Tanzania in 2008

by Corbyn Small Over the last year, Plant With Purpose witnessed significant growth an success in every aspect of the Tanzania program as small farmers worked together to transform their lives through Plant With Purpose's training, opportunities and encouragement. Most notably, the Village Community Banking (VICOBA) groups continue to grow and thrive. These groups bring communities together to raise capital for small loans to improve their farms and start small business initiatives. Women make up 80% of these community banking groups, and have reported an increase in self-esteem as they use their own profits to contribute to the household income, send their children to school and creatively implement business ventures.

Some stats from last year in Tanzania

-Plant With Purpose worked with community members to establish 30 tree nurseries for the purpose of growing new seedlings for reforestation and agroforestry efforts. By the end of the fiscal year, these nurseries housed a supply of 81,191 seedlings.

-125,891 trees were planted in reforestation efforts, bringing the program's 4-year lifetime total of trees planted to 273,405.

-Plant With Purpose worked with Tanzanian communities to operate t total of 23 VICOBA groups, which collectively distributed 530 loans in the total amount of $59,909. Group members contributed $59,422 of their own funds to use for these loans.

-532 fuel efficient stoves were provided to households for cooking and heating, reducing local wood consumption and improving respiratory health among community members.

-Plant With Purpose worked with farmers to construct living barriers and 363 soil contours, protecting hillsides from soil erosion.

-952 compost heaps were established, providing a safe, low-cost source of organic fertilizer for use on farms, tree nurseries, and gardens.

Thank you for your support of the Plant With Purpose programs, to learn more about Tanzania and the work being done there click here http://www.plantwithpurpose.org/

Micah Film Festival

by Corbyn Small

Last Friday I had the pleasure of representing Plant With Purpose at one of the best events I have been to in a long time, the Micah Film Festival at the Crest Theater in Oceanside. Organized by friends of Plant With Purpose, the festival was a three day event that screened three different powerful documentaries that were truly thought provoking and inspiring. 40% of the ticket sales were redistributed by attendees to non-profit organizations like ours, and Plant With Purpose was able to share its Trees Please video with the audience as a "movie preview" before the screening on Friday.

I wanted to share a quick synopsis and some of my thoughts on the documentary "As We Forgive." This film dug deep into the history leading up to the mass genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994 when one in eight Rwandans were murdered for no other reason than prejudice and brainwashing. But this documentary didn't give the history in the traditional report form, instead it came from testimonies of survivors translated across the bottom of the screen, which for me put a face to a tragedy that I had heard so many bits and pieces of information about but never stopped to think about perspectives from both sides.

The main focus of the movie was reconciliation and mercy. From what I did know about the actual genocide, I have never known what has happened in Rwanda since then. From this film, I learned that due to governmental incapabilities to prosecute the 40,000 Hutu perpetrators that confessed to their crimes against their own neighbors, the government released them all to become neighbors once again with those whose family members they had slain. There has been incredible rebuilding since 1994, but the reconciliation between the Hutu and the Tutsi's was primarily left to non-profit organizations and churches. The film explores the lives of individuals who were on both sides of the conflict, a man who committed an inconceivable act against a woman's husband, and the woman who lost her husband to the neighbor that once had shared meals with them both. How could anyone expect the woman to forgive a man for such acts, let alone an entire nation of Tutsis.

Someone mentioned after the film was over that this genocide took place at the same time as the OJ Simpson trials. Even though I was only nine when both happened, I am saddened that I remember watching OJ for hours and did not find out about the mass murder of hundreds of thousands of innocent people until many years after the fact. I want to invite you to see this documentary and consider, as I have, the true definition of forgiveness and mercy. See the preview below and then click here to visit their site.

Thank you to everyone who helped put the Micah Film Festival on and make it such a huge success and for opening my eyes to mercy as I have never seen it before.

The Top 10 Myths of Disaster Relief

by Kate McElhinney When a disaster strikes in a developing country, Americans are usually instantly on the scene, helping in any way they can. The media shows footage of people suffering around the clock and we want to know what we can do to help. Relief work is important, however before jumping in it’s imperative to examine our strategies and how it will best benefit the people.

At Plant With Purpose, we mainly focus on development as a long term solution to poverty and as a preventative measure against the damage caused by natural disasters. However, last fall when four hurricanes hit Haiti we supplied relief aid by raising support for seedlings, animals and food. We tried to find the balance between how we think we can help and how best to use our resources to help the poor.

These top 10 myths of disaster relief were written by Rich Moseanko, a relief director for World Vision. Here, Moseanko explains the truth behind the top 10 myths of disaster relief. 1. Americans can help by collecting blankets, shoes and clothing. The cost of shipping these items – let alone the time it takes to sort, pack and ship them –is prohibitive. Often, those items are manufactured for export to the U.S. from these same countries. It is far more efficient to purchase them locally. Cash is the better solution. 2. Helping the living always has priority over burying the dead. In refugee camps and epidemic situations where people die of diseases, it is essential to dispose of the bodies within a short period of time. If they died of other causes such as drowning, they are less of a health risk but pose an impediment to relief efforts and delay the mourning process. 3. The United States must airlift food and medicines to the disaster site. Food is virtually always available within a day's drive of the disaster site. Purchasing the food locally is more cost-efficient, and it ensures that the food is appropriate to local residents' tastes and religious requirements. Medicines are often available within the country, too. India, for example, has a large pharmaceutical industry. Because medicines are high-value, low-weight commodities, in some cases they can and must be airlifted in to save lives. 4. If I send cash, my help won't get there. Reputable agencies send 80 percent or more of cash donations to the disaster site; the rest goes for administration, operating expenses and monitoring the efficiency of their own operations. Donors have a right and a responsibility to ask aid groups how they will be using those donations, and what will be done with donations raised in excess of the need. 5. Once someone survives the immediate disaster, he or she is safe. The immediate catastrophe kills quickly; survivors can face a slower death from hunger, disease and even criminal predators. While emergency medical teams certainly are needed for people injured in a disaster, the best way to keep survivors healthy is to provide clean water and adequate sanitation. Cholera and dysentery can result from drinking contaminated water; malaria-spreading mosquitoes breed in standing water. 6. Developing countries depend on foreign expertise. While specialized assistance is always welcome, most relief and recovery efforts are accomplished by local aid groups, police, firefighters and neighbors before international teams arrive. Also, in recent years most governments have established disaster preparedness plans. 7. Relief needs are so intense that almost anyone can fly to the scene to offer help. Professionals with specialized skills and overseas disaster experience are often deployed to disaster sites. Volunteers without those skills can do more harm than good, and siphon off critical logistics and translation services. Hiring qualified disaster survivors is much more cost efficient and provides much needed employment. 8. Survivors feel lucky to be alive. Shock, trauma and the mourning for loved ones who died are common among disaster survivors. Often, they wish it was they who died instead of their loved ones. Treating these emotional needs is an essential component of relief efforts. 9. Insurance and governments can cover losses. The vast majority of the world's population has never heard of an insurance policy, let alone are able to purchase one. Further, governments of poor countries can barely meet ongoing social service needs, let alone provide a safety net like FEMA. Disaster survivors must bear these costs alone. 10. People are helpless in the face of natural disasters. The United States is proof that tougher building codes, early warning and disaster preparedness can save lives. Even in poor countries, communities are taking steps to mitigate the loss of life in future emergencies.

Caring for Creation in Haiti

by Scott Sabin

As the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti’s troubles are no secret. Daily headlines such as, “Haitian Migrant Shipwreck Kills 15, Dozens Missing” describe the plight of this impoverished country. Sadly, this is not new news, but astonishing news nonetheless.

Out of sheer desperation, these Haitians risk their lives by packing into tiny 60 foot boats, sometimes carrying as many as 120 people, hoping to escape poverty and find work and a better life. Because of extreme poverty, people are forced to leave their homeland, their families, and their culture since it is not providing like it used to.

Headlines such as this make Haiti’s circumstance seem hopeless. The country is trapped in a dismal spiral of poverty and despair. The land has dried up as a result of massive deforestation. And hurricanes threaten to wipe out entire communities each year.

Given these facts, it becomes understandable why escape seems like the only viable option of survival for Haitians. All their resources have been depleted. However, this panicked flight does not have to happen. People’s lives can be revived by tracing the problem back to its roots and thus finding the solution: the earth.

Approximately 70 percent of Haiti's 9 million people work the land. Therefore restoring agricultural production is vital to generating jobs, feeding the hungry, and healing the land. If proper agro-forestry techniques are applied, some of these effects can be alleviated. For instance, by planting trees and terraces along with native crops such as plantains, mangoes and avocados on hillsides, massive mud slides and erosion are prevented.

This past May, one of our program officers traveled to Haiti to meet with communities. Last October we provided relief to Haiti after the four brutal hurricanes hit the country last fall. After speaking with the local communities that were most impacted by the storm, he said he was amazed to see that the people were not entirely discouraged. He explained their attitude as “motivated” as was evidenced by the lush crops that were beginning to bloom. They are replanting trees to hold the soil in place, and this hurricane season they will be better prepared to brace for any storms.

Relief work is beneficial, but for a long lasting solution Haitians must focus on sustainable development. Of course this does not happen overnight; it takes hard work and planning. But the result effects generations to come. My hope is that overtime, Haitians won’t have to flee their country to escape a life of misery. By caring for the earth now, future generation’s lives will be transformed along with the earth and the people will be empowered to reclaim their land. It is a vision that with God’s help can be made possible.

This article was posted on Sustainlane on 8/5/09.

Re: No Time to Waste No Water to Waste

by Kristen Tucker

Kristen is the Director of Finance and Administration at Plant With Purpose. Read below for some great tips on how to save water! I live in an old condo that has a pretty poor hot water system. Not only is there a really limited supply of hot water, but it takes FOREVER for even luke-warm water to come out of my tap. A little more than two months ago, right before the level two alert came out, I decided to start conserving water that would otherwise go down the drain while waiting for my shower and sink water to get warm.

Here is what I do: I keep 2 buckets in my bathroom at all times (a small bathroom, mind you, but well worth the annoyance) and a small-size mixing bowl that fits underneath my bathroom sink faucet. Every time I take a shower, I stick the buckets underneath the faucet to collect the water until it turns hot. One bucket is usually sufficient for that. And every time I wash my face in the sink, I stick the mixing bowl underneath the faucet and then empty that into the larger buckets. It usually takes 2 buckets of water before the water is warm enough to my liking. I then use these buckets to water the vegetable plants in my (very tiny) backyard. The mere act of this has made me realize how much water I actually use--and that's with already being mindful of not wasting precious resources such as water. Now for a little math. Let’s say these buckets hold 3 gallons of water, so when I take a shower I’m conserving 3 gallons and when I wash my face I conserve 6 gallons. On average, in a 2 day period I will take 1 shower and wash my face 3 times. This equals 21 gallons of water that I save in a two day period! And that’s ONLY saving my bathroom waiting-for-the-water-to-get-hot water, so it doesn’t take into account the water that runs down the drain during my shower, water used to flushed the toilet, and water used to wash dishes.

My yard is pretty small. I have 3-5 veggie plants at a given time, 2 potted herbs, a lemon tree, and a lime tree. The rest of my yard consists of California Native Plants, which helps to cut down on water consumption. I also have a thick layer of bark mulch covering the plant beds, which helps to keep the soil moister for a greater length of time. So with this small amount of flora, I find that my 10 gallon per day average of conserved water is sufficient enough—so sufficient that I have probably watered my garden with a hose 3 times in the last 2 1/2 months since starting this conservation regiment! And sometimes, even, I find myself dumping a bucket of water into my toilet tank as I flush because my plants look like they’ve had enough water for the time being.

I do have to confess my initial motivation was to build up statistical ammunition to prove to my pesky HOA that they need to invest in buying new water heaters. (Side Note: If you are considering buying a place that is run by an HOA, please do your research and let the HOA’s reputation be a huge part of your buying decision. Ours is extremely annoying and if we could do it all over, we would not have bought there based merely upon this fact. Not that I’m not grateful for owning a place of my own and not being in danger of foreclosure...) Every few months my HOA posts threats of raising the HOA fee because of the increase in water prices. Yes, the complex’s astronomical water bill is affected by wasteful uses of water. But it’s also affected by pin hole leaks in our old-fashioned and shabby copper piping. And by our out-dated, half-working water heaters. In addition to pointing fingers at the tenants, the directors should also be pointing fingers at themselves for not upgrading to a more energy and cost efficient water heater system. With my water-saving experiment, I concluded that if my complex, made up of 46 units, invested in a new water heater system, we would save at a minimum 460 gallons of water every day. And that’s assuming there’s only 1 person living in each unit and that he or she takes only 1 shower and washes his/her face 3 times in 2 days. And that’s only calculating water saved from showers and face washes. Think of how much more water is wasted considering the fact that the vast majority of the units house more than one individual. And think of how much money and water would be saved a month if they were to invest in new water heaters.

To bring this point home, if you live in a complex, you may have a better water heater and piping system that pumps out hot water quicker than the complex I live in. And, if you live in a complex, you probably don’t have a yard so you have less plants to water. You can still use your buckets to help flush toilets. On the flip side, if you live in a house you almost most definitely have a better water system (heater-wise, at least). And almost definitely have more flora to water than I do, which might require you to use your hose more frequently than I do. But if you calculate it out, I’ll bet your water bill will decrease none the less. With that said, I challenge you all to try water saving techniques. (And, if you are a numbers geek like me, figure out statistics that are specific to your situation.) It is quite an eye-opening experience—not only will you be amazed at how much you conserve, but also you will feel proud that you are doing your part in the world. And you just might surprise your friends and family at how much of a green thumb you really are. It’s truly a small act (taking maybe an extra 5 minutes a day) that has such great impact: on your plants, on your pocketbook, on our great state of California (not to mention those states we are buying water from), and on our planet.

No Time to Waste, No Water to Waste

by Corbyn Small

Staying on a similar theme from my post two weeks ago: water, desertification, drought. Sounds like I am about to dive into another blog about East Africa, when in fact my topic today is a little closer to home, San Diego. In case you don't follow the news here in San Diego, or the San Diego news hasn't reached your home elsewhere, the city has issued a Level Two Drought Alert to all of it's residents as of June 1, 2009. You may not have thought of it before but San Diego is a desert, it's chaparral climate is warm, dry, and it does not have a large source of water near it's major populations. Only 10-20 percent of the drinking water here in San Diego comes from rain water that falls and is saved in reservoirs, while the rest travels upwards of 1,000 miles through aqueducts from Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado. Ocean water desalinization plants are expensive making aqueducts that travel through countless metropolitan cities the most viable option for San Diego's water supply.

Here is what the level two alert means for us here in San Diego:

    * Homes with odd-numbered addresses can water: Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday

    * Homes with even-numbered addresses can water: Saturday, Monday & Wednesday

    * Apartments, Condos and Businesses can water: Monday, Wednesday & Friday

These regulations have been put in place to help remind people to limit and conserve their water usage during this time of drought. Other regulations have been removed in order to reuse household water for personal gardens. Starting today, the regulation keeping people from creating simple at-home systems to divert used water from bathtubs, showers, and washing machines into their gardens has been lifted. You are no longer required to have a permit to reuse this water that is called "grey water" for your backyard jungle. A single family could reuse 22,000 gallons of tap water a year by simply diverting rinse water from their washing machine. Collectively San Diegan's can significantly relieve the stress levels that are on our water supplies.

If you live here in San Diego, next time you take a shower, wash your car, or water your garden think about the fact that you are using an imported resource that local San Diegans wouldn't have unless our kind friends in Colorado and Utah shared their tasty mountain top snow melt. It is almost beyond my capacity to think about San Diego in a similar context as the countries where Plant With Purpose works with rural subsistence level farmers, but the truth is we need to be mindful of our resources and careful about how we go about preserving them.

Helpful Resources:

Here is a cool site that gives practical solutions to saving water and tells you how much you will save.  http://bit.ly/18hRLP

Details about reusing grey water.  http://bit.ly/O5KV8

A workshop to teach you all about setting your home up with grey water systems http://commgardens.meetup.com/58/calendar/11020515/

Fantastic Mr. Fungus

by Aly Lewis

It’s a blue whale…it’s the Great Barrier Reef...it’s a giant aspen grove! Guess again, the world’s largest living organism is actually a fungus. Armillaria ostoyae, to be precise.

Commonly known as the honey mushroom, this giant fungus feeds off of the earth and tree roots in the Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon, has been estimated to be about 2,400 years old and spans 2,200 acres. Additionally, the fungus performs important functions in the forest ecosystem such as fostering nutrient recycling and subsequently providing habitats for animals. Impressive for a low-life.

Speaking of fungi, I would like to introduce you to a little known Plant With Purpose project: mushroom modules. I know, I know, the term mushroom module means next to nothing to the average lay person, non-mycologist, but hear me out.

In 2003, Plant With Purpose initiated its first mushroom project to help rural Mixtec farmers in Oaxaca, Mexico supplement their diet and income. The project, a part of PWP’s integrated approach to poverty alleviation, is a sustainable way for farmers to complement their diet and meet their basic needs.

PWP provides technical training and expertise on the cultivation of nutrient-rich oyster mushrooms. Although not as impressive as the giant honey mushroom, oyster mushrooms are a good source of fiber, protein, and even potassium and selenium, nutrients that protect against strokes, reduce blood pressure, and rid the body of harmful free radicals. While we may think of mushrooms as a nice addition to a salad or burger, for the rural farmers of Oaxaca where daily multivitamins aren’t just a quick trip to the drug store away and 76.9% of the population of Oaxaca suffers from malnutrition (SiPaz), mushroom growing can be a life-saving production.

Mushrooms grow best in cool, dark, and damp environments, so farmers use available rooms and sheds to start their “modules.” One of the coolest aspects of the projects is that farmers are able to use leftover cornhusks and corncobs—a readily available resource—to act a substrate, or the surface on which the mushrooms can grow. Mixtec families are now including mushrooms in their traditional egg and tortilla dishes, and the diet delicacy is beginning to catch on. Additionally, families can sell their excess mushrooms in local markets to generate income. PWP has worked directly with Oaxacans to establish 15 mushroom modules, and even more families have begun their own mushroom modules as program beneficiaries share their knowledge and expertise with friends and neighbors.

This innovative mushroom project is just one the many ways PWP partners with local communities to improve their quality of life and foster self-sufficiency. Now that you know more about fungi than you were probably hoping, I’d like to leave you with a bad joke because I just can’t resist:

Why did Freddy Fungus divorce Anne Algae?

-Because their marriage was on the rocks.