How We Got Here: As owners of a farm-to-table business in Central Pennsylvania, we have spent the last 15 years growing and raising our own food for our family and customers in our community. We live simply and close to the land that has been in the family for over 100 years. In addition, we have been involved in community development and outreach in the States for a good number of years, having a desire to help those in need. In 2014, while on a cruise excursion in Belize to the Mayan ruins, we were struck by the many poverty-stricken villages we saw. In the months that followed, we felt led to explore ways to help the people of Belize, specifically in the arena of sustainable agriculture. In 2016, we made connections with a ministry organization from Texas who has been doing work in Belize for nearly 20 years - as we toured the country with them, we became very aware of how so many families struggle to provide even the basic needs for their family, not because they aren't willing to do what is necessary, but more so because they lack the needed resources, transportation, training and support. This began our Sowing Seeds in Belize project when we returned in early 2017.
The Project: Concentrating on farmers in the San Pablo village, we began a partnership to resource, train and establish marketing distribution for specialty crop production – crops that are in high demand around the world, namely yellow ginger (turmeric), nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, vanilla and coffee. We resourced the farmers with 200# of yellow ginger root stock, which after harvest, will be exported to the United States for distribution throughout the herbal supplement and culinary markets. Plans are in the making to incorporate additional spice crops in San Pablo village and as this project matures, we will replicate this model in other remote villages. The financial return to the village farmers will be very significant, allowing them a better quality of life and the hope of a better future.
Why It Matters: This project matters because after seeing a need, we are acting - not only to fulfill the Biblical mandate to help the poor, but to also be part of developing people helping them to realize their dreams: to provide internet to their village to help the children expand their educational resources, to purchase a vehicle, and to be able to fund high school tuition.
