25 Years of Farming for a Just and Sustainable Future

YEARS OF FARMING FOR A JUST

AND SUSTAINABLE

FUTURE

A Growing Concern, A Pressing Need In the 1990s, the world was losing a devastating 27 million acres of forest every year. Global concern and awareness about climate change and its relationship to deforestation and biodiversity loss was growing every day.

In Latin America, home to 46% of the world’s tropical forests and 50% of the world’s biodiversity, a growing number of environmental nonprofits focused their efforts on conservation, but protected land continued to be clear cut for farming.

Few made the connection between farming and the environment, and even fewer set out to address the underlying issue of poverty.

Background photo: Deforestation in Honduras, 1997 Top Right to Bottom Right: Soil erosion in Anton District,Coclé Province, Panama, 1997; Miguel Arquiñez (center), SHI’s first field trainer in Panama, meets with farmers in Santa Rita in 2002; Florence Reed set up SHI’s first office in her parents’ spare room in New Hampshire; Florence and Ermita Roches plant leucaena trees in the Toledo district of Belize in 1997.

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Florence Reed witnessed the devastating impact of deforestation on rural livelihoods during her time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama. She also saw that, if given adequate training, small-scale farmers welcomed sustainable practices that restored their land while providing for their families. They were ready for a change.

Florence returned to the United States determined to help create that change, for people and the planet. She split her time between the United States and Central America, working tirelessly to raise awareness and build a network of funders and program partners, all without the benefit of laptop computers, cell phones, or internet.

“It was two guys in Honduras and me, flying by the seat of my pants.”

— Florence Reed, SHI’s Founder + Director of Strategic Growth

In 1997, Florence officially founded Sustainable Harvest International (SHI), complete with a Board of Directors, three employees, and 50 partnering families in Honduras. In 1998 and 1999, the Honduras pilot program expanded to Panama, Belize, and Nicaragua.

From Seedling to Thriving Ecosystem In 25 years 8,124 supporters joined 3,238 farming families to form an ecosystem of advocates for a healthier planet.

Our Earth’s biodiverse ecosystems connect and sustain us all.

We’re proud that our community spans 37 countries and 6 continents, from Maine, USA to Penonomé, Panama to Zürich, Switzerland and beyond.

Together, we’ve done amazing things.

4.2 million trees planted Nearly 27,000 acres of degraded land restored Transforming the health + livelihoods of 16,190 family members in rural communities across 4 countries.

José Santo Hernández El Limón, Panama

Current Core Programs Honduras Established in 1997 10 Staff Members Santa Barbara, Yoro, Comayagua Panama Established in 1998 8 Staff Members Coclé, Panamá Belize Established in 1999 5 Staff Members Toledo, Corozal, Orange Walk

SHARLA MCFADZEAN,

Local Leaders Empowering Local Leaders SHI’s Programs are led by an exceptional team of local staff with backgrounds in agronomy, resource management, engineering, business, community development, and more. Their expertise and passion is the key to SHI’s success.

SHI-Belize Program Administrator Sharla began working with SHI in 2014. Since then, she’s moved across the country and embraced a new role, all in support of SHI’s expansion into northern Belize, a region dominated by sugarcane, agrochemicals, and deforestation. Sharla dreams that SHI will reach every corner of Belize, transforming livelihoods and empowering women farmers.

Left: Sharla with Orfa Marin in December 2021. Chunox, Belize. Top Right: Diomedes (center) with field trainers Daysbeth and Maribel (left to right), who have worked with SHI for 16 and 13 years respectively.

El Membrillo, Panama. Bottom Right: Jaime leading a workshop on agroforestry in September 2021.

La Concepción, Honduras

DIOMEDES ARROCHA, SHI-Panama Field Trainer

Diomedes has been with SHI for 13 years and is particularly proud of his work improving farmers’ livelihoods through appropriate, sustainable technologies. Years ago, Diomedes helped alter the SHI wood-conserving stove to better serve rural communities in Panama. Modified to the local context and culture, the stove has since been adopted by many organizations and government institutions working with rural populations throughout the country.

JAIME SOTO, SHI-Honduras Field Trainer When Jaime graduated from SHI’s farmer training program 16 years ago, he began his career as a field trainer. Jaime credits his success in this role to his intimate knowledge of the local culture, especially as a member of the Tolupan indigenous community.

He’s particularly proud of his work helping farmers establish rural community banks and finds immense satisfaction in seeing how SHI’s holistic program builds confidence and supports local leadership.

Partners for a Better Future Our work is built on the power of partnership and mutual respect. Field trainers work side-by-side with partnering farmers, building trust over years of collaboration. The SHI model promotes and honors long-term relationships, local knowledge, and people-to-people, community-tocommunity outreach.

We’re proud to partner with these farmers and others who are at the forefront of climate action.

“Hearing the experience of our partners from 10, 12, 14 years ago is what motivates me each day to continue working, to continue fighting.”

— Jaime Soto, SHI-Honduras Field Trainer

MARIA BALBINA RODRÍGUEZ, Aguas Claras, Panama SHI’s program is not one size fits all. When María and her family partnered with SHI-Panama in 2019, they already knew many sustainable techniques, but were determined to improve and expand. Now, with personalized assistance from SHI, their dream of saving enough money to buy more land is becoming a reality.

Meanwhile, they’re collaborating with their neighbors, sharing their knowledge, and serving as community role models.

HERNANDO SANTOYA, Chunox, Belize Over forty years ago, Hernando began farming his land to provide for his growing family of eleven children. His children had aspirations to attend school, but failed harvests and degraded soils spelled an uncertain future. When Hernando partnered with SHI in 2017, he was hopeful that sustainable practices could restore his land while creating new opportunities for his children. “One or two people can’t change the whole planet,” Hernando says. “Everyone has to do their part, for the generations that follow them.” As a graduate of SHI’s program, Hernando is doing his part and more.

“SHI’s partnering farmers become local experts in sustainable practices and positive stewards of the land. They will go on to continue this important work, sharing knowledge with others in their communities and beyond. Their actions have profound ripple effects, propelling a powerful grassroots movement for change. Even when the climate crisis seems insurmountable, these leaders make a lasting difference every single day.”

— Elliott Powell, SHI’s Executive Director

The Valdez Family El Limón, Panama

SHI’s time-tested model is a holistic, nature-positive solution to the problems we face globally.

Our work has always been at the intersection between poverty alleviation and environmentalism, recognizing that our health and well-being is connected to the health and well-being of our planet. Partnering with farming families, our programs have profound and cascading impacts on improving family nutrition, regional food security, landscape restoration, carbon drawdown, and more.

SHI’s work contributes directly to about half of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, but the following most resonate with our mission:

To build a better future, we need time-tested, naturepositive, and human-centered solutions.

We also need bold action.

We’re tackling a board-approved plan to help transform 1 million farms, restoring 8 million acres and achieving food security for 5 million people.

With 25 years of proven success in agro-ecology extension, it’s time to scale up the impact of our programs and turn the tide of food insecurity and environmental degradation.

www.millionfarmtransformation.org

“I’m thinking about how we’ve evolved over these last 25 years, all we’ve accomplished, but mostly what we’ve learned and how we’ve improved, constantly striving to do better. Now we’re ready to think about the next 25 years, the fact that we can shoot for impacting a million farms, something we never could’ve imagined before.

We have the staff, we have the board, and we have the supporters who will take us towards that goal.”

– Florence Reed, SHI’s Founder + Director of Strategic Growth

Elizabeth Rodríguez El Limón, Panama

Please consider making a special gift in celebration of our milestone year.

Donate by phone: (207) 669-8254 Make checks payable to: Sustainable Harvest International Demetrio Martínez, Jr. Partnering farmer, 2008 to 2013 SHI-Panama Advisory Board Member Membrillo, Panama Photo taken in 2022

Mail to: 177 Huntington Ave Ste 1703 #23701 Boston, MA 02115

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ADDITIONAL WAYS TO GIVE Become a Sustainer

Your ongoing commitment will provide a reliable source of income even when donations ebb and flow.

Leave a Legacy Your legacy can be the promise of replenished land, bountiful harvests, and improved livelihoods for generations.

Contact Kate to learn more: kate@sustainableharvest.org or (207) 669-8250