We've Got Fans, another way you can be a part of Plant With Purpose

by Corbyn Small

In a week and a half Plant With Purpose's fanpage on facebook has gone from under 150 members to almost 400! The Facebook fanpage is a quick and easy way to for us here at Plant With Purpose to share regular photos of the day, happenings in the field and office, upcoming events, and videos with our followers. 

We have talked a lot about the multiplier effect in recent blogs and seeing an increase in over 200 members in just a few days time shows that you can make a difference. It was only a  group of about 10-12 people who participated last week and invited their friends to check out the Plant With Purpose fan page and look at the results! Now 200 more people will have easy access to ways to be involved in the good that is being done in 225 communities around the world. 

In part with launching Plant With Purpose we have been working hard to make a grouping of social networks including another facebook cause page and we even have a twitter account with over 350 followers. It's quick, it's easy, and you can do it too! We'd love to keep you updated and informed and it is as easy as clicking 'become a fan' to the right of this blog post. If you want to take part in the multiplier effect then all you have to do is click here then 'suggest to friends', and your friends will get to join in as well. Thanks for being a part of spreading Plant With Purpose's message and truly being a part of an organization that is transforming lives.

Recent shots posted as photo of the day on the fanpage

Thailand Community Spotlight: Huai Mak Liem

Plant With Purpose works with rural hill tribes in Northern Thailand to help holistically address the social, economic and environmental issues plaguing these upland farmers and their land. Since 2003, we have built relationships with 55 families living in the Huai Mak Liem community in the Palaung village in Thailand. The biggest projects these people are working on, in conjunction with our local partner the Upland Holistic Development Project (UHDP), are backyard agriculture, fish farms, building latrines and cisterns, animal husbandry and a community pig project, and family gardens. One community member, Mr. Sang Lawan, is a 62 year-old former community leader who specializes in making Palaung jewelry. He is only 1 of 3 in the entire northern Thai region who can make this unique type of craft. Mr. Sang purchases 1.5 kilos of silver at an acquisition cost of 15,000 baht, but is able to convert that into 35,000 to 40,000 in a few months. He acquires much of his silver from Indian coins, (rupees) that circulated around in the early 1900’s and he melts them to make the jewelry. Once he is finished, he is able to sell a silver bracelet for 1,000 baht with a cost of 400 baht. Mr. Sang says that he sees Palaung jewelry as an important part of the Thai culture and he wants to preserve this tradition. Unfortunately, he has an eye problem and has not been able to make any jewelry lately. He is being treated by a doctor and hopes to return to his craftsmanship soon. According to Mr. Sang, the biggest felt need in the community is the lack of land. Most land is owned by one family. The owner does not charge rent, the tenant’s residence is only a verbal agreement, but he is willing to sell to the tenants at 5,000 baht for each house. Therefore Mr. Sang is worried if something were to happen to the landowner. Since the agreement is verbal, he is concerned about the stability of the community’s living situation. A total of 11 families have moved here with the owner’s permission. That’s all for now…stay tuned for more updates from the field! Click here to read more about Plant With Purpose's work with local farmers in Thailand. Click here to sponsor a village in Thailand.