When Andres first stepped onto his hillside farm in the Dominican Republic, he was facing more than just a struggling crop—he was facing the reality of a life trapped in poverty. His coffee plants, once the backbone of his livelihood, had been devastated by disease. With few alternatives and seven children to feed, his future looked uncertain.
Then came a new approach—one that planted more than just crops. Through Plant With Purpose, Andres discovered agroforestry, a practice that integrates trees with traditional farming to build a more resilient, productive, and sustainable landscape. What started as a leap of faith—planting cacao where coffee once thrived—soon blossomed into transformation. His yields grew, his income stabilized, and his faith deepened.
For thousands of families partnering with Plant With Purpose, it’s a pathway toward restoration—of land, of livelihoods, and of dignity. By blending tree planting with sustainable farming, agroforestry turns degraded plots into flourishing fields, increasing food production, protecting biodiversity, and, reducing poverty.
In regions where agriculture is the backbone of daily life, poor soil and unreliable rainfall are persistent threats. Traditional farming, often reliant on monocultures, strips the land of its nutrients and leaves it vulnerable to erosion. Agroforestry flips this script. Trees anchor the soil, improve water retention, and provide shade that protects crops from extreme heat. Their roots stabilize the land, and their fallen leaves feed the ground. All this adds up to healthier farms—and more reliable harvests.
But the impact isn’t just environmental. It’s deeply economic.
In Haiti, Dieula was once limited to subsistence farming. Her land was parched and depleted. After joining a local Plant With Purpose Farmer Field School, she learned to incorporate trees like moringa, citrus, and avocado into her cropping systems. Not only did her soil quality improve, but her crop variety expanded. With her surplus produce and additional tree-based products—like fruit and firewood—she was able to sell at local markets. The extra income meant reducing poverty: her children could attend school, and she even invested in livestock.
The benefits of agroforestry ripple outwards. More productive farms reduce the need for harmful environmental practices, like slash-and-burn agriculture or charcoal production, both of which contribute to deforestation. More income means more stability, and with stability comes the freedom to make long-term choices, such as saving, starting small businesses, or investing in education.
This model also reshapes what development looks like. In rural Burundi, the savings groups launched through Plant With Purpose are often fueled by agricultural profits made possible by agroforestry. Families who once lived in daily survival mode now dream of expanding their farms, protecting their forests, and even building village centers. For many participants, agroforestry is not just a means of feeding their families—it's the foundation of their financial futures.
Agroforestry also creates jobs, particularly for women. In Tanzania, women participate actively in tree nurseries and compost production, managing resources and leading community education. These new roles offer financial independence and leadership opportunities, reshaping gender dynamics in the process.
What sets Plant With Purpose’s approach apart is its integration of spiritual renewal with environmental restoration and reducing poverty. The model isn’t just about restoring land, but about helping people discover their God-given purpose in caring for creation. In the words of Pedro, a farmer from the Dominican Republic: “God created the earth, the water, the air, and nature itself... We are part of nature, God loves us, because of this, we have to love nature.”
This ethos shapes how communities embrace agroforestry. It’s not just a set of techniques—it’s a transformation of identity. Farmers are no longer just laborers scraping a living from poor soil. They become stewards, caretakers, and providers—able to look at a hillside and see not just trees, but opportunity.
And that opportunity is growing.
Today, over 70 million trees have been planted by Plant With Purpose participants, many as part of agroforestry systems. From the hills of Northern Thailand to the valleys of Ethiopia, restored land is bearing fruit—literally and figuratively.
But this transformation is not automatic. It requires training, support, and trust. It requires faith—in the process, in the community, and in a future that is often hard to see from the depths of poverty. Agroforestry offers that future.
For Andres in the Dominican Republic, for Dieula in Haiti, and for so many others, the simple act of planting trees has become a lifeline. Not only have they improved their land—they’ve improved their lives. Their children are fed, their farms are green, and their communities are reducing poverty.
Agroforestry is not a silver bullet. But it is a powerful, proven, and deeply human solution to one of the world’s greatest challenges: how to break the cycle of poverty while protecting our planet.
At Plant With Purpose, we believe in planting hope. One tree. One family. One future at a time.
