I am Monty Merlin (@montymerlin), Co-Founder of ReFi DAO and Co-Lead of Celo Public Goods, applying for the Funding Sources flow based on my comprehensive contributions to Gardens through multiple channels.
My Gardens Contributions
I have supported Gardens through all four eligible pathways:
Project Focus: Gardens Infrastructure Expansion
My work centers on three key areas that will significantly expand Gardens' reach and impact:
1. Expanding ReFi DAO's Gardens Infrastructure
Building on our successful launch of ReFi DAO's Gardens community and funding pools, I will continue expanding our infrastructure. We've already established two funding pools with 5.8k USDGLO in funding, implementing conviction voting for democratic resource allocation. The next phase involves developing additional specialized pools and signaling mechanisms to serve our growing network.
2. Supporting Local Node Onboarding
ReFi DAO has an extensive network of local nodes worldwide that represent untapped potential for Gardens adoption. I will systematically support these communities in adopting Gardens tooling, providing guidance on setup, governance design, and community engagement. This includes both technical onboarding and cultural integration of conviction voting principles.
3. Gardens Playbook Documentation
I will produce comprehensive Gardens playbook documentation to support widespread adoption. This will include step-by-step guides for community setup, governance design patterns, funding pool configuration, and best practices learned from our ReFi DAO implementation. The playbook will be open-source and designed for easy adaptation by diverse communities.
Ethereum Localism Integration
As leaders in the Ethereum Localism domain, we are uniquely positioned to scale Gardens adoption through this emerging movement. Our work aligns with Gitcoin 3.0's evolution and the proposed Ethereum Localism Dedicated Domain, where we plan to support 3-5 local funding pilots in the coming months.
Through Regen Coordination, we've already raised and distributed over $370,000 to grassroots regenerative projects across multiple funding rounds. This experience, combined with our network of local communities, creates a powerful foundation for Gardens expansion.
Timeline & Approach
This is ongoing work that intensifies over the next 6-12 months, specifically aligned with:
- Gitcoin 3.0's evolution
- Ethereum Localism domain development
- ReFi DAO's expanding local node network
- Growing institutional interest in localized Web3 adoption
Impact & Alignment
This work directly supports Gardens' mission by:
- Leveraging ReFi DAO's large community following and online presence
- Providing proven infrastructure models for other communities
- Creating educational resources that lower barriers to adoption
- Connecting Gardens with the broader regenerative finance movement
- Demonstrating real-world utility of conviction voting mechanisms
The funding will help align incentives through Gardens token allocation, giving me deeper skin in the game while supporting this comprehensive expansion effort.
