SUMMER 2015

ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS TO HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS

DEPARTMENTSDirectors Corner

Breaking News

Village Spotlight: Panasawan, Thailand

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FEATURESPlant For Tomorrow

The Unsung Heroes of Creation Care

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RURAL FARMERS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

LUCAS AND PASLIDA TARIMU PLANT TREES ON THEIR HILLSIDE PROPERTY IN KOKIRIE, TANZANIA.

2One thing that makes Plant With Purpose unique is our emphasis on finding a syn-ergistic relationship be-tween environmental resto-ration and economic devel-opment. People are often

skeptical when they hear this, as I was when I began volunteering for the organization near-ly 25 years ago. After all, you have to make a choice, right? Will you help people or trees?

It turns out, you dont have to choose. Over the past three decades, we have seen what started as a theory practically demonstrated again and again. Farmers prosper on hillsides that are greener and more fruitful. Water sources are restored. People are healthier and wealthier. Children are in school.

We have also seen how Christian values such as stewardship, reverence for the Creator, and love for neighbor contribute to the cycle of re-stored land and restored lives. Transformed hearts are a key piece of this virtuous cycle.

An important secondary impact of our work is reconciliation, as people from different back-grounds and ethnicities work together for a common goal. This effect became evident as we began work on the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Years of violence and misunderstanding prevailed along this trou-bled border, but tensions diminished as farm-ers worked together to restore their land.

In Burundi, the programs potential for recon-ciliation is even more apparent. Agricultural and VSLA groups intentionally bring togeth-er Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa groups. They integrate returning refugees with those who overtook their land during the civil war.

The former governor of Rutana once told us she saw more impact from our program than from others solely focused on reconciliation. As farmers worked side by side to plant cas-

sava, peace took root in Burundi. The gover-nor memorably said, Cassava has no color.

Today I want to ask you to pray for Burundi, which as of this writing, is in the midst of a dangerous and rapidly changing political cri-sis. Violence in the capital has caused tens of thousands to flee the country. Our programs are interrupted and staff security is a growing concern. Developments may extend the cen-tralized violence to other parts of the coun-try and our fledgling agricultural and VSLA groups may be severely tested. Please pray for these people, that their efforts at work-ing together and understanding one another would not be in vain. Please, please do not give up on Burundi and please pray for peace.

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Finally, in this issue of The Sower we intro-duce Plant For Tomorrow, a campaign to dou-ble our program impact. I am thrilled by the reception it has received so far. I never would have imagined the generosity of those rally-ing around this effort to touch more lives.

I am excited by the plans to work in new countries with phenomenal opportunities to make a difference in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia. However, I am even more motivated to see existing coun-try programs scale up. Our work continues to grow more cost effective as we deliver the same quality of services with greater efficien-cy and scalability. I hope you will partner with us as we share hope with even more people.

Thank you for restoring lives and land.

Scott SabinExecutive Director

THE SOWER ISSUE #108 Plant With Purpose, a Christian nonprofit

organization, reverses deforestation and

poverty around the world by transform-

ing the lives of the rural poor.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Scott Sabinscott@plantwithpurpose.org

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR: Doug Satredoug@plantwithpurpose.org

MARKETING AND EVENTS: Becky Rosalerbecky@plantwithpurpose.org

ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS TO HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS

STAY CONNECTED: 4747 Morena Blvd. Suite 100San Diego, CA 92117

Ph: 800.633.5319

Email: info@plantwithpurpose.org

Web: plantwithpurpose.org

Tw: @PlantWPurpose

Fb: facebook.com/PlantWithPurpose

EMAIL MEDIA@PLANTWITHPURPOSE.ORG TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN: Share your Plant With Purpose story Host an event Become a Plant With Purpose advocate

Leave a Legacy. Please consider includ-ing Plant With Purpose in your wills and bequests. Contact Doug Satre: doug@plantwithpurpose.org.

copyright 2015 Plant With Purpose

DIRECTORS CORNER

FARMER ASSOCIATIONS WORK TOGETHER TO PRODUCE EVEN GREATER HARVESTS.

PLANTWITHPURPOSE.ORG 3

Plant With Purpose currently partners with 130,000 adults and children in six countries to transform despair into hope. More than 14 million trees have been planted, restoring wa-tersheds and revitalizing the land. Abundant crops are ending hunger. 800 community-based savings groups in 406 villages are sow-ing seeds of financial security. Hundreds of pastors and church leaders are being mobi-lized to address needs in their communities and share Gods love.

Pray for program staff as they scale up to im-pact more families. Pray also for the launch of new country programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia.

PRAYING

Host a home reception to tell friends and fami-ly about Plant With Purpose. Or share the Plant For Tomorrow online campaign at plantwith-purpose.org via social media.

INFLUENCING

Program expansion is only possible with your financial support. $3.3 million has already been committed. Donate today to complete the $3.5 million Plant For Tomorrow campaign.

GIVING

For more information or to donate, visit plantwithpurpose.org.

$200,000 NEEDED

TODAYOver the next two years we will double our im-pact by reaching 100,000 new people in 200 new communities and 2 new countries.

TOMORROW

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)The DRC suffers from extreme poverty and shocking environmental scars, the result of years of in-stability and conflict. Plant With Purposes new country program will offer reconciliation and hope to communities and former militants, while restoring and preserving stunning wildlife habitat.

Ethiopia In Ethiopia, Plant With Purpose has the unique opportunity to partner with the local church to pre-serve some of the last remaining native forest in the country. These forests are irreplaceable trea-sures troves of biodiversity but are seriously threatened by poverty and poor agricultural practices.

HELP US DOUBLE OUR IMPACT BY 2017 AND PLANT FOR TOMORROW

PLANTING SEEDS TODAY TO CHANGE FUTURES TOMORROW

CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS BILL HOEHN AND CINDY OUTLAW

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)The DRC suffers from extreme poverty and shocking environmen-tal scars, the result of years of instability and conflict. Plant With Purposes new country program will offer reconciliation and hope to communities and former militants, while restoring and preserving stunning wildlife habitat.

Ethiopia In Ethiopia, Plant With Purpose has the unique opportunity to partner with the local church to preserve some of the last remaining native forest in the country. These forests are irreplaceable treasures troves of biodiversity but are seriously threatened by poverty and poor ag-ricultural practices.

$3.3 MILLION COMMITTED TO GLOBAL EXPANSION

JOIN US BY

4King Davids famous psalm praises the Lord for His creation and His sovereignty over it. God created an interdependent planet in which species depend on other organisms for life. Humans are no excep-tion; our health is linked to the health of natural resources. Nowhere is this interde-pendence more evident than in rural com-munities where people survive off what they can grow. Though these communities remain some of the poorest on earth, they are at the forefront of restoring the earths natural resources.

More than 30 years ago Tom Woodard, Plant With Purposes founder, asked an in-spired question: what if planting trees was a solution to rural poverty, a solution that would provide jobs, improve food security, and restore the land? Since the first trees were planted in the Dominican Republic, farmers partnering with Plant With Purpose have planted 14,348,505 trees across six country programs. Tiny seeds have grown to form Plant With Purposes holistic three-part development approach, with environ-mental restoration as a pillar.

As global environmental conditions wors-en and reports of droughts, floods, famine,

and climate change increase, over 23,000 Plant With Purpose partnering families are doing their part to make a positive impact and heal the land.

Taking Davids psalm to heart, farmers in Tanzania have set out to change the tra-jectory of their surroundings, including the iconic Mt. Kilimanjaro. In 2012, Plant With Purpose Tanzania developed a group competition to inspire further good work from program participants. As the compe-tition evolves each year in scope, so does its impact. Initially groups competed to plant the most trees. The following year groups worked to heal local water sources through reforestation. In 2014, the compe-tition encouraged farmers to use organic, sustainable methods that would add to the soil instead of stripping it of nutrients.

Plant With Purpose Tanzanias unique ap-proach exemplifies the innovative way rural communities are healing their land. Inspired by competition, partners in Tanza-nia have seen an increase of nearly 1,000 percent in the number of trees planted per family (2011 and 2014 Impact Evalua-tions*). As Country Director Richard Mhina said, The competition concept motivates people. It engages people as they are do-ing their weekly activities.

HEALING COMMUNITY LAND Mungubariko Tarimo from Masia Mamba speaks proudly of his farm and its pro-duce, and with good reason. Cabbage and other crops cover the hillside plot. When you look at my farm today, I can tell you that it didnt use to be like this, Mun-

gubariko says. There were no trees here and no one in the community was in the habit of planting trees. We didnt do anything to conserve the soil and it would wash away with the rain. The land was degraded and snows from Kiliman-jaro were melting and not returning.

Mungubariko encouraged participation in the group competition. We learned from Plant With Purpose the importance of planting trees and that God cares about the environment and we have a responsibility to protect the environ-ment. So we started the first tree nurs-ery in this area. We also learned about protecting the land with terracing, which has reduced erosion and also allowed us to grow a lot more crops. In just the last few years we have planted over 13,000 trees in this area. We have fruit trees of many kinds, and forest trees that grow tall and protect the land.

Environmental restoration is taking place not just on Mungubarikos farm but across Masia Mamba. Even the backdrop of the village has changed as snows return to Mt. Kilimanjaro. He says, The snow on the mountain was almost gone before, but now it is start-ing to return and we know that if we con-tinue planting trees it will be like before.

* Every three years Plant With Purpose conducts an extensive impact evalua-tion to monitor program impact. Data collected through household surveys compares participating and nonpartici-pating households.

THE UNSUNG HEROES OF CREATION CARERURAL FARMERS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

BY BECKY ROSALER AND ANNELISE JOLLEY

The earth is the Lords, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;for He founded it on the seas

and established it on the waters.Psalm 24:1-2

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HEALING WATER SOURCES Thanks to the group competition, partner-ing farmers now plant an average of 400 trees a year. With limited acreageaver-age property size is 3.3 acres according to the 2014 Impact Evaluationspersonal farms quickly become saturated with veg-etation. Participants in the annual com-petition have extended their impact to reforesting Tanzanias sloped riverbeds. These steep ravines are typically public property and as groups have discovered, theyre a great place to plant trees.

Farmers whose properties include water sources are also reforesting river ravines. On Lucas and Paslida Tarimus farm you can find avocado, corn, coffee, lettuce and tomatoes. Yet the most dramatic im-provement to their farm did not come from the variety of crops but rather the 2,000 trees planted along the steep slope of their property. Many of these trees are now more than thirty feet tall.

In the past the stream here was dry and we had no way to get water, Lucas remembers. We have seen the rains re-turn and the land become more fruitful. Now the stream runs year round and the land has been protected. There are also 3,000 people living in two villages who depend on this stream. Now all of us are benefiting.

HEALING FAMILY FARMSLast years group competition empha-sized organic farming methods and it was only fitting that the competition commenced with an organic agricul-ture festival. More than 3,000 people attended and farmers from across the Kilimanjaro region contributed their or-ganic vegetables to the rich display of lo-cal produce. Local government official Herman Kapufi spoke at the festival sharing, It is high time for our farmers to embark on the type of farming which is friendly to the environment. Environmental degrada-tion contributes to poverty so people need to change the way they do things. We believe that agribusiness will address poverty, and hence we need to use small pieces of land to get high productivity.

Plant With Purpose partnering farmers cultivate plots that integrate benefi-cial plants, increasing crop yields and improving pest management. Agrofor-estry training encourages the integra-tion of planting trees, raising livestock, and growing vegetables in biointensive double dug gardens. As partnering farmers learn to make both compost and organic pesticides from resources on hand, their health and the health of their farms increases.

Partnering farmers are cultivating banan-as, vegetables, coffee, sweet potatoes, and cassava at a higher rate than comparison households (2014 Impact Evaluations). In fact, their crops are 42 percent more di-verse than those of nonparticipants. This crop diversity, along with organic farm-ing methods, heals the land they depend on for survival. By cultivating healthy and organic family farms, they are restoring natural resources like soil and inspiring neighboring communities to do the same.

FORCES OF CHANGEAs farming families restore Tanzanias nat-ural resources, positive stories abound. Stories of birds returning to the area speak of increasing biodiversity. Stabilized mi-croclimates are more conducive for plant growth. Trees planted in ravines allow wa-ter to soak into the soil and refresh streams.

As rural farmers embrace their calling to care for creationand in Tanzanias case use competition to drive creation carethe environment is being restored. The activi-ties of planting trees and farming sustain-ably are core to Plant With Purposes global program. But they arent only activities; they are forces of change, creating a posi-tive impact on the earth while reversing the cycle of rural poverty. Truly, these farm-ers affirm in word and action the earth is the Lords, and everything in it.

GROUP COMPETITION BY THE NUMBERS

135 groups participated in the 2014 group com-petition

134 tree nurseries established by participating groups

413 trees planted per partnering family in 2014, on average

5 MILLION trees planted by Plant With Purpose Tanzania since 2004

3,000 attendees at the group competition agricul-ture festival

4 GOATSawarded to the winning team in addition to farming equipment, t-shirts, certificates, so-lar lights, and a farming study tour

6SAVE THE DATE! THE 2015 PLANTING HOPE GALA IS TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3.

Mediterranean-inspired resort location in San Diegos North County

Complimentary valet parking

Cocktail reception and exquisite three-course dinner

Opportunities to support the work of Plant With Purpose through silent, live, and fund-a-need auctions and an opportunity drawing

Inspiring stories of planting hope for generations to come

Proceeds go toward empowering the rural poor to improve their lives and land.

BREAKING NEWS RESTORATION AT WORKOnce a quarter we invite you to join us at the San Diego office for an update on field programs and how lives and land are being restored. Set aside the follow-ing Thursday evenings from 5:30-7:00 pm: June 18, September 10, and December 10.

ter, nourish the soil, protect farms from erosion, and provide a source of income and food for farming families. In short, trees are life to the rural poor.

JOIN ROOT 7$7 plants 7 trees across 7 countries ev-ery month. When you join Root 7, youre doing more than putting trees in the ground. Youre planting healing, opportu-nity, and hope for a better future. Trees restore the environment, clean the wa-

We are currently procuring items

such as vacation retreats, gift

certificates, and unique products

for our silent and live auctions.

Contact gala@plantwithpurpose.org

if you have an item to donate.

PLANTING HOPE GALAPLANT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME

We are excited to announce a new location: Omni La Costa Resort and Spa. The evening includes:

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: July 13-18 & July 26-31

MEXICO: August 23-28

Thailand is a well-known tourist destination,

rich with cultural experiences and

picturesque views, but the outskirts of

the Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces

tell a different story. This northern region

of Thailand is home to people who fled

the civil strife of Myanmar to take refuge

in the hillsides. Although they have

lived in these hills for decades, the Thai

government does not recognize them or

grant them citizenship. Without citizenship,

these ethnic minorities are vulnerable to

oppression and exploitation. They lack land

rights and can be displaced at any time.

This uncertainty and lack of protection

discourages farmers from investing in their

land, which in turn keeps them entrenched

in poverty.

Panasawan is a Plant With Purpose partner-

ing community in the Chiang Rai province. It

is home to Khamsee Pawsang, a 52-year-old

farmer who is determined to break the cycle of

poverty and environmental damage through

the simple act of planting trees.

Before partnering with Plant With Purpose,

Khamsee had no knowledge of sustainable

farming techniques and was struggling to pro-

vide enough food for his family. He began at-

tending Plant With Purpose agricultural work-

shops and was introduced to agroforestrya

farming method that involves planting trees

around and among crops.

The act of planting trees on his farm was trans-

formative. Khamsees crops began to flourish,

and now he has such an excess of harvest that

he and his family are able to sell produce at lo-

cal markets for income. These improvements

led Khamsee to become an environmental

restoration advocate on Panasawans village

committee. Agroforestry is now implement-

ed across Panasawan and a community

agroforestry plot is accessible to everyone.

Khamsee views sharing his farming knowl-

edge with others as an act of love. I know

that God helps my family and I love to share

things with other people. God loves me so

I must love others, he says. Although the

people of Panasawan have experienced

great strife and persecution, they are dis-

covering their God-given dignity by plant-

ing hope.

For just $1 a day you can partner with a

community like Panasawan to help meet

vital needs. Fill out the enclosed enve-

lope or visit:

plantwithpurpose.org/sponsor-a-village.

VILLAGE SPOTLIGHT: PANASAWAN, THAILANDBY MELISSA COY, Development Assistant

KHAMSEE AND NANIO PAWSANG WITH THEIR CHICKENS AT THEIR HOME IN PANASAWAN.

RECEIVE THE SOWER BY EMAILIf you would like to receive The Sower by email and conserve paper, please send an email to info@plantwithpurpose.org with your name and current email address under the subject of eSower. Or simply follow the steps on the en-closed envelope.

UPCOMING VISION TRIPS If you havent visited one of Plant With Purposes programs, wed love for you to travel with us. Additional trips for 2015 are in the works. Contact Doug Satre for more information: doug@plantwithpurpose.org.

BREAKING NEWS CONTINUED

Plant With Purpose

4747 Morena Blvd. Suite 100San Diego, CA 92117

Ph: 800.633.5319

Email: info@plantwithpurpose.org

Web: plantwithpurpose.org

NON-PROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGEPAIDPERMIT 751SAN DIEGO CA

PLANTING HOPE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME

We use soy-based ink and 80# environment text

with 80% post-consumer fiber. FSC certified.

GROW WITH US.

Information inside.

FOR FARMING FAMILIES, TREES PROVIDE A SOURCE OF INCOME WHILE RESTORING THE LAND.

FINANCIAL SECURITY IS A REALITY FOR THESE GIRLS GROWING UP IN MAIZAL, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THANKS TO THE HARVEST OF COCOA.