Seeds and Trees

Seeds and Trees is a children's picture book by Brandon Walden, beautifully illustrated by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell of The Brave Union. It follows a young prince who gives and receives words, or seeds. Each one grows into a tree that brings peace or pain, healing or hurt. The book carries one simple line: "Be careful what you water, for it will surely grow."

Brandon needed to fund the first printing, so he took the book to Kickstarter. Legacy Co. came alongside to consult on strategy and progress, help build the campaign system, and design every graphic for the Kickstarter.

The Campaign Plan

We mapped the campaign in five phases, each with its own message and its own set of posts across Facebook, Instagram, Instagram Stories, and the Kickstarter page.

• What: what Seeds and Trees is and what backers get.
• Why: why the book is needed and why Brandon wrote it.
• How: how the book can help children and families, and how people could support it.
• Perks: the rewards, from the hardback first edition to framed art prints and a handmade seeds necklace.
• Final Push: a last call in the closing days.

The Campaign Content

We built every graphic around the Howdeshells' artwork, so backers could see the book before it existed. Spreads showed the dark tree next to the green tree, open hands holding a single seed, and the prince walking through the grove. Product scenes showed the book in hand alongside the rewards: posters, t-shirts, a coffee mug, gift tags, and a thank-you card. Each post carried a bright "Now on Kickstarter" badge and pointed people back to the campaign.

The Result

The campaign ran from November 28 to December 22, 2017. 104 backers pledged $6,550 against a $5,000 goal, and the project was fully funded. In 2018, The Treasured Tree printed Seeds and Trees as a limited first edition hardcover with a full dust jacket.