstorming re current findings.
• Brainstorming on uses for recycled feedstocks
• Brainstorming on recycling contamination solutions
• Promotion of single material manufacturing
• Modeling the ecologizing of manufacturing and industry  at our Eco-Hub and through our Global Hub Partnerships
• Toxin removal – Hair Matters, hair mulch, fungi, river, coastal, soil remediation, restoration projects
• Waste fiber collection and soil mulching – everywhere
• Planet-friendly living, gardening, shopping – tasks and incentives – showcased at our Eco-Home and via our Millies (1000s) eco-site partners.
• Composting – everywhere!
• Celebrating bees, moths, butterflies, hummingbirds and plantings – everywhere!
• Launching Stop Stupid Start Smart – Campaign for  WALOP – Promoting eco-manufacturing, eco-products, eco-shopping, voting with our dollars and reducing our consumption by popularizing quantity to quality
• Consistently promoting the protection vital eco-systems and old growth forests (with 1 mile wide surrounding boarders) and migration corridors
• Networking likeminded organizations over budget savings incentives and highlighting unique expertise.
• Launching The MofTies – through our Eco-Academy awarding Smart design – disassembly, deconstructibles, repairables, job training…
• Prioritizing renewables, even smarter, cleaner energy with disassembly and recycling as required parts of design.
• Research on storage, alternative, magnetic, free, wacky (nothing is off the table) brainstorming on the future of energy
• Administration – Providing useful, replicable budgets and forms and system. Employing and awarding emotional intelligence, diplomacy over outrage, and respecting indigenous, cultural, senior wisdom, time-tested expertise, youthful hope and enthusiasm.  Starting at home, then at work and going beyond, in a fractal structure. Listening, removing “greed aka fear of lack” from the equation as much as possible and replacing it with balance, love and appreciation of natural abundance.

Target(s) –
2024 – Hum Sum Green Biz Affiliates Program, online eco-store Hum Sum Emporium,  10 languages, Hair Matters Air Force and harbor installations, soil remediations, Ted Talk, Eco-Hub / Home / Academy global partner research and eco-product networks, The WALOP preparation / organization for 2025 launch
2025-26 – The WALOP Launch integration of MofT program & Small / Medium Partner solutions – composting, Hair Matters, Eco-Homes, grey water, eco products, edible gardens, Hum Sum in 30 languages… “Start Smart, Stop Stupid” global campaign.
2027 – The WALOP preparation for infrastructure and large partner participation, Hum Summit I, Jean Baggies for food delivery, Millies 1000 per network for composting in dog parks, recycling wine corks for natural flotation booms, laundry lint for insulation cubes… “Low Hanging Fruit” global campaign
2028-29 – The WALOP preparation for Year of Impact, ads running, partners in place for bins, collecting, mulching, planting, sorting, terracing, conflict resolution, mobilization, zero-waste flash mobs, classroom participation… “minimal effort for big impact” global campaign
2030 – Hair Matters – 300 Global Felting & Research Hubs serving 100 Countries
– The WALOP Year of Impact, March 20, 2030-March 20 2031 full out “Planet over Profit” global campaign incorporating all of our projects, programs, partners and Hum Sum members
2031 – The WALOP – follow ups for continuing projects, Youth Summit – Adult’s Report Card, documentaries, tallies, Global impact reports, follow-ups
2032 – Hum Summit II – Global Partner conferences, support, audits, report reviews, assess and prepare for round II
2037 – Hum Summit III
2040 – The WALOP II
2042 – Hum Summit IV
2047 – Hum Summit V
2050 – The WALOP III (Let’s envision humanity in harmony with Earth by 2050!)

Do The Work – Through our hands-on local projects, global programs, meetings, field trips, partnerships, open houses, field work, environmental social media platform, interviews, conferences, videos, demonstrations, panels, research, systems implementation…

• “Stop stupid, start smart ASAP Campaign SSSSASAP. First projects and programs having easy challenges – “low hanging fruit” one by one and then in combination via multi-pronged approaches, highlighting where one solution tackles many problems.  
• “Minimal effort with big impact” projects and programs. Classrooms, local businesses, working with incentives and gathering perspectives on the eco projects and programs where we and our partners have systems set up.
• “Big Jobs” – Finding peer acclaimed experts at the toughest jobs on each rung of the ladder in vital sectors.  Making sure that crucial information gets a voice in the room where it happens… we need all hands on deck.  We know that everyone in vital sectors knows something that will help improve efficiency and it should be heard, confirmed, acted upon and celebrated.
• Following the money, personal eco-commitments and globally finding the funds (in government, corporate, philanthropic and surprising budgets), speaking publicly, buying full page ads, and doing social media, to show how there are ways and means to fix many global problems. Presenting what it looks like when 1 person, 1 city block, 1 city, 1 state, 1 country, the world insists we shift our spending for 1 year… Let’s say 2030!

KPI(s) – # of cities with established composting, grey water, marshland, coastal restoration systems, # of hectares composted and fiber mulched, # of recycled materials reused, # of jobs created, students involved, homes ecologized, edible gardens, edible cities, vetted eco-products, # of tons of packaging reduced, # of travel miles reduced for product logistics, # of areas with cleaner air and water, # of tons of uncontaminated recycled feed stocks, # of endangered eco-systems and migration corridors protected by indigenous communities in collaboration with armed forces and laws, # of digital cleanse days…

Impact – air is cleaner, food tastes better, fresh waterways and seawaters are not polluted, soil is rich, energy is renewable and manufactured items that can be disassembled, manufacturing is deconstructable, repairable and recycled. All materials are compostable or clearly marked for resource sorting, 70% of purchases are local within 3 degrees of separation of source for accountability and customer loyalty, 30% are exotic and all are fair trade. People are generally happier and healthier, kinder in person and online, having trust in community and nature.

Outcome(s) – mindset shift to eco-priorities – planet over profit.

Legacy(ies) – enduring awareness of being in harmony with Earth.

• We always presume there is more to learn from Mother Earth.

• We orchestrate truly helpful, beneficial programs that are in concert with Nature.

• We only work on projects that improve lives and respect environments.

• We listen to society and hear what is needed.

• We demonstrate engagement in ecology through sorting, using recycled materials and prioritizing renewable resources.

• We improve constantly as an organization by being inclusive (mailroom to the main office, drawing board to the boardroom, boots on the ground to seats at the table…).

• We always seek out perspectives and incentives from others.

• We celebrate peer-recognized mastery in all sectors – high tech and low tech – applauding project ownership.

• We nurture only what we do want for the planet.

• We believe that immersive, provoking media and exhibits have a responsibility to provide positive, 2-way interactions.

• We promote pathways for change, both via small, convenient, individual habits over a lifetime and  through impressive, mobilizing, large-scale actions vital to societal shift.

• inspiration and conversation have the power to be transformative for all involved. We wisely expect mutual learning.

• We were taught that textiles are rated on how well they hold together or fall apart on a scale of integrity. The fabrics of society and reality work by similar principles.

• We know the more we are integrated and our threads overlap, interweave, and are entangled with others, the better we feel, the stronger we are and the longer we live.

• Matter of Trust (and verify) – we install, implement, or reproduce eco-ideas, innovations and inventions in-house or as pilot projects and field work, in order to see results with our own eyes. We put them on display, and, very importantly, we give credit where credit is due. Everyone is standing on the shoulders of giants.

1. Eco-Industrial Hub – At our model factory we make oil spill clean up mats** out of recycled clippings of hair, fur, wool, and fleece from salons, groomers, and farmers.  Our replicable exhibit hall walls discuss best practices for sorting waste into resources, as well as perspectives, incentives, challenges and solutions for clean air, water, energy, materials and manufacturing. Plan a visit!

2. The Eco-Home – Showcases planet-friendly living and greening all areas of the house with fun ways to ecologize your holiday celebrations:  Bee My Valentine (Bedrooms & Garden), Spring Greening (Bathrooms and Storage), Greendependence Day (Home Office / Home Gym), Fallin’ for Harvest (Kitchen and Dining), Haunted Eeek-o-Home (Exterior and Garden), and ending with Seasons Greenings (Living room, reception & gift shop). Check out our week-long General Public Open Houses every 2 months or book a tour!

… with Urban Edible Garden – Explore our research projects made to uplift and heal the mind, body, and soil. Visit our tiny home, solar fan aerated compost pile, laundry to landscapes gray water system, dog poo composter, chicken mansion, fog catcher, raised veggie beds, honey beehive, bat house, and more!

3. Hair Matters Program** – Our flagship Eco-Hub and MofT’s Global Partner Hubs make mats that are installed in storm drains, and contaminated waste-water filtration systems, to soak up petroleum spills. Beyond this, natural fibers make an excellent substrate and are a slow nitrogen release, proving to remediate soil as well as help to regenerate seagrass and kelp forests. Together with donors, felters, researchers, purchasers, artists and media… this program keeps waterways clean, sorts trash into resources, restores habitats, inspires the public and creates cottage-industry green jobs! 

4. The Hum Sum – for Humanity Adding Solutions is our online, environmental, social media platform. This allows everyone (individuals, businesses, government departments, schools, nonprofits, neighborhood projects…) from around the world to connect in a cost-free, ad-free, politics-free, troll-free, bully-free, and spam-free zone. We have forums, polls, local to global events calendars, green biz directory, gamified eco-commitment counters, and an affordable eco-services and donated gifts / wishlist exchange for items and materials. Coming soon check out our Hum Sum Emporium (Humium) for unusual and excellent eco-items! Welcome All!

5. Eco-Academy – Our positive communications  & mutual learning department is for youth and the young at heart.  We host field trips, volunteers, interns, apprentices, and Hum Sum Mods. We support university & citizen scientist research,  curate our own resource library, conduct fieldwork pilot projects & in-house write-ups. We build local to global replicable exhibits & green city tours. With staff and members, we annually compile The MofTies – Life Cycle Assessment Awards of Merrit, network The Millies (1000+ community gardens, tiny homes, maker fairs etc.) and our Global Partner HumSummits.  We provide social media updates on all of our work and celebrate likeminded projects and experts around the world.

6. The WALOP & Fiscal Sponsorships: The WALOP covers our interns’ Worthy, Actionable List of Projects through 2030 & 2050,  the Hair Mulch / Mat Soil & Coastal Restoration Projects, Global Compost Project, Peace of Mind Kits (eco-disaster kits), Wrap Stars (eco-packaging), Jean Baggies (recycled denim carrier bags & reusable food containers for instacart & grubhub deliveries), Zero Waste Flash Mobs, It’s a Corker (restaurant wine cork collection), The Fibrary,  Insulation Cubes (using laundry lint & synthetic wigs waste) and more… this Department also includes 2 projects we fiscally sponsor [1. Heart of the City Farmers’ Market Food Security Education, 2. Sonoma Food Runners].

7. Our Administrative Department is compiled of Operations, HR, Finance, Engineering, Philanthropy, Outreach, Facilities, & Social Media.  This team is our rock and ensures that our oxygen mask is on securely so that we can thrive in our 6 other Program Departments.  This public charity is basically a small family business with big dreams and wide reach.  Our Board, President, Directors, Managers, Leads, Staff,  Apprentices, Interns, Volunteers, and Partners, feel lucky to work steadily and tirelessly on what we all love.

Matter of Trust is a 501(c)(3) environmental public charity established in 1998. We have two locations in San Francisco, California: our showcase Eco-Home with urban edible garden and our Eco-Industrial Hub – our flagship, working model factory with exhibit hall. We also promote cottage-industry through our Hair Matters program which collects natural waste fibers and felts them into mats for oil spills, soil remediation, seagrass and kelp restoration projects, now with 116+ Global Hub Partners.

Hair, fur, wool and fleece donors around the world, led us to develop and launch our environmental social media platform, TheHumSum.org for Humanity Adding Solutions.

Our Eco-Academy works with youth and the young at heart. We celebrate optimism for the future, spotlighting biomimicry (asking nature first) and ecology (the study of how life thrives in habitats – from forests to cities).

All of our programs (in-house, in the field and fiscal sponsorships) link surplus with needs and concentrate on re-use, research and renewable resources.  Join in today!

120 words:

Matter of Trust is an environmental 501(c)(3) public charity est. in 1998. Visit our two San Francisco sites for field trips and the general public: 1) showcase Eco-Home with urban edible garden. 2) Eco-Industrial Hub – flagship, working model factory with exhibit hall. We celebrate optimism for the future via our 3) Eco-Academy for youth and the young at heart (tours, research, internships & apprenticeships). 4) Our Hair Matters program collects natural waste fibers (hair/ fur clippings) and felts them into mats for oil spills, soil remediation, seagrass / kelp restoration projects and cottage industry promotion. Finally, 5) growing volunteers and fiber donors around the world, led us to develop our planet-friendly social media platform TheHumSum.org for Humanity Adding Solutions.