Trees for the Future
Dave Deppner planted a seed.
It is amazing what a seed can do!
In the early 1970s, while Dave and Grace Deppner served as volunteers in developing countries around the world, they took note of the human tragedy brought on by illegal logging and unsustainable land management systems. Families who could no longer sustain themselves on their farmland turned to find work in cities where they were marginalized and struggled to put food on the table.
Working with community leaders, the Deppners began to find ways to offer to villagers by reestablishing productive lands – with their families and culture intact. They renewed degraded lands by providing farmers with beneficial tree seed, technical training, and on-site planning assistance. People responded enthusiastically. Entire villages joined in, making great sacrifices to save their homes and way of life.
And the rest, they say, is history. 50 million trees and counting. Yeah, Legendary!