Spring 2006 The Sower Newsletter, Floresta

1. A Publication of Floresta USA, Inc. Spring 2006
Director’s Corner Unpacking Floresta’s
By Scott Sabin, Executive Director
Mission Statement:
“Harambee, Har-ambee, Harambee” the The Vicious Cycle
women sang as they danced down the aisle,
waving Tanzanian shilling notes joyfully “Floresta, a Christian nonprofit
organization, reverses deforestation
and poverty in the world by transform-
ing the lives of the rural poor. We
teach, we plant, we create enterprise,
and we share the gospel.”
Packed within the few words of Floresta’s
mission statement is the foundation for a
uniquely creative, wide-reaching holistic
ministry. More than just an overarching
ideal, the statement communicates a prob-
lem, a vision for solving it, and a four-part
methodology for accomplishing this vision.
Explaining a deceptively simple mission
statement like this can sometimes be a com-
Floresta Tanzania community members view auction items at plicated job for our staff, volunteers, and
VICOBA fundraiser. even our beneficiaries! This quarter’s feature
article looks at the first part of the mission
statement – the problem – and marks the
above their heads before placing them in first in a series of discussions designed to ac-
the basket at the head table. Harambee is a quaint Sower readers with Floresta’s mission
Swahili word, meaning “Let’s pull togeth- and vision as it relates to our work
er.” It also refers to the type of community internationally.
fundraiser in which we were participating.
Earlier that afternoon as we worked on our
strategic plan, Floresta Tanzania director
Edith Banzi had talked to me about local
fundraising events, and I had been skepti-
cal. As I watched these women singing,
however, my skepticism vanished.
We were at a fundraiser for one of
three Village Community Banks or VI-
COBA groups that we have established to
help Tanzanian villagers save money and
generate capital for small businesses. It is
a different approach for us, involving no
direct contribution of money from Flo-
resta. During our first year in Tanzania, we
experimented with making small loans for
agroforestry and microenterprises, as we A mountainside in Haiti once covered in trees is now
have done in our other programs, but barren, the result of deforestation.
See Director’s Corner on page 7 See Mission Statement on page 6

2. Faces of Floresta: Bob Morikawa
forget everything you and God talked about. You spend the
rest of your life trying to recall that conversation.
Bob Morikawa on a Favorite part of your job: Being stretched and challenged in
recent trip to Flores- so many ways. I really love trekking through the countryside,
ta’s US offices this hunting down tree seed, and sharing with farmers who have a
February passion for collecting and growing seed.
Favorite Floresta memory: Sitting cross-legged and exhaust-
ed on the porch of a stilted wooden hut in northern Thailand,
eating upland rice, bamboo shoots, catfish, forest peppers,
Here at Floresta USA, volunteers and supporters are some- local forest greens, and sipping tea with the sun going down
times surprised to learn that our program staff is much larger behind rugged green hills.
than our 6-person San Diego office implies. In fact, Floresta
is made up of a diverse family of dedicated, talented indi- Hobbies/interests: canoeing, camping, cross-country
viduals working across the globe! The Sower’s newest item, skiing, volleyball, sudoku
“Faces of Floresta,” will feature a Q&A designed to help ac- Favorite book: Shogun by James Clavell
quaint readers with a different member of our international
staff each quarter, and to explain their role in carrying out Favorite quote: “Honest criticism is hard to take, particu-
Floresta’s work and mission. larly from family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers.”
This month’s featured employee is Bob Morikawa, – Mark Twain.
Floresta’s Technical Director. An expert in tropical agro-
Interesting fact about you: My middle name, Tamotsu,
forestry, Bob lives in Canada but spends over 75% of the
means Protector in Japanese, and my last name, Morikawa,
year away from home, working directly with farmers in
means Forest River.
Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Tanzania. On
his extended program visits, Bob supervises and evaluates The Sower is Now Available
program operations and works to develop new research on
the best and most effective agroforestry techniques for the
by Email!
areas where Floresta is working. He also looks for new places The latest
where Floresta’s programs are needed, and is a key member news from
in the planning and development of Floresta’s latest initia- Floresta is
tive: the trans-border project between Haiti and the Domini- now avail-
can Republic. able at your
Birthplace: Brantford Ontario, also the birthplace of mailbox
Wayne Gretsky and your
inbox!
Number of years working with Floresta: 7 years as a We are
consultant, 2 as full-time employee excited to
announce
Brief job description: I assist with the start up of new pro-
that The
grams and help existing programs develop new innovations
Sower will
in agroforestry, soil conservation, and agriculture.
be avail-
Motivation for working with Floresta: It’s my calling, I able as an e-newsletter beginning with our Summer
think. Richard Bolles author of the famous career counseling 2006 issue. If you prefer to receive future Sower issues by
book, What Color is Your Parachute? wrote an apocryphal tale email rather than in paper form, or if you’d like to receive
describing how before you are born, you and God are looking quarterly Sower emails in addition to your mailed copy,
down on the earth. You have this long and intimate conversa- please sign up on our website (www.floresta.org), contact
tion, talking about all the things you are supposed to do while our offices at 858-274-3718, or email Chelsea Klaseus at
you’re on earth. Then you are born and immediately chelsea@floresta.org.
The Sower

3. Build a Terrarium
Floresta farmers working in dry areas
sometimes grow plants in special indoor
farms so they get plenty of moisture and
protection. Tomatoes in Mexico, for
instance, are grown under a large tarp
that holds moisture in and keeps harmful
insects out.
You can build a terrarium at home to see
how these farms work on a smaller scale.
Terrariums are small containers that act
as “mini gardens” to grow plants that
need a lot of moisture. Seeds planted in
a terrarium are easy to grow: after they
are planted and watered once, they don’t
need much more than some time and a
little sunlight!
Ingredients:
• Empty plastic, 2 liter soda bottle
with cap
• Scissors or a craft knife
• Potting soil
• Seeds – any variety
• Water
Directions: 6. Lightly sprinkle water on top of the seeds and soil.
1. Remove the label from the soda bottle and 7. Place the cap back on the top of the soda bottle.
throw away. 8. Fit the top of the soda bottle back onto the base
2. Wash and rinse out the bottle and cap. filled with soil and seeds.
3. Ask an adult to help you use scissors or a craft 9. Place bottle in a sunny spot, and watch seeds start
knife to cut the bottle across in a straight line, a to grow!
few inches from the bottom.
4. Take the bottom of the bottle and fill it lightly After your seeds have sprouted and are ready, you
with potting soil. can take them from the terrarium and transplant them
5. Plant a few seeds in the soil. in your garden!
The Sower

4. Village Spotlight: San Andres Nuxiño
One of the it’s been said that the group is an example to follow. It’s a
wonderful real testament that things can be done when there is a will to
outcomes of work and organize.” Floresta’s Agronomist Raul Casaos now
Floresta’s pro- has plans to establish three additional greenhouses in other
grams is that communities
participating The testimony of success from communities like San An-
villages often dres Nuxiño would not exist without our dedicated sponsors.
become “lights For $30 a month, donors are able to partner with a village
on a hill” – like San Andres Nuxiño, receiving regular updates and photos
witnesses to from the village. Plus, first time Village Sponsors who sign up
surrounding with an automatic payment option will have their first year’s
Floresta farmers in San Andres Nuxiño proudly communities donation matched! That means your $30-a-month sponsor-
display their greenhouse’s first harvest of tomoatoes. who behold ship will automatically bring in an additional $360 to help
the transformation taking place among their neighbors. The your village. Sign up now on the enclosed envelope, visit our
community of San Andres Nuxiño in Mexico is an illustra- website, or call us at 858-274-3718 to take advantage of the
tion of just how well a small light can spread: the testimony opportunity to partner with a transforming village!
of the excellent work being done there has caused many -
neighboring communities to begin implementing Floresta’s
Floresta Website Updates
San Andres
programs for themselves.
In San Andres Nuxiño, Floresta has been training farmers
in sustainable agricultural and reforestation techniques which
have resulted in improved nutrition and increased income for
Nuxiño
many families. One example is a recently established tomato
greenhouse, which is run cooperatively by seven families in the
community. The greenhouse is flourishing, and a few buyers
have already offered to buy the entire harvest!
Sr. Luis Acevedo, a citizen of San Andres Nuxiño,
declares, “I am very thankful for God and Floresta because we
are learning something new with the operation of green-
houses…what was once a dream is now a reality and is be-
ginning to impact the political authorities and community;
We’ve been hard at work updating the Floresta website!
Check out www.floresta.org to see the latest improve-
ments, including downloadable versions of past and
recent Annual Reports and 990s, archived Sower issues,
and up-to-date program information. Check back often
– more changes and updates are in progress!
And while you’re online, check out Floresta’s blog,
“The Trees” for access to breaking news, program updates,
and an opportunity to comment. Point your browser to
www.floresta777.blogspot.com and join the conversation!
The Sower

5. Volunteer of the Quarter: Fundraising News
Tricia Elisara Matching opportunities successful in
A hard-working director of her own non-profit organization,
raising new funds!
mother of two young boys, and volunteer at several Christian Last year, Floresta initiated its “Matched Sponsorships”
environmental
program, thanks to an anonymous donor who promised to
organizations, Tricia
match, dollar for dollar, the first year contributions of all
Elisara still manages
to devote a signifi- donors who pledged automatic recurring monthly dona-
cant amount of her tions. Floresta’s Village Sponsors, for instance, can double
time to Floresta as their financial impact, as their $30/month donation triggers
an active volunteer an automatic $360 in matched contributions. This gener-
and a valued board ous offer has already been a tremendous success, and has
member. Tricia’s greatly increased Floresta’s incoming monthly donations!
involvement with In other “matching news,” Floresta was recently honored
Tricia Elisara visits with Floresta Incorpo- Floresta began in to receive a challenge grant from one of its supporting
rada’s Director Carlos Disla during a trip to 1995, when she foundations. Through this opportunity, the foundation will
the Dominican Republic. met Scott Sabin and match up to $10,000 in funding Floresta receives from new
began assisting with donors and/or new foundations during the next year.
Floresta’s banquets. In 2002, she joined the board of directors,
and her extensive knowledge and experience, together with her
passion for environmental stewardship, have contributed im-
mensely to Floresta ever since.
This year, Tricia took on the responsibility of planning
Floresta’s first-ever board retreat, held February 3rd to 5th in the
mountains of Julian, California. Tricia envisioned a threefold
mission for this year’s retreat, in which board members would
“Creation care is part of God’s story –
gratefully receiving and joyfully participating
in all He has blessed us with.”
be able to spend significant time in prayer and worship, learn
in greater detail about Floresta’s work, and ultimately get to
know one another on a more personal level. “I believe strongly
in a relational approach to ministry,” she explains, “and I had a
vision for a retreat designed to build stronger relationships be-
tween board members, who would then be equipped to work Breaking News
together creatively and strategically.” Floresta named a “Shining Light” by
Tricia, whose interest in environmental stewardship be- Wall Watchers
gan during a college semester spent in Costa Rica, has dedi-
cated much of her career and spare time to issues of creation In February, Floresta was honored to be selected as one
care. She and her husband, Chris, founded the organization of Wall Watchers’ “Shining Light Ministries,” and will be
“Creation Care Study Program,” which provides Christian featured on MinistryWatch.com, the organization’s online
college students with the opportunity to study abroad in
database which profiles hundreds of nonprofit organizations
Belize or the South Pacific, learning about local ecosystems
in an effort to keep Christians informed about opportuni-
while participating in outdoor adventures and getting ac-
quainted with a new culture. “My desire to stay involved in ties for responsible giving. Find out more by visiting our
global ministry,” she says, stems from her belief that “creation website (www.floresta.org) or stay tuned for more details in
care is part of God’s story – gratefully receiving and joyfully the next Sower issue!
participating in all He has blessed us with.”
The Sower

6. Mission Statement - Cont’d from page 1
Part 1: The Problem In turn, much environmental destruction is the result of
Beneath Floresta’s mission statement is the assumption of a economic need. As crop yields suffer from poor soil qual-
problem: the fundamental connection between poverty and
deforestation in poor, rural regions of developing countries.
While poverty and deforestation each present their own set
of problems, neither issue is independent of the other – this
is what we refer to as the “vicious cycle”, and putting an end
to it is the very heart of Floresta’s work.
Deforestation is among the major causes of poverty and
human suffering in the countries where we work. In many
Forests are sacrificed as trees are cut for firewood in Oaxaca.
ity, the need for an alternate, immediate source of income
becomes increasingly urgent. In exercising the only methods
they know to sustain their families, farmers are paradoxically
destroying their primary source of sustenance. As the cycle
repeats, the land becomes increasingly barren, its people
further entrenched in poverty.
The vicious cycle creates a rapidly deepening chasm from
which rural farmers often see little hope of escape. Only by
Note scope of riverbed erosion simultaneously addressing both the economic and environ-
in comparison to size of man mental sides of this vicious cycle can it truly be broken. This
A dry riverbed sits below deforested hillsides in the Dominican is why the key to Floresta’s solutions lies in reversing the
Republic, the result of a catastophic mudslide. entire series of events by creating a new, “virtuous cycle” that
restores the land while strengthening the economy. In the
parts of the developing world, wood and charcoal are still next issue of The Sower, we will look at this virtuous cycle,
primary fuel sources. Poor farmers in these countries of- and its unique but realistic approach in solving these difficult
ten survive through subsistence farming – growing barely problems.
enough food to eat, let alone take to the market. In a desper-
ate attempt to earn a meager, temporary income, these farm-
ers turn to the forests, where they cut trees for firewood and
charcoal production.
Unfortunately, the rampant deforestation caused by poor
farmers has devastating effects on the local ecosystem as well
as the local economy. As trees begin to diminish, so does the
potential for farms – even subsistence farms – to survive.
Trees help soil to absorb water and protect it from erosion.
Without them, rainwater cannot permeate the soil, resulting
in a loss of moisture. For farmers working without irrigation,
this quickly becomes a matter of life and death. Likewise,
trees help anchor soil in watershed regions. When hillsides
are robbed of these anchors, entire villages become vulner-
able to flooding, mudslides, and subsequent destruction on a Tree stumps provide evidence of rampant deforestation along the Half
massive scale. Mile Strip at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
The Sower

7. Director’s Corner - Cont’d from page 1
At this particular fundraising event, a VICOBA group
from a neighboring region, which had provided training as-
sistance to the Floresta groups, was invited, along with local
politicians, church leaders and wealthier citizens. Sitting at
the head table with the special guests, I saw presentations on
vegetable gardens, fuel efficient stoves and reforestation, and
then watched the group members contribute their shares. The
guests marveled at the discipline of the group and laughed at
the degree to which the fine collector seemed to relish his job.
(To be honest, I was a little anxious when the village secretary,
sitting next to me, was fined for having his arms folded during
the clapping, but was later told that as a non-member, I was
immune.)
Then the fundraising portion of the afternoon began,
and as all eighty of us sang “harambee,” each of the guests
was expected to dance forward and contribute.
By the end of the afternoon, after all the vegetables and
tree seedlings were auctioned off, nearly $500 had been
raised for the Mshiri village loan fund…and I had some
great ideas for Floresta USA’s next fundraising dinner.
Kimaro raises money for VICOBA by auctioning produce.
found the loans extraordinarily hard to collect. Experience
elsewhere in Africa has shown that people have a tendency to
have much greater respect for loans that they take from money
contributed by themselves and their neighbors. Thus we
turned to the VICOBA system, which originates in Africa.
Each of our three VICOBA groups has about 30 mem-
bers, mostly women. The meetings, which take place weekly,
have the feel of a pep rally, full of unison chants and motiva-
tional songs. Members are expected to contribute between one Meeting of Kokirie VICOBA group
and three shares, with each share being worth approximately
one dollar. The money is kept in a metal box with three locks, Floresta’s Mission
and the three keys are held by different officers of the group, Floresta, a Christian nonprofit organization, reverses
which makes opening the box a collective effort. deforestation and poverty in the world by transforming
To build group solidarity, a complicated protocol is fol- the lives of the rural poor.
lowed. When people contribute, the shares are referred to as We teach, we plant, we create enterprise
and we share the gospel.
“bunches of bananas” or “cows.” Other members of the group
clap once for each share brought forward and conclude by Issue #74.
snapping their fingers. Fines are assessed on members who are The Sower is published quarterly by Floresta USA
late or who violate some aspect of the protocol. Fines are mini- 4903 Morena Blvd., Suite 1215,
mal and good natured, but together with the interest charged San Diego, California 92117
on loans, go towards building the loan capital that groups Ph: (858) 274-3718, (800)633-5319.
have available to their members. Fax: (858)-274-3728 • www.floresta.org
The Sower

8. In This Issue:
New Model for Loans in
Tanzania (Director’s
Corner, p. 1)
Director’s Corner ..........................1
Mission Statement Defined/Pt. 1 ..1
Faces of Floresta ...........................2
Kid’s Page .....................................3
Village Spotlight ...........................4
Floresta agrono-
mist Albert Samson
demonstrates tree
planting techniques
along the Half Mile
Strip in Tanzania.
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