Genesis - the Spinning Plant Cooperative

Why a Spinning Plant?

Though sales for the women’s sewing co-op (the Fair Trade Zone) have grown tremendously in the last year, the co-op lacks a consistent supply of both organic and conventional cotton cloth to meet increasing demands. This is one reason the CDCA is working to set up a spinning plant to spin organic cotton into yarn.

The Genesis spinning plant cooperative will be an important link in the production chain, buying organic cotton at fair prices to support cotton growers here in Nicaragua and the cotton gin, and spinning cotton which it can sell to the Fair Trade Zone, helping the sewing co-op reduce its costs and turn-around time for its clients.

Genesis walls almost up Thirty-five heads of household (29 women & 6 men) from Ciudad Sandino make up the Genesis spinning cooperative, and have been working since February 2007 to become the cooperative members, using their labor in the construction of the building as their sweat equity buy-in to the cooperative. With the walls up, they can see their progress daily… This is work in process!

Members of the spinning plant at work... clearing the land and making pumicecrete blocks to use in the construction of the building.

Constructing the foundation run & working with volunteers

The co-op now has legal status in Nicaragua, and members have also received 40 hours of cooperativism training and 40 hours of business management training.

But it isn't all about work. It is about building community. So they organized a Valentine's Day Party for their work break!

What's the timeline?

We hopefully estimate that within four years the spinning plant cooperative will be working three 8-hour shifts, employing 36 heads of household from Ciudad Sandino full-time and will be turning a healthy profit.

The spinning plant has a secure market. Not only does it have a market with the the Fair Trade Zone next door, but Genesis also has commitments from brokers to sell any excess yarn, as well as commitments from Central American companies to purchase any conventional yarn produced.

How will the process work?

The organic cotton will be sourced from Nicaraguan farmers, revitalizing Nicaraguan cotton production as well as converting more acres to organic crops by creating a demand for organic cotton. The cloth will be knit and finished in Costa Rica or Nicaragua and made into garments at the women’s sewing co-op, allowing the co-ops to keep their entire vertical production chain in Central America. The jobs created will benefit those employed by the co-op, the farmers, and thus their families and communities.

We still need funding for this project and can use all the help we can get!

If you’re interested in helping us raise the funds for the Genesis spinning plant cooperative, please contact us.

Genesis also has their brand-new website on-line: www.Genesis.jhc-cdca.org Check it out with lots of new photos, and practice your spanish in the process!

For more information on the environmental effects of conventional (non-organic) cotton, see Beyond Organics: Environmental.

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