SPRING 2020 | HEIFER.ORG
®THE MAGAZINE OF HEIFER INTERNATIONAL
HEIFER ECUADOR CHOCOLATE FARMERS' BITTERSWEET PLUS HARVEST What’s the Real Cost of Your Coffee Habit? 12 WILL VEGANS SAVE THE PLANET? CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF HEIFER 32 INTERNATIONAL WHERE IT ALL BEGAN 44 ECO-FRIENDLY LAWN ALTERNATIVES horizons
Dear Determined Humanitarians,
For the last couple of years, we have been bringing you stories that demonstrate how we help farming families access formal markets for their products — an approach that expands the traditional interventions we’re known for and rapidly improves incomes, shifting project participant farms from subsistence to truly sustainable. And while we work in many and varied markets, we’re tackling two especially large players in the global economy: coffee and chocolate.
Though we’ve been TOBIASON JOE BY PHOTO working with coffee farmers for well over a decade, we hadn’t industry so that change finally local buyers and partners in TOP: Damaris fully understood the injustices comes for farming families the private sector to create new Robles (32) and Gualberto realized by the small-scale who rely on this commodity opportunities and inclusive García (53) at producers of one of the world’s for their livelihoods. markets that last. That work their home in Sucumbios most beloved beverages. A trip We’re also eyeing other is detailed here as well. Province, to Guatemala opened my eyes industries where we can have Our work has always been Ecuador. to this pressing issue. Since a positive effect for small- about connections — whether 2018, market prices for coffee scale producers. Much like it be connecting farmers with have stayed mostly under $1 per coffee, chocolate is a product the right livestock, to each pound, and low coffee prices, consumers willingly pay other or, now, to markets among other factors, make it handsomely for, while the that can bring them out of nearly impossible for farmers people who grow it are left with the cycle of poverty. These to make ends meet. We first little. Chocolate’s origins can connections are critical to wrote about coming to grips be traced back to Mesoamerica, long-term success. I hope with our role in coffee work and we are working with you learn more about these in the Fall 2019 issue. Now, growers in the Amazon to industries in this issue and feel we’re on a campaign to inform improve the quality of their more connected to the people others and change the system cacao by teaching improved responsible for the products so that farmers are finally paid growing practices. The result we enjoy on a daily basis. fairly. I hope you pay close is tasty chocolate buyers want, attention to the infographic in which means a large part of Yours for a better world, this edition that illustrates the our work also concentrates journey coffee goes through on connecting families to the from bean to cup. As 2020 right markets so their products progresses, we’ll continue fetch a fair price. In Ecuador, Pierre U. Ferrari pressuring major players in the we’re linking small farms to @HeiferCEO
HEIFER.ORG | 1 SPRING 2020 table of contents
Heifer International is teaming up with restaurants across the United States to help end hunger and poverty. When your restaurant partners with Heifer, each meal you serve makes a difference. For more information, email [email protected].
CHECK YOUR EMPLOYEE MATCHING GIFT PROGRAM DO YOU MATCH? TO DOUBLE YOUR DONATION BITTERSWEET HARVEST 18 As the world’s chocolate craving grows ever stronger, the family Your company may match your farmers who grow most of the gifts to Heifer International. chocolate still labor in poverty Use our handy checklist below to meet the demand. Farmers in and complete the easy steps today: Ecuador hope that a varietal of cacao tree called “supertree” can ❑ Give to Heifer. Thank you help feed the world’s demand for for your recent gift! chocolate and their own families. ❑ Visit www.heifer.org/matching and find your employee CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF matching gift program to HEIFER INTERNATIONAL 32 WHERE IT ALL BEGAN double your recent gift. COVER: Magola In July of 1944, 18 heifers arrived in ❑ Once you submit your matching Cecilia Cánticus Pascal, the town of Castañer, Puerto Rico, 60, harvests cacao signaling the beginning of what gift claim, call or email us and pods in Sucumbios we’ll send you a matching Province, Ecuador. would become Heifer International. gift canvas backpack! Historian Peggy Reiff Miller revisits TOP: Maroon (unripe) our first-ever project in celebration and orange/red (ripe) of our diamond anniversary. cacao pods in Sucumbios Province, Ecuador. PHOTOS BY: Joe Tobiason 888.5HUNGER (888.548.6437) | [email protected] | WWW.HEIFER.ORG/MATCHING
HEIFER.ORG | 3 letters READERS RESPOND SPRING 2020 table of contents
climate and geography, the people cards, and many of our readers and animals. I really appreciated the reached out to the Tomacs to do so. comparison of alpacas to llamas, as Shea’s mother, Jill Tomac, sent us well as the description of Andean a message, updating the progress 04 LETTERS fashion and the journey of alpaca of Shea’s fundraising efforts. Readers respond from breeding to finished goods. I lapped up every sentence Shea has reached her goal of 06 FOR THE RECORD What’s the Real Cost of and sidebar of this article. selling 77 packs of cards to earn Your Coffee Habit? Elizabeth Stevens $1,950. The donation was made Kansas on Giving Tuesday where it was 08 GOOD LIFE tripled [by a Heifer donor]! She Growing the Legendary North American Pawpaw TELL US YOUR COWS AND CLIMATE CHANGE flagged her donation for the FAVORITE Given mounting evidence of women’s empowerment program, 12 ASKED & ANSWERED methane produced by cattle in which she paid for seven girls Will Vegans Save the Planet? WORLD ARK contributing to global warming, to go to school. Since it was tripled, STORY. should we not scale back on it equated 21 girls to school! 40 HEIFER BULLETIN Use hashtag Cultivating Fungi donation of cattle for food She sold 16 packs of cards to #HeiferWorldArk Leads to Mushrooming production? people who read your article in Profits in Uganda INSPIRING STORIES Lowell Hansen World Ark magazine! We shipped 44 HEIFER SPIRIT I love the inspiration I get when I Lakewood, Colorado cards to Texas, Colorado, Vermont, @Heifer open my World Ark magazine, and Idaho, Montana, Arkansas and Eco-Friendly Lawn Alternatives the Holiday issue certainly did Editor’s note: We tackle that Pennsylvania! She received very issue in our interview with beautiful letters from those who that, with smiling wool spinners, 46 MIXED MEDIA @HeiferInternational a young girl raising money for food systems expert Benjamin purchased her cards. One woman The Mosquito: A people she will never meet with Selwyn. See Page 12 for more. is going to frame her cards and Human History of Our her cards and suggestions for put the article on the back of the Deadliest Predator @HeiferInternational real gifts to celebrate the holidays. AN ARTIST’S PHILANTHROPY frame. Another person bought 48 FIRST PERSON [There’s more] good news in our In our Holiday issue, we wrote several packs and is going to Woman’s Best Friend world as well, with the Global Fund about Shea Tomac, a high school enclose a picture of her family and to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and student in Corona del Mar, California, give them as gifts encouraging Malaria receiving full funding so who sells handmade greeting others to donate to Heifer. It was it can save 16 million lives over cards every year to support Heifer very cool to have these requests the next three years, the Nobel International. In the same article, come in from your community. Prize in Economics going to work we shared contact information for Jill Tomac PRESIDENT AND CEO World Ark is the educational, informational for ending poverty and more anyone interested in purchasing Corona del Mar, California Pierre Ferrari and outreach publication of Heifer International. Its purpose is to further people speaking up to change PUBLISHER Heifer’s goals to end poverty and hunger Annie Bergman the world for the better. Thanks while caring for the Earth and to raise MANAGING EDITOR awareness of the issues involved in this for being a partner in this work! Austin Bailey work throughout the world. Willie Dickerson WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! SENIOR EDITOR Heifer International is qualified as a Snohomish, Washington 1 WORLD AVENUE Jason Woods charitable organization under Section Please send your comments to [email protected]. LITTLE ROCK, 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. WRITERS Contributions to Heifer International are tax- AR 72202, USA Bethany Ivie Include your name, city, and a telephone number EMAIL: WORLDARK deductible to the extent permitted by law. Thanks for this great article Molly Mitchell @HEIFER.ORG The FSC® Logo or email address. Letters may be edited for © 2020, Heifer International. identifies products [“Spinning Wool Into Gold”] and its DESIGNER & ® Passing on the Gift is a registered which contain wood accompanying terrific photography. length and clarity, and may be published online PRODUCTION trademark of Heifer International. from well managed To change or remove as well as in print. Because of the volume of mail Pooi Yin Chong forests certified in I loved learning about what an address, email Opinions expressed in World Ark are those accordance with CONTRIBUTORS Heifer is doing in Ecuador. It was we receive, we cannot respond to all letters. [email protected] of the authors and do not necessarily the rules of the or call toll-free Erik Hoffner reflect the views of either the magazine Forest Stewardship so interesting to learn about the 877.448.6437. Peggy Reiff Miller or Heifer International. Council®.
4 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 5 for the record FACTS & FIGURES
What’s the Real Cost of Your Coee Habit?
Coee Addicts Coee Farmers Pay the Price
46-59% Less than 1%
The loss at which What farmers earn from average small-scale the sale of a cup of 50+% of U.S. adults 3 cups: amount the average Other countries drink far coffee farmers operate coffee at a coffeeshop drink coffee every day coffee drinker consumes daily more: Finns drink the most, 26 pounds a year 2/3
The amount coffee prices have fallen since the 1980s From Bean to Cup
Less than $1/pound At least $3/pound Farmers harvest raw, Coffee shops, if they unroasted beans don’t roast themselves, $1 Average commodity price $3 Minimum roasters and called cherries. buy the roasted coffee for coffee since late 2018 coffeeshops should pay for their coffee to ensure and sell it to you. farmers maintain a decent standard of living
Number varies based on geography, family circumstances and other factors
Middlemen or Roasted coffee is Get Informed cooperatives buy the packaged and cherries and sell them labeled. Ask your barista or email your favorite Be aware that while certification to processors. company to find out how much the people programs often raise the bar in terms who grow their coffee beans get paid. of social and environmental standards, that doesn’t mean that farmers earn enough. Go to TransparentTradeCoffee.org for a list of specialty roasters who voluntarily Talk about unfair coffee prices with disclose prices. friends and family.
The beans are dried in the Traders buy the beans and sell them Roasters turn green If your preferred brand or shop isn’t Share news about the coffee economy sun or fermented, then to importers in other countries, coffee into the familiar paying fairly, tell them so and consider on social media, and tag major coffee milled and sorted. who then sell them to roasters. brown beans. shopping elsewhere. conglomerates when you do.
6 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 7 good life TIPS FOR BETTER LIVING
Banana Mango Pineapple Pears: Growing the Legendary North American Pawpaw
By Erik Hoffner, World Ark contributor
Pawpaws that long ago evolved to use to grow from the Gulf Coast crept into large fruit-eating mammals Plain to the Lower Midwest and my garden to spread their enormous Mid-Atlantic states. I had since 10 years seeds. Animals like mastodons moved to New England, an ago. Though and giant ground sloths, area where the exotic-looking they looked like which devoured the sweet trees are rare but will grow and normal, nursery-bought produce of trees including survive winter temperatures as tree saplings, in reality they the pawpaw, the continent’s low as minus 25. In fact, their were borne to my New England largest native fruit, dispersed seeds actually require a period
home on a tide of lore, deep the seeds across the landscape of freezing (“scarification”) PHOTOS FROM BIGSTOCK.COM history and culinary curiosity. in their rich dung, which before they will germinate. I’d first heard of them during helped the plants to sprout. But due to a near complete is their notoriously short shelf my own if I wanted to be certain he’s part of the small slice of one of many stints on organic Following their partners’ lack of availability, pawpaws life of just a few days: once they about tasting one of these the population that’s allergic. farms in the Southwest during extinction, pawpaws have since approach mythical status here. are ripe you must eat them oblong beauties, and it was a I walked out with three one- the 1990s. Weeding our way relied on humans to move New England does have one fresh (with a spoon, as many shock when I started looking foot-tall saplings, since two or down a long row of greens, across the landscape, first with well-established fruit farm folks prefer) or scoop out and to mail order some young trees more trees of the same variety I listened as a co-worker native people who planted them on the Rhode Island coast freeze the flesh for subsequent and saw pawpaws offered in grown from seed (or two or reminisced about college days along trade routes to cultivate that sells them reliably each mixing into ice cream, the plant list of a nursery near more varieties from grafted in Bloomington, Indiana, places to snack while traveling, fall, and pawpaw devotees smoothies or more elaborate me. I visited the operation and trees) are required for proper when, demoralized by dining and much later with the aid do often drive from as far dishes. There are a number of was surprised to see among the pollination. Though pawpaws hall food, he’d visited the little of farmers and gardeners. away as Pennsylvania – a farms that have dabbled with hardy kiwi, persimmons and are adapted to life in the shade city’s fabulous farmers market All this had gotten me really four-hour drive one way, at shipping them overnight to clumping bamboo varieties of established tree canopies, in search of actual sustenance. curious to taste one of these minimum – to wait in line paying customers, and while a stand of pawpaws about 20 they prefer full sun, so I made There he discovered growers legendary fruits, which many before the farm stand opens some still do, the results can feet tall and nearly as wide, plans for them on the sunny offering baskets of this describe as a cross between a on the few days each year that be mixed, with fruit arriving their lush leaves enjoying the south slope below the house. strange fruit nicknamed the banana and mango, despite it offers the fresh ones for sale. in various states of edibility strong spring sunshine. After planting the trees, “Indiana banana,” and he others who insist there’s more That farm’s proprietor reports (the Rhode Island farm ended The proprietor grows I settled in to wait four to six became hooked on the exotic pear or even pineapple flavor that the ripe fruit is normally this practice years ago now), saplings from seeds collected years for their first flowers, and, flavor and consistency. than mango in their flesh. gone within minutes. and the cost was prohibitive from fallen fruits and claimed hopefully, fruit. Pawpaws flower Later I read about a slew of However, I was defied by the One other major obstacle for this writer’s salary. they were a popular item, late in spring, meaning they native North American fruits landscape itself. Pawpaws tend to greater pawpaw distribution I realized I’d have to grow though not with him, since are less likely than apples, pears
8 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 9 good life TIPS FOR BETTER LIVING
and peaches to be killed by late flies, though that increases your I watched the fruit swell all frosts. Flower they eventually chances for broken branches year with anticipation, but my did, at year eight: beautiful, from hungry raccoons and wait to sample their flesh had deep red and slightly meat- bears. I gambled and did actually come to an end the scented, their petals designed that, but no fruit appeared. previous fall, when I discovered to attract pollinating flies. When the trees flowered the a generous friend of a friend No fruit was set that year following year, I even placed a living just 20 minutes away who though, so I searched websites roadkill porcupine under their had begun his own pawpaw for the reasons for possible boughs to attract a fly swarm experiment years before mine It’s never too early failure and read that you in addition to the paintbrush and had sacks of them to share. could hand-pollinate them by routine, but still I got no fruit. Those first bites lit my to shop for swizzling a paintbrush in the In 2019, I resolved to not mind on fire. They absolutely Mother’s Day! flowers to spread pollen and go crazy and just pollinated did taste like a marriage of FREE SHIPPING increase the odds. Some folks the lower flowers I could banana and mango, but I even drape the branches with reach. I was delighted when couldn’t quite square these raw bacon to bring in more several clumps of fruit formed, exotic flavors with the autumn many of them above landscape I saw them spring the reach of my from. I was hooked. brush, so the flies Call them Hoosier bananas, HEIFER.ORG/MARKETPLACE had done their job American custard apples, admirably, without banangos or whatever you me. (I later read that like. Eat them fresh or blend pawpaws may flower them into baked goods or for a couple years ice cream (and even jam or before they decide beer), and I promise that you they’re actually will find their flavor to be as ready to set fruit.) unique as their story. n
FURTHER READING If you would like to learn more about the wild-growing, tropical-flavored fruit that’s native to the United States, check out Andrew Moore’s Pawpaw: In Search of America’s Forgotten Fruit. Moore’s book uncovers the storied history, lore and culture of pawpaws, including the fact that they saved the Lewis and Clark expedition. But mostly it’s a fun travelogue that visits the core regions where pawpaws grow both wild and with the support of humans.
10 | SPRING 2020 asked & answered DIET DILEMMA
Will Vegans Save the Planet?
Interview by Molly Mitchell, World Ark writer
As the climate crisis intensifies, we’re all wondering what we can do to heal the planet. Large-scale industrial meat farming is a major contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change, so WORLD ARK: We are hearing What makes people decide to intelligence and emotions TOP naturally an en masse switch Benjamin a lot about people choosing to go vegan? and feel pain, then it becomes Selwyn, food to veganism would solve the forgo not only meat, but also There are three interlinked much more difficult to justify systems expert dairy, eggs and all animal- arguments for veganism. One our maltreatment of them on and professor problem. Or would it? of international based foods. Is veganism of them is from an animal the basis that they are “dumb development at growing in popularity? rights perspective, which beasts.” One way that Singer the University of Benjamin Selwyn is a Sussex. Photo draws on arguments about explains this is to ask us to professor of international BENJAMIN SELWYN: “speciesism” developed in consider how we’d feel if our development at the Veganism is on the rise big- Peter Singer’s highly influential household pets were treated University of Sussex in time in the United Kingdom book, Animal Liberation. in the same way as intensively and the United States. In the Singer argued that nonhuman reared cattle. Many of us would Brighton, England. An expert U.K., the number of vegans animals are intelligent and feel be shocked, and the conclusion in food systems, Selwyn has increased from around emotions and pain. Human we should reach, according to cautions that veganism may half a million in 2016 to more animals do not uniquely Singer, is that such treatment than 3.5 million today. In the possess these abilities and of any animal is unethical. not be the cure-all we’re U.S., approximately 2.5 percent feelings. Of course, once we Another argument for looking for. of the population is vegan. recognize that animals possess veganism is that it can be
12 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 13 asked & answered DIET DILEMMA
I’m quite critical from cutting down forests for impacts on climate change. pastureland to the greenhouse But eliminating meat of the idea that by gas emissions from cattle. production in and of itself simply giving up would not stop climate animal products If everyone in the world were change. Beyond global people will be to go vegan tomorrow, would livestock production, the it stop climate change? global agroindustrial system saving the planet. The global livestock sector, generates between 20 to 35 and especially industrial- percent of anthropogenic more healthy than diets that scale beef production, has a greenhouse gases. include animal products. particularly severe impact on Many vegans rely on A third argument is that climate change: 33 percent of meat substitutes such as turning to veganism would global croplands are devoted soy for protein. And mass cut demand for meat, in to feed crops, and 26 percent soy production in places TOP BOTTOM Eliza Lubinza PHOTO BY PHILLIP DAVIS PHILLIP BY PHOTO Selwyn urges particular beef, and that such of the world’s ice-free land like Argentina and southern searches us not to reductions in demand would is used for livestock grazing. Brazil is ruinous for the for water in Igunga, forget about contribute to saving the world’s Livestock generates around environment in various ways. the massive Tanzania, impact environment. This is because 7 percent of total greenhouse It is responsible for widespread where climate change is the use of meat production, according gas emissions. Quite clearly, deforestation. It relies heavily fossil fuels causing has on the to this view, causes all kinds something needs to be on pesticide, fertilizer, severe environment. of environmental damage – done about these negative fungicide and herbicide drought. applications that damage local soil and water systems would require widespread what and how they consume. Veganism is well-known and native plant species. redistribution of economic and As far as I’m concerned, the and understood in the And we should not lose political power. If we abandon rising popularity of veganism United States. Is that the sight of the $4.65 trillion fossil this idea of equity in the face is part and parcel of rising case everywhere? fuel industry – the 1,500 oil of the climate crisis, we risk awareness about the dangers The modern variant of and gas firms listed on stock opening the door to extremely of climate breakdown and veganism that we are exchanges across the globe authoritarian solutions to the the ways that our growth- familiar with, popularized – that have quite literally crisis, which would represent based economic system has in the mainstream media, is fueled the climate disaster. a civilizational reversal on contributed to this situation. reasonably well understood Stopping climate change an unprecedented scale. For me, the rise in veganism in the U.K., Australia, New requires much more than signifies a determination Zealand and across parts of giving up meat. It means What are the upsides and amongst more and more Europe. These are regions shifting our economic system downsides to veganism? people to create a better, fairer, where intensive cattle rearing away from fossil fuels, radically Upsides could include a genuinely environmentally generates numerous horror cutting the amount of goods more healthy diet if the shift sustainable world. stories – about animal welfare, that are produced globally, away from animal products In terms of downsides, environmental breakdown making mega investments in is undertaken carefully. shifting away from animal and problems of obesity.
PHOTO FROM BIGSTOCK.COM FROM PHOTO renewable energy, and finding It should be obvious by now products without properly But in many parts of the new ways of organizing our that I’m quite critical of the idea understanding our bodies’ Global South, the situation is living and working habits. that by simply giving up animal nutritional requirements quite different. It is important I believe that in addition to products people will be saving represents a risk. Some research to remember that around 1.3 these shifts, we need to make the planet. Having said that, suggests that vegan diets billion people are small-scale the world a more equal place, I’m very enthusiastic about could actually be contributing farmers and livestock keepers where every single person the motivation driving more to increased malnutrition for whom animal products are can lead a good life. This and more people to question in developed countries. essential, and for whom there
14 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 15 asked & answered DIET DILEMMA
idea that by changing our aim these subsidies toward in terms of technological individual diets, we can activities that actually made innovations and economic change the world. Consumer people’s lives better, then growth. But it is also very choice is one thing if you we’d be on the right track! destructive, in particular in have plenty of disposable terms of the environmental income. It is something quite What does your own costs of economic growth, and different if you live in poverty. diet look like? the way it concentrates wealth [laughs] That’s a good question. and resources in the hands of a Is there a less dramatic Since I started teaching a tiny minority while leaving the but still impactful way to course on The Global Politics mass of the world’s population change our diets in order to of Food at the University with relatively little. We need to be more planet-friendly? of Sussex last year, I began think about economic systems We need to think about public thinking a lot more about food where wealth and power are procurement. Together, public production and consumption. more equitably distributed. n universities, schools, hospitals Now I consider myself to be a and prisons constitute a flexitarian. Having said that, my PHOTO BY RUSSELL POWELL RUSSELL BY PHOTO significant locus of demand wife is Italian, and we spend in our economies. At present most summers in Italy, which many of these institutions are makes it impossible to get away locked into deals with private from amazing food, meats food-provision companies. and cheeses in particular. These deals are often based on the idea of “value for If going vegan won’t save money” (i.e. as low cost as the planet, what should possible) procurement by the we focus on instead? TOP Consumer choice is one thing if you have much of a hearing. What would institutions and a profit-first I’m hopeful that a Green New Jeremy be popular would be arguments mentality by providers. Often Deal will emerge. At the heart Muthoka, 5, plenty of disposable income. It is something (left) pours his about making high quality, the consequences are that of the Green New Deal is a sister Cobby quite different if you live in poverty. nutritious, environmentally the foods provided in these commitment to decarbonize Cornelius, 4, a glass of milk in sustainable food a public institutions are low quality the economy and combat Kasalani, Kenya. are precious few alternative expenditure and the time spent good. At the moment in many and contribute to public poverty, inequality and all forms livelihood strategies on offer. preparing and consuming countries, education and some health issues such as obesity of discrimination. In terms of food. This was so that, as a degree of health provision are and hidden malnutrition. agriculture, this could mean Are there places where going consequence of increasingly considered public goods to be How about reworking implementing land reform (to vegan simply isn’t an option? precarious and low-pay jobs, provided by the state to citizens. these systems of provision make land more accessible to One of the big problems they could undertake more There is no reason why food and consumption so that they the mass of the population), following the global financial work. My colleagues found could not become increasingly combine the provision of reorienting subsidies to support and economic crisis in 2008 is that one of the ways they did integrated into such systems. high quality, locally produced nutritious and environmentally of changing food consumption this was to reorient their diets food to consumers, with sustainable food production, trends. My colleagues at the toward “filling foods, sacrificing Can you talk about the livelihood sustaining prices and increasing the Institute of Development safety, taste and familiarity cultural and socioeconomic for consumers? Of course, power of consumers Studies at Sussex studied for volume and price.” privilege inherent in even some people might ask, “Who’ll collectively to determine changing food consumption In many contexts around having the choice to be pay for all of this?” The global how food is produced. Benjamin Selwyn teaches a habits in 10 countries following the world, where securing and vegan? fossil fuel industry receives Ultimately, however, course called The Global Politics the crisis. They found that a consuming food is part of a As far as I’m concerned there is huge subsidies, around 6.5 we need to think about the of Food. His most recent book is coping strategy for poorer survival strategy, appeals for an element of socioeconomic percent of global GDP. If we overarching economic system. The Struggle for Development. people was to reduce their food a shift to veganism won’t get privilege inherent in the could find a way to instead Capitalism is very creative,
16 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 17 Bittersweet
HARVESTBY MOLLY MITCHELL, WORLD ARK WRITER COLOMBIA PHOTOS BY JOE TOBIASON
Quito Shushufindi
SHUSHUFINDI, Ecuador — Narváez surveys her success the family farm in Shushufindi, ECUADOR It’s harvest time in the family proudly, with her husband and Ecuador, which she blames The world is in love with chocolate grove. Young trees two daughters looking on. particularly on her father, with burst with full greenery, and This sweet picture of whom she is very close. “It’s Amazonian chocolate. cacao pods hang all over family togetherness was hard- his fault that I love the farm,” Heifer Ecuador is making sure them in warm shades from won. Silva grew up in the she laughs. When she tried PERU sunset golden and orange to countryside, which for her is to make a go of it in the city chocolate loves its farmers back. deep red, like Valentine hearts. the Amazon rainforest. She with her husband and a young Farmer Digna Magdelena Silva treasured her childhood on daughter, they were unhappy.
18 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 19 how to make a living. “When we LEFT “We’re together. came here, it was hard because A family portrait we purchased this [land] by of Angie Paula The family’s together.” Andrade Silva (13), taking a loan,” said Roberth — Digna Magdelena Silva Narváez Digna Magdelena Andrade. “So, we were working Silva Narváez (31), Roberth Hernán “We were living in town for can be with me in the field. She on borrowed money, and the Andrade Álvarez six years, and that was very hard gets dirty but nothing else bad worst thing was that there (43) and Lina Jared Andrade for all of us because I couldn’t happens,” Silva laughed. “We’re wasn’t employment anywhere.” Silva (2). be with my daughter,” said Silva. together. The family’s together.” Things turned around when “I had to get out of the house at Silva and her husband, the family tried their hand at RIGHT Digna Magdelena 6 in the morning, and I left her Roberth Andrade, now have cacao. “This [cacao] has helped Silva Narváez with my sister-in-law. And I got two daughters, Angie Paula us a lot,” Silva said. “It’s just one harvests maroon (unripe) and home at 7 at night, and she was Andrade Silva, 13, and Lina little hectare [about 2.5 acres] orange (ripe) already asleep. So, I only saw Jared Andrade Silva, 2. there, but that has provided cacao pods enough for our own food.” Silva hanging off the her when she was asleep. Now, Moving back to the farm tree. I have my little girl, and she had its own difficulties, namely, and Andrade planted a varietal
20 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 21 of cacao they call “supertree.” They and many other growers are hoping this particular cacao tree can help solve FOOD some of the serious issues in the world trade of chocolate. There are three genetic lines of cacao tree dominant in Ecuador. One, fine aroma cacao or Criollo, produces the best, most complex flavors. But these of the Gods Chocolate, both the food trees are delicate and difficult to and the word, originate grow, unsuited to the moisture in Mesoamerica, and of the Ecuadorian Amazon people loved it then, and therefore grown almost too. It was considered exclusively on the coast. The valuable enough that in most common variety of cacao is overwhelmingly Forastero, some ancient civilizations, COURTESY OF MUSEUM THECOURTESY BRITISH which constitutes at least 80 cacao beans were used percent of world production. It’s as currency. According the heartiest and easiest variety to some ancient Aztec to grow, but its flavor is not so documents, you could trade one bean for a tamale or pony up 100 great. Big candy companies buy beans for a turkey. Aztec this kind in bulk, and make up emperor Moctezuma is for the lacking flavor by mixing said to have consumed in lots of milk, sugar and other 50 cups of drinking ingredients in the candy. West chocolate daily. gourds of chocolate, Latin America, they were Africa is the greatest supplier of Ancient Latin which contains chemicals introduced to chocolate. this echelon of chocolate, and Americans didn’t eat that make people feel Hernán Cortés wrote it in fact produces two-thirds chocolate as a sweet treat good, to raise their spirits was “a bitter drink for of the world’s chocolate. like we do now, rather enough so that they pigs.” But eventually, So, where does that leave they prepared it as a dark, would participate in the chocolate was brought families like Silva’s and their bitter drink more akin ritual dancing before their back to Europe, where chocolatales (chocolate to black coffee than our deaths. The scientific sweeteners like honey forests)? After all, after much cheerful hot chocolate name of the cacao tree, and cane sugar became debate, recent genetic testing concoctions of today. Still, Theobroma cacao, means a common ingredient has revealed that Amazonia TOP it was considered a mood- “food of the gods” to in the drink for the first is the birthplace of cacao. Digna lifter, even carrying divine reflect this history. time. The transformation Magdelena Silva This is where Trinitario, or significance. So much so Narváez cuts supertrees, might save Europeans initially of chocolate from bitter ripe cacao pods. the day. These are types of that before Aztec human weren’t as enamored with to bittersweet made the BOTTOM hybrids between Forastero sacrifices, victims would chocolate. When Spanish whole world fall in love. Lina Jared sometimes be given conquistadors landed in And the rest is history. Andrade Silva and Criollo, hardier than their pulls cacao fancy Criollo relative but still seeds and imbued with the complex separates them into a bucket. bouquet and adventurous
22 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 23 LEFT The stages of cacao, from pods to seeds to roasted beans to bars.
RIGHT TOP Roberth Hernán Andrade Álvarez and Digna Magdelena Silva Narváez lay their fishing nets.
BOTTOM Digna Magdelena Silva Narváez laughs while holding one of her pigs. flavor characteristic of Latin It’s a far cry from the origins American cacao. of chocolate in Mesoamerica, Much like wine, quality when the value of cacao was so chocolate has a potent well appreciated that the beans orchestra of flavorful notes were used as currency by both all its own, from smoky the Mayan and Aztec empires. undertones, floral notes or Heifer is working with families punches of citrus. When native like Silva’s to get better prices Latin American chocolate is for their cacao by improving allowed to grow among the the quality of tree, teaching other tropical flora natural to organic growing practices its habitat, the chocolate inside and connecting them to the absorbs the heady aroma right markets for their wares. and exotic tastes of the forest But growing cacao, of around it. course, takes time. Families in But as the rest of the world is an immediate crisis of poverty rediscovering the divine taste now need a stopgap between of Latin American chocolate, their long-term business the majority of cacao farmers plan with chocolate and their in the world continue to live in urgent needs. That’s why part poverty. Much like the coffee of the Heifer project is helping industry, the high prices participants diversify their consumers pay for the end farming businesses into raising product get lost in the mix fish and pigs, which are good and very little makes it to the extra income and perfect for people who actually grow it. immediate emergency funds.
HEIFER.ORG | 25 FISH FEED
Raising premium cacao takes time, and families living in poverty right nowFamilies need immediate income to provide food, education and medical care for their families. Fish farming can be a great solution for They grill their fish whole, diversifying a farmer’s portfolio. Fish wrapped up in banana have a good “feed-to-flesh ratio,” Roberth Andrade and leaves. The leaves don’t burn meaning that it’s profitable to buy Digna Silva harvest by away on the grill, rather they fingerlings and spend money to net fishing. Their fishing keep the fish inside from fatten them up for sale. net has weights on the Silva and Andrade drying out as they cook. “The first time we stocked the bottom and floats on raise tilapia and a Unlike with tin foil, there’s no fingerlings, we didn’t even know the top. They dredge the type of native fish uncompostable trash leftover how to fish,” laughed Roberth pond to get the fish. called macachama. from cooking. Andrade. “The first time, we only caught a couple of fish. The second time we went through with the net, we doubled our yield with four fish. So, we went to see a neighbor and we learned properly.” Now, Andrade and Digna Silva sell a batch of 200 to 300 pounds of fish every five months, and they can fish their ponds for their personal diets any time they want. The couple does the work to get the most out of their fish — they clean the fish before selling for a higher price, and they can make collagen out of the fish The fish is flavored with a native type Fish grill on the coals of an outside firepit scales, which they sell as refrigerated of cilantro and wrapped in the banana until they smell irresistible and the fish gelatin. And since the family got leaf. The banana leaf is tied by taking has turned opaque. All the effort is worth their fishpond, they get to eat grilled the spine of the leaf and pulling tendrils it – breathing in the tropical aromatic fish whenever they want. Their local from it like string cheese. These tendrils steam as you unwrap your banana leaf to style of preparation is unique and can be used just like string to tie the leaf reveal the meal inside is an unforgettable delicious, and we were lucky enough securely around the fish. way to start a meal. to get a demonstration.
26 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 27 LEFT Digna Magdelena Silva Narváez, Lina Jared Andrade Silva and Angie Paula Andrade Silva hang out.
RIGHT Digna Magdelena Silva Narváez smiles with an open cacao pod.
“It’s beautiful. Because not everyone has that good fortune. Because they have to go away for work. They have to be separated. But we’re together.” — Digna Magdelena Silva Narváez
On the chocolate side “The change that we’ve had,” the big markets,” she said. of things, cacao-growing said Silva, “when we go out to After the hardship of their families are now selling to market fairs, they recognize us early marriage in the city local farmers markets and — oh, you’re the Heifer project, and stressful first years in the fairs and also to larger local oh you’re the chocolate lady! country, things are finally players like Ecokakao. As the Because of the value add that coming together for Silva and name suggests, Ecokakao we’ve made. We’ve had the family. “It’s beautiful. Because is a company driven by opportunity to go to market not everyone has that good sustainability, and the organic fairs in the capital, in Quito.” fortune. Because they have and sustainable practices Silva’s co-op has been to go away for work. They Heifer project participants sending their cacao to a have to be separated. But use to grow their cacao makes third party to be processed we’re together,” she said. them a perfect partner. and made into chocolate The couple hopes that To that end, Silva’s bars, but now they want to their daughters will have a group developed their own make their own bars. Heifer good education, and that they brand for the chocolate is helping them get the will see the beauty of farm products they make from equipment and training they life, too. If you ask Silva what their cacao supertrees, and need to own the processing she is most proud of in her they named it, aptly, “The part, too. “Our vision is to be life, she will tell you, “Ser una Solution.” And it’s working. able to sell the chocolate in campesina [Being a farmer].” n
28 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 29 KNOW YOUR
WHERE DOES CACAO COME FROM? Due to the demand for chocolate, cacao trees have spread from the Americas to Africa, Asia and Australia. It generally only grows The average person in the U.S. eats about 10 pounds of chocolate a 20 degrees north or south of the Equator in year, and worldwide, the chocolate industry is worth more than $100 climates with consistently warm temperatures Chocolate that have regular – but not excessive – rainfall. billion. Despite its immense popularity, many people don’t know the About 90 percent of cacao today comes origins of their favorite sweet or how to pick out a high-end chocolate from West Africa and Latin America, but bar that doesn’t have a household name like Snickers or M&M’s. Southeast Asia is increasingly exporting the crop. Most large companies buy their chocolate from West Africa, particularly Ivory Coast and WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE Ghana, and Indonesia, whereas craft chocolate BETWEEN CACAO AND COCOA? more often comes from South America or East Cacao is the name of the tree native to Latin America. Africa (Madagascar or Tanzania) – places that It produces pods that are full of seeds covered in white, generally produce a more robust flavor profile. fleshy fruit. Inside the pods there are also cacao seeds, or beans, which turn into chocolate once they’ve been fermented, dried and roasted. Some people use cocoa and cacao interchangeably, HOW DO I KNOW WHAT KIND OF though experts tend to use “cocoa” to describe the beans CHOCOLATE BAR I’M BUYING? after they’re fermented or the powder created by grinding Labels on chocolate bars typically list where and pressing fat out of the beans. However, powder that the cacao was grown and sometimes the name isn’t processed as much or is made with unroasted seeds of the bean type. Most high-end dark chocolate is usually called cacao powder. bars also include a percentage showing how much of it comes from the cacao plant. If the packaging says “75%” that means that three-fourths of the weight of that bar WHAT KINDS OF CHOCOLATE comes from cocoa powder or butter. Generally, ARE OUT THERE? the higher the percentage, the less sugar that’s Dark chocolate contains cacao, sugar, flavorings and an been added, making the chocolate taste more emulsifier, for a smooth consistency. Add milk to that and bitter. you’ve got milk chocolate, whereas white chocolate is If the chocolate bar says “single origin,” made using a base of cocoa butter. that means all of the cacao used to produce If you ever want to consume chocolate like the Aztecs it came from one particular region. “Single did, it’s not too hard to find Mexican drinking chocolate or estate” means all of the beans came from one unsweetened cacao powder at specialty stores. particular farm.
30 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 31 CELEBRATING OF HEIFER INTERNATIONAL YEARS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
San Juan
PUERTOCastañer 75 RICO
IN 1944, DAN WEST STARTED HEIFERS FOR RELIEF, WHICH EVENTUALLY BECAME HEIFER INTERNATIONAL. SOON AFTER, THE FLEDGLING ORGANIZATION STARTED SHIPPING LIVESTOCK FROM THE UNITED STATES TO OTHER COUNTRIES. AS WE CELEBRATE OUR DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY, HISTORIAN PEGGY REIFF MILLER LOOKS BACK AT THE FIRST SHIPMENT AND HOW IT AFFECTED FAMILIES IN CASTAÑER, PUERTO RICO.
BY PEGGY REIFF MILLER, WORLD ARK CONTRIBUTOR
THE VERY FIRST SHIPMENT Cruz passed part of each day hospital, Cruz was an honored of cows from a shoestring waiting for a cup of fresh milk guest at Heifer International’s team of farmers and pacifists provided by livestock newly 75th birthday party held landed in Puerto Rico in July arrived from the mainland in Castañer in October. of 1944. And although she was United States. At the time, “Today is a very special a very small child at the time, of course, no one realized day for me,” Cruz said. “My Elizabeth Cruz remembers these were only the first grandmother used to bring me the outsized change those animals donated by a nascent a little bottle, an empty one, for Faith, the first heifer cows delivered to her small organization that would the milk that the Americanos donated, with her mountain town of Castañer. become Heifer International. would bring to us. Tears came donor Virgil Mock and Claire Stine, the youth As a young orphan being Now a retired nurse and down my face remembering who raised her, 1943. raised by her grandmother, board member of the local those beautiful days.”
32 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 33 WITH WORLD WAR II STILL RAGING, ANIMALS COULD NOT RISK A TRIP ACROSS THE SUBMARINE-STUDDED ATLANTIC. INSTEAD, THE BRETHREN SERVICE COMMITTEE OPTED TO BOOST ITS WORK IN PUERTO RICO BY SENDING HEIFERS TO THE POVERTY-STRICKEN ISLAND.
herded 18 heifers from Midwestern farms at the Nappanee, Indiana, stockyards. After a four-day train ride south and a month’s wait in Mobile, Alabama, 17 of those heifers set HE DETERMINED THEN AND THERE TO DO SOMETHING sail for Puerto Rico on July 14 ABOUT IT. AND THE IDEA OF THE HEIFER PROJECT, on the S. S. William D. Bloxham. OF SENDING COWS SO PEOPLE DEVASTATED BY WAR One got sick and had to stay TOP LEFT COULD FEED THEMSELVES, WAS BORN. behind. Another died on the Dan West distributing ship after premature birth of clothing to her dead calf. Spanish Civil War victims, WHY PUERTO RICO? objectors had to either find Young Ohio farmer Wayne 1937. Photo That first delivery of Heifer a way to cooperate within Hostetler tended the heifers courtesy of cows to Puerto Rico can be the military or be sent to there to do something about at his own expense. On Brethren Historical traced to two simultaneous prison. One of those men it. And the idea of the Heifer the eight-day journey, he Library and historical developments in 1937. was Dan West. He served as Project, of sending cows so watered and fed his charges Archives.
One was the creation of a conscientious objector in people devastated by war could and cleaned their stalls three TOP RIGHT Civilian Public Service camps the U.S. Army Quartermaster feed themselves, was born. times a day. With the war still The first Corps in South Carolina in 1918, By 1941, Civilian Public 18 heifers to provide conscientious on, the ship stopped at the U.S. collected at objectors a way to serve during an experience that inspired Service camps became a Naval base in Guantanamo the Nappanee, World War II. The other was the him to dedicate his life to doing reality. And when the United Bay, Cuba, where it joined Indiana, stockyards creation of the Heifer Project as much for peace as a soldier States entered World War II that a convoy of eight merchant awaiting itself, brainchild of Church of does for war. December, the newly created ships with four Navy escorts. shipment to Puerto Rico, the Brethren leader Dan West. In late 1937, with backing Brethren Service Committee The S. S. William D. Bloxham June 1944. In 1937, leaders of the from the Church of the of the Church of the Brethren docked in San Juan, Puerto Photo from historic peace churches – Brethren, West ventured to began planning to help Rico, at 5 a.m. July 22. By 5:30 Heifer Archives.
the Brethren, Mennonites Spain to work with the Quakers provide some postwar relief p.m., 16 heifers and four new BOTTOM RIGHT and Society of Friends (the on a relief project in the midst by sending cows to Europe. to work constructing a hospital. animals could not risk a trip calves were loaded on trucks Director Rufus King Quakers) – began urging of the Spanish Civil War. There, The Brethren Service Stateside, the Heifer Project across the submarine-studded and headed to their new and seagoing President Franklin D. Roosevelt he witnessed great suffering. Committee also opened a idea was catching on. Farmers Atlantic. Instead, the Brethren homes. Each recipient farmer cowboy Wayne to provide an alternative to Seeing babies and tubercular Civilian Public Service camp started raising heifers – female Service Committee opted paid the shipping costs of Hostetler with Faith and her military service for young children dying from a shortage in Puerto Rico, which had cows yet to give birth to their to boost its work in Puerto about $75, covered with help calf on her draftees whose religion or of powdered milk made him been a U.S. territory since first calf. Others raised money Rico by sending heifers to from government loans. The new farm in Medianía, personal philosophy prevented think of his own little girl at 1898. Campers’ first target was to buy heifers for the project. the poverty-stricken island. deliveries were all well-received, Puerto Rico, them from serving in combat home. What would he do if he Castañer, a town of 40,000 or By 1944, hundreds of animals Hostetler wrote in a report for July 1944. didn’t have enough milk for more people served by only one the Church of the Brethren’s Photo courtesy roles. In World War I, there was were ready to ship. With World SHIPPING BEGINS of Rufus King no alternative. Conscientious her? He determined then and doctor and a nurse. The unit got War II still raging, however, On June 7, 1944, cowboys Heifer Project Committee. family.
34 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 35 “THE HEIFERS WENT TO POOR RESETTLERS WHO OWNED NO DAIRY CATTLE AND COULD PROVIDE PLENTY OF GOOD GRAZING FOR THE HEIFER’S FEED. THE FAMILIES WERE USUALLY LARGE AND VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE GIFT OF HEIFERS.” — Farmer Wayne Hostetler
that these farmers did almost cows from the first shipment, the expected arrival of the satisfactory cow barn and everything they knew how to but was allotted six heifers heifers. Not only as a matter bull pen. With a cement floor, make the heifers comfortable. and one bull from the second of curiosity, but also because running water, and electric At one home they had the one. The Brethren Service many of them would be very lights, the dairy barn should baby calf in their one-room Committee hoped the new happy to be able to secure be quite well equipped.” Crews house and carried it to nurse its cows could boost nutrition calves to use as breeding also planted grass to be cut and mother four or five times a day.” for people at the local hospital, stock. This is especially true chopped daily for the cattle. TOP LEFT improve local cattle stock as regards the male calves.” Four months after the Site of the April 29, 1945, dedication HEIFERS COME through better breeding The newsletter also cows’ arrival in Castañer, service at the York (PA) Fairgrounds for “The heifers went to poor TO CASTAÑER and provide opportunities noted that the “Puerto local Civilian Public Service the 50 heifers sent to Puerto Rico in May of that year. Photo in Heifer Archives. resettlers who owned no dairy When news of that successful to teach best practices to Rico Reconstruction camp Director Rufus King cattle and could provide plenty first shipment spread, more would-be cattle farmers. Administration officials have issued a glowing report. “The BOTTOM LEFT Faith with her calf on her new farm of good grazing for the heifer’s families started asking for A May 1, 1945, newsletter been very cooperative in the six heifers here in the herd at in Medianía, Puerto Rico, 1944. Photo feed,” Hostetler wrote. “The heifers. And with the ongoing by the Civilian Public Service matter of preparing housing Castañer have done quite well courtesy of the Wayne Hostetler family. families were usually large war in Europe still keeping camp hints at the excitement and feed for these ‘expectant and have adjusted splendidly. TOP RIGHT and very grateful for the gift of transatlantic trips off the table, that preceded the cows’ arrival: mothers.’ We have received We are getting all of our fresh The barn housing the Castañer heifers, heifers. For instance, Faith ... is the Heifer Project Committee “The Castañer Project will the building materials for milk for the unit and for circa 1953. Photo by Dean Kagarise.
to supply milk for a family of 12 approved another shipment of soon be the proud owner of remodeling one section of the the hospital from this herd, BOTTOM RIGHT children who have never tasted 50 cattle to Puerto Rico at their six heifers and one bull. ... The [Puerto Rico Reconstruction making it possible to eliminate Director Rufus King meets the heifers milk. When we visited some meeting March 18, 1945. people of the community Administration] horse barn former and less satisfactory in the second shipment to Puerto Rico on board in San Juan, May 1945. Photo of these homes we noticed Castañer got none of the are very much interested in into what should be a very sources.” courtesy of Carl Epp.
36 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 37 TOP LEFT Heifer Board Member and Church of the Brethren Director of Global Mission and Service Jay Wittmeyer with Heifer recipient María Quiles Pérez. A little girl when her family received their heifer, she said the gift made a huge difference.
BOTTOM LEFT Kathy Díaz presents the Proclamation of the Puerto Rico “THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENT IN THE of a bull calf provided by the Senate to Heifer representative Church of the Brethren District Jesús Pizarro and Church of the HEIFER PROJECT IS THE PASSING ON Brethren Director of Global Mission THE GIFT, BECAUSE IN THIS MOMENT of Puerto Rico congregations. and Service Jay Wittmeyer. THE BENEFICIARY BECOMES A DONOR.” In the high point of the TOP CENTER — Jesús Pizarro day, Heifer International A portion of the Medford Vice President of Financial Neher mural in Hospital Castañer depicting the Innovation Jesús Pizarro hospital’s history includes PASSING IT ON from Civilian Public Service and Church of the Brethren Heifer Project’s contribution. On October 5, 2019, camp #43 more than seven General Secretary David Steele Photo by Peggy Reiff Miller.
representatives from Heifer decades ago, gave evidence presented the calf to local high TOP RIGHT International, Castañer that Castañer has evolved into school agricultural student Mayor Roberto Pagán and Church of the Brethren General Secretary Hospital, the Church of the a thriving, caring community. Erick Yadiel Rivera, whose David Steele unveil the historical Brethren in the U.S. and Local officials also unveiled home was badly damaged marker near the location of the Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican a roadside marker near the by Hurricane Maria. barn that housed heifers sent to Castañer, Puerto Rico, in 1945. government officials met to site of the remains of the “The most important Photo by Peggy Reiff Miller. celebrate the success of those old hospital and barn that moment in the Heifer Project,” BOTTOM RIGHT first shipments to Puerto housed the heifers and bull Pizarro emphasized, “is the Church of the Brethren General Rico. A tour of the modern sent to Castañer in 1945. passing on the gift, because in Secretary David Steele gives The celebration culminated this moment the beneficiary a bull calf to Castañer high hospital, a project begun by school agricultural student the conscientious objectors with the “passing on the gift” becomes a donor.” n Erick Yadiel Rivera.
38 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 39 heifer bulletin SPORES OF SUCCESS
Cultivating Fungi Leads to Mushrooming Profits in Uganda By Jason Woods, World Ark editor
DESPITE THE HARD WORK Tonny Musisi put into jobs at a construction site, making wood charcoal and growing maize, he never made enough money to buy a bed, much less a TV or stereo. But after joining the East Africa Youth Inclusion Program, Musisi can afford all those things while also saving for the future. “For me, my life has changed,” said 23-year-old don’t have work to do, they Musisi, who lives in the just keep moving around.” community of Jinja Kalori, The East Africa Youth Uganda. “And I’ve seen other Inclusion Program, which people’s lives change.” is a partnership between Uganda is one of the Heifer International and the world’s youngest countries, Mastercard Foundation, is with an average age of 15.5 designed to change that. and nearly 80 percent of the The program is helping population under 30. With 25,000 Ugandan and such a large number of job Tanzanian youth, ages 15-24, LEFT seekers in their late teens develop business ideas and Tonny Musisi and early twenties, it can be find pathways to employment. holds a pot
PHOTOS BY PHILLIP DAVIS PHILLIP BY PHOTOS hard for youth to find work. Participants share their of oyster mushrooms he “Very few young people new skills, knowledge and grew in Jinja have jobs,” Musisi said. “People resources with other young Kalori, Uganda.
my age, most go into boda- people entering the job market. TOP boda [motorcycle taxis],” he The program also offers Oyster said, adding that many others apprenticeship, mentorship mushrooms grown by work in manual labor. “Others and vocational programs. Tonny Musisi.
40 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 41 heifer bulletin SPORES OF SUCCESS
TEACHERS & STUDENTS: CHOOSE
to start his new business. One the new gig is being his own YOUR of the largest obstacles young boss. “I set my schedule,” Ugandans face when trying to Musisi said. “I wake up in the start or expand a business is morning, pack my mushrooms, ADVENTURE! access to credit and financial get my motorcycle and ride services. But as a member of to the market. They pay me the project, Musisi could take cash, then I buy the things out a loan at an affordable rate I need and come back. You and begin to establish a credit find customers waiting for CONTEST record. “Many youth have you here.” After tending to the Raise money through your school and you could win a trip to visit a taken those loans and made mushroom gardens, Musisi Heifer project! Visit www.heifer.org/schools for details and rules. them into businesses,” he said. has enough time to support Some project members start Musisi didn’t need much other burgeoning fungus dairy or poultry businesses. money to get off the ground, farmers and sometimes For Musisi, mushrooms though. “Another reason I even get in a little rest. piqued his interest. love mushrooms, compared Part of the training process “Mushrooms are a very to other businesses, [is that] includes goalsetting and reliable source of income,” less capital is needed,” he planning for the future. “We he said. “Mushrooms are not said. To make one garden, had a lot of trainings,” Musisi like green plants that need a Musisi needed around 2,000 said. “’In five years, how do lot of sunshine. They don’t shillings ($0.54). “You make you see yourself? Draw a stop growing. Each day that 25,000 ($6.75) from this garden house, draw a car, and say, by comes, you have mushrooms.” in a period of two months. It 2020, I want to be like this.’” Musisi also prefers growing doesn’t require many materials Participants also make a READ TO FEED® GLOBAL STUDY MILK MONEY mushrooms because they for it to stay here. When I goal to commit 20 percent of Duration: 3–6 weeks GUIDE SERIES Duration: 1 day–2 weeks don’t take much space or water it, I get mushrooms.” their earnings to savings. elementary Duration: you choose all ages time to cultivate. Generally, Once started, Musisi Musisi has already put Nurture a love of reading middle or high school Create a service project TOP LEFT mushrooms start sprouting in excelled as an entrepreneur. back 4.5 million ($1,216) in Mushrooms, just two or three weeks, he said. He once earned only 250,000 savings and plans to double while helping others Explore topics related to our that raises money to packaged and labeled for sale. The idea to grow shillings ($68) a month. that in the near future. He around the world with work with these in-depth improve child nutrition. mushrooms came from his Now Musisi’s mushroom wants to use that money our reading incentive interactive guides. A great way to With our easy-to- TOP RIGHT Mushrooms aunt, before Musisi joined business is thriving, with to keep the momentum he program. Students incorporate nonfiction reading implement teacher’s will soon grow the project. But after learning monthly earnings of up to created going. “I want to get a collect pledges based on about real-world issues, each topic guide, you can inspire on these bags technical and financial skills 2 million shillings ($540). piece of land to engage in two of organic number of books read contains links to articles, videos, your kids to help others material. from the project, he felt ready One of the best perks of more businesses,” he said. n or time spent reading. infographics, photos and more. around the world.
PICK THE FREE PROGRAM THAT BEST SUITS YOUR CLASS! 42 | SPRING 2020 heifer spirit CARING FOR YOUR EARTH
Eco-Friendly Lawn Alternatives By Molly Mitchell, World Ark writer We need to talk about our grass habit. Did you know that lawns are the most grown crop in the United States? Not corn. Not soybeans. Grass. What with the world’s exploding population, decline in arable land and endangered soil quality, the idea that the most-grown crop is something that doesn’t feed anyone — even animals — makes less sense the more you think about it. And yet Americans
especially put an enormous amount of money, resources, time and effort into maintaining lawns. I.SÁČEK BY PHOTO Now, lawns are great in a lot of ways. They are a friendly surface for people and pets to play on. Green spaces are great for mental health, property values and even crime prevention. But there are plenty of ways to achieve these goals other than a traditional swath of Kentucky bluegrass, and it might be time to think outside the lawn. n
Moss HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED. Moss is a great alternative for shady, damp areas. There are loads of different varieties to choose from based on your climate and preference. You can choose NATIVE GRASS one type that will easily spread or choose a mix and create a lot of visual interest First of all, you don’t have to ditch grass entirely to do better for our in your landscaping. It won’t work as a soccer field, but it is a lovely, plush surface environment and your wallet. You can do a world of good by simply switching for occasional foot traffic or as a filler between pavers. Plus: No mowing! Ever! your lawn to a native grass. Kentucky bluegrass has become the standard for lawns, but it’s not native to most of the U.S. and is therefore very resource- AROMATICS intensive to take care of. Look into native species for your lawn that are already Creeping thyme adapted to your climate and will therefore require less water and maintenance, As opposed to English thyme, which is the cooking herb we usually think of, which means a better time for the environment and more ease for you! Red varieties of creeping thyme are hardy and aesthetically pleasing groundcovers fescue is a great choice because it’s shade- and drought-resistant and holds up that can thrive in all kinds of climates and need significantly less water than a well under heavy foot traffic. Sedges are low-maintenance grasses that bunch grass lawn. It only grows a couple of inches tall, so it needs minimal mowing. together, and you can let them grow out as ornamental grass or plant them Plus, it smells great. close and mow them short for a lawn replacement. Chamomile GROUNDCOVERS Speaking of great smells, chamomile is another low-maintenance lawn A groundcover is a plant that, well, covers the ground and isn’t grass. If you’re alternative. Roman chamomile is the kind you want for your lawn to get that neat, not married to a grassy lawn, there are many types of groundcovers to try green lawn aesthetic without all the mowing and edging work! It produces daisy- instead. Of course, it all depends on your climate – choosing species that like white flowers that smell like apples, which you can enjoy in their natural state, are native to your climate is key to sustainability and good stewardship of pick for some chamomile tea or mow if you’re just not that into it. Chamomile is resources. drought-resistant and a good source of nitrogen, so it’s great for the soil.
Clover Mint For sunny spaces that may not have great soil quality already, explore clover Wouldn’t you love a breath of minty fresh air every time you take a step in your as a good alternative. Clover naturally fixes nitrogen in soil, which means that lawn? Consider Corsican mint as a lawn replacement. Mint is a little more finicky you won’t need to use fertilizer, and, in fact, your soil will grow healthier if you than chamomile and especially thyme – it doesn’t tolerate a lot of foot traffic, plant it. It is resistant to pet urine stains and encroaching weeds. Red clover isn’t drought-resistant and it needs a mild winter to survive. But if you live in the and Dutch white clover are both popular choices because they don’t need right climate, it makes for a beautiful, lush green carpet that smells like mojitos. much watering after the initial growing phase, and they don’t need fertilizing Delicious. Don’t be scared by reports of mint running rampant — this creeping or even mowing. Plus, they’re super affordable and spread quickly. variety is pretty well-behaved.
44 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 45 mixed media FOOD FOR THOUGHT
which forces suffered the for native populations who during World War II and by lots most yellow fever deaths in had never been exposed to the of others in between. Toussaint the Mexican-American War, diseases and had no acquired Louverture, the revolutionary The Mosquito: but it will be hard to forget that immunity. Those who didn’t who lead the fight to liberate ancient Egyptians attempted die outright were severely Haiti from France, was probably A Human History of Our to soothe malarial fevers by weakened, making the peoples the most ruthless and strategic bathing in fresh human urine. of the Americas easy prey. in drafting a mosquito army Another pet peeve with The scene was reversed in to his cause. He and his forces Deadliest Predator Delivers some history books is the Africa, where few Europeans lured the French into coastal copious and tedious footnotes could survive the mosquito- and low-lying areas, then I feel obligated to read but am borne diseases that African retreated to the more salubrious Swarms of Fascinating Facts then sorry that I did. Winegard populations were somewhat hills and simply waited for must share this feeling, better seasoned to tolerate malaria and yellow fever to kill By Austin Bailey, World Ark editor because his footnotes are thanks to genetic protections. off the enemy camps. It worked. delightful. My favorite tags a This airborne defense largely “In total, of the roughly 65,000 Nearly half of all humans that will have you nodding passage about Lucy, the earliest kept rapacious Europeans away French soldiers sent to Haiti, who have ever lived were along, saying, “No way! known human ancestor. from Africa until Europeans 55,000 died of mosquito-borne killed by mosquitos and the Really?” out loud. learned to harness the disease,” Winegard wrote. diseases they spread. That’s Case in point: While *The famous hominin skeleton antimalarial power of quinine. The book is more than an estimated 52 billion Western medicine didn’t Lucy, dating from 3.2 million Winegard shows his 400 pages long, which is people killed by an insect pinpoint mosquitos as the years ago, acquired her discipline as a historian tough because no matter how that weighs less than 88 source of malaria until household name from the and political scientist in the energetic the writing, it’s hard millionths of an ounce. 1897, ancient Sumerians 1967 song “Lucy in the Sky portions of the book about the to stay super jazzed about Sounds crazy, right? But were attributing malarial with Diamonds” by the Beatles, it’s true. And it’s a pretty fevers to Nergal, the insect- which played loudly on repeat WINEGARD SHOWS HIS DISCIPLINE AS A HISTORIAN fantastic premise for a book. like Babylonian god of the the day she was discovered AND POLITICAL SCIENTIST TO ITS BEST EFFECT IN THE Historian Timothy C. Winegard underworld, by 3200 BCE. And in the Ethiopian Awash Valley PORTIONS OF THE BOOK ABOUT THE MOSQUITO’S ROLE IN chronicles humankind’s Indian physician Sushruta in 1974 by Donald Johanson. DETERMINING THE WINNERS AND LOSERS OF WARS. ongoing battle against malaria, connected mosquito bites dengue, yellow fever and other and malarial symptoms in The book takes on grand mosquito’s role in determining mosquitos. The salve comes mosquito-borne illnesses with the sixth century BCE. Lack themes and vast eras in human the winners and losers of wars. from the factoids, explainers unexpected enthusiasm. He of proof, however, meant his history – early Christianity, The Union, for example, got and aha moments that will comes on so strong, in fact, correct hypothesis was not the Mongol Empire, slavery in a much-needed leg up with a almost surely come in handy that it takes the first 100 pages accepted for thousands of the American South, etc. – but healthy stockpile of quinine on some future trivia night. And or so to get on board. Stick years and an unfathomable keeps it manageable by sticking to fend off malaria, while it’s important to stick with it to with him, though, and you will number of deaths later. to a mosquito’s eye view. For Confederate soldiers were left the end, because the age-old catch the mosquito bug, too. Books that try to cover the example, European exploration defenseless by a naval blockade war with mosquitos doesn’t The Mosquito: A Human entirety of human existence and colonization of Africa and that kept medicine out of reach. appear to be ending soon. The Mosquito: A History of Our Deadliest tend toward the dry side, the Americas would look far Winegard delineates how More than 830,000 people Human History of Our Predator, illuminates how leaving out the gruesome and different without mosquitos, military masterminds have died of mosquito-borne illness Deadliest Predator the tiny mosquito sculpted lascivious details for the sake and Winegard tackles those used mosquitos as weapons in 2018, and new diseases By Timothy C. Winegard the shape of human history of expedience. Thankfully, topics by illustrating how for centuries, pushing enemy delivered courtesy of mosquito Dutton, Hardcover $28 by influencing our diets, Winegard doesn’t bore us in mosquitos both helped and troops to low-lying, swampy bite are coming on to the 442 pages remapping explorers’ and this way. Instead, the author hindered European efforts areas where mosquito-vectored scene. If we take for granted conquerors’ paths and capitalizes on every chance to to take over foreign lands. In sickness was practically the cost of humankind’s determining the outcomes weave in gross and weird asides the Americas, the malaria and guaranteed. This winning bloody, deadly history with of monumental battles. that have real sticking power. yellow fever Europeans brought strategy was deployed by mosquitos, we might be This is one of those books I probably won’t remember with them were catastrophic ancient Romans, Nazis in Italy condemned to repeat it. n
46 | SPRING 2020 HEIFER.ORG | 47 first person WOMAN’S BEST FRIEND
“All of my life, PLANT THE I’ve loved animals. Above all, dogs. This is something SEEDS OF that has helped me, going through SUCCESS … a harsh period FOR OUR FUTURE of my life. I was depressed. They AND YOURS! brought me out of my depression. This guy’s name When you include Heifer in your estate plans, you are making a gift that ensures our is Rufo. Rufo has stability without sacrificing your own. There are many ways you can combine your desire to give to Heifer with your overall estate planning and financial goals. always been a smart dog. He’s eaten from the tree of knowledge Leave a gift Name Heifer as a Make a gift Earn income and receive Leave Heifer of good and evil. to Heifer in beneficiary (IRA, through your a tax deduction with a gifts of real He knows when your will or retirement accounts, donor-advised charitable gift annuity estate or trust life insurance) fund or charitable trust stocks I’m sad and when I’m happy.”
Each of these options allows you to plant the seeds of — Damaris Robles, success for families around the world. In our Lenca II cacao farmer project in Honduras, La Flor LTD specializes in producing certified seeds that produce higher yields that are more resistant to pests and diseases. Since partnering with Heifer, PHOTO BY JOE TOBIASON JOE BY PHOTO the company has increased its visibility and stature, as well as access to markets, financing and technical support. DAMARIS ROBLES, 32, is part of Heifer’s cacao project in Ecuador. In spite of contending with the When you include Heifer in your estate plans, you are hardships of poverty and the tragic loss of a child in her past, she is vibrant, gregarious and innovative. investing in the success for small businesses like La Flor. She even won a major innovation contest held by Heifer Ecuador for her organic insecticides and fertilizers. Robles takes attentive care of her cacao grove, and Rufo, a gift from her husband, Gualberto For more information, contact Debbie McCullough at García, is always at her heels to help. n 501.907.4922 or [email protected]. You can also fill out and return the attached card.
48 | SPRING 2020 Nonprofit Organization 1 World Avenue U.S. Postage Little Rock, AR 72202/USA PAID Heifer International
Please scan here to donate livestock to a struggling family.
THIS MAGAZINE IS MADE FROM 100 PERCENT RECYCLABLE MATERIALS. PLEASE RECYCLE OR PASS ON TO A FRIEND. 69.RPWAS2020 DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT AND HELP EVEN MORE CHILDREN
For a limited time, your gift to Heifer will be matched — dollar for dollar — DOUBLING your impact! For a limited time, generous investors are matching donations up to $2,000,000, so please help today! Your gift will go TWICE as far to help hardworking families lift themselves out of hunger and poverty once and for all. Donate at heifer.org/double