Sliding Scale Investment
At Arasa Root Works, I know that financial access is shaped by more than income—factors like race, gender, disability, caregiving responsibilities, and generational wealth also influence what feels possible. A sliding scale allows this work to be accessible, while sustaining the space, time, and care it takes to offer.
How the Sliding Scale Works
Participants choose the tier that aligns with their financial reality—no judgment, just honesty.
Those with higher access support those with less, creating shared care and community sustainability.
You’ll find guidance below to help reflect on where you might place yourself.
The Green Bottle Framework
The illustration below (created by Alexis J. Cunningfolk, with additions from Britt Hawthorne) offers a visual way to reflect on your relationship to money, helping you choose a tier that honors your circumstance:
This Green Bottle framework was originally created by Alexis J. Cunningfolk, who also wrote a powerful reflection on the principles of sliding scale and economic justice. You can read their essay here.
Understanding Discomfort
Capitalist norms often teach us shame about money and worth. Feeling uneasy is a familiar part of reclaiming agency:
If you invest more, your contribution supports someone else’s healing journey.
If you invest less, you are still deeply welcome and worthy of the work.
Suggested Contribution Ranges
Tier 3 – Higher Access | If your basic needs are met, with savings, expendable income, and stability—consider this tier.
Tier 2 – Middle Access | If basic needs are usually met but sometimes require effort—this is likely your place.
Tier 1 – Limited Access | If unmet needs are common, resources are stretched, or you lack expendable income—this tier holds space for you.
Healthcare and wellness are human rights, not privileges. As a business member of Herbalists Without Borders, it’s important that the offerings of Arasa Root Works remain accessible to all, with the intention of advancing collective health justice.
