As many of you know, I've been working with Conscious Impact for the last 5 years leading the Natural Building Program. I dip my feet into soil, water, and sand everyday and get my hands dirty as I plaster walls, cob floors or lay earthbags, it's my dream of a job. 

Living in this community has allowed me to value and respect the hard work that farmers do everyday in the caring of their crops. I believe that building is hard work but the farmer's work is just as hard. Carrying compost, providing water, mulching plants and keeping the soil healthy is an all year long job. One of the most direct jobs we do with community members is when we plant and care for trees together. We are excited to reforest this area and they are motivated to generate an alternative income source to secure better livelihoods. Coffee is a cash crop that takes 4-5 years to provide fruit, that is why our companionship through the first years is so important.

I understand this is a hard time for many people, but if you are able to help it would be much appreciated. Thank you so much for your love and support.

Saludos,

Mariana

(There is more information about our history and farmers below)

Over the past 4 years, Conscious Impact has partnered with over 100 farmers to plant more than 15,000 trees. This year, our goal is to plant another 3,000 coffee trees.

The work has already begun, and the Conscious Impact team is working every day to plant trees alongside local families. COVID-19, however, has stopped international travel to Nepal, and therefore halted almost all income to Conscious Impact. Still, we are committed to completing this work over the next 3 months.

Each donation of $5 "adopts" one coffee tree in Nepal for life. That means digging the hole, carrying compost, planting the tree and providing the initial care. It also includes follow up consultations and support from our Nepali team and international volunteers.

Each tree produces 10 kg of red cherry equivalent to 10 USD in annual income to a local farmer. We support farmers to plant 50-100 trees, which provides an additional 500-1000 USD annually (nearly doubling many local families' annual income). 

$5 Donation = 1 Tree Adopted for Life

$25 = Adopt 5 Trees 

$50 = Adopt 10 Trees

$100 = Adopt 20 Trees

$500 = Adopt 100 Trees or a Local Farm

(supports a farmer to increase their annual income by $500-1000)

I know that right now is a difficult time for people all across the world. COVID-19 has changed all of our lives, and many of us are suffering. I truly hope that you and your family are healthy and well during this time. If you are not in a position to donate, I completely understand. If you can help share this campaign and work with others, that is also helpful. Every donation helps, just $25-$50 can plant and care for 5-10 trees. 

Above, Sanu Kanchi Rana Magar stands alongside her husband Ambar with one of their new coffee trees. This tree, as well as dozens of others they have planted, will provide much needed income to their family for years to come. 

Additionally, every tree planted sequesters carbon, mitigates climate change, supports local ecology and rebuilds soil. Our goal is to plant more than 50,000 trees in the next 10 years to transform the environment and economy of the local area. 

Goma Kafle (shown in the above photo) is one of Conscious Impact's partner farmers. In the last 5 years, she has planted more than 250 coffee trees with our support, and this year she harvested beautiful coffee cherries! Her mature coffee trees will increase her annual income by more than 1200 USD to buy essential food and supplies for her family. 

Kumary Bomjon, our Agriculture Program Lead (shown in the above photo), sits happily among more than 50kgs of locally harvested coffee. Our goal is for coffee to become abundant in this region of the Himalayas so that local families can sustain their livelihoods without needing to leave to the cities or foreign countries for work. Coffee is a great cash crop, in addition to being great for the local environment. We love it and we hope you do to! Thank you for your support, and we look forward to the day when you too can taste locally harvested Takure coffee. :)