Join SHI in Belize
May 12 - 21, 2007

Dear Friends,

We are seeking additional participants for our May 2007 Smaller World Service Trip to Belize. This promises to be an amazing opportunity to work with Sustainable Harvest International's Belizean staff and participant families on a number of sustainable agriculture projects. The families working with SHI in Belize are very proud of the work they are doing to reverse cycles of rainforest destruction and poverty and want to share their their techniques with you. Participants will work side-by-side with local farmers who will provide the group with the tools and training they need. This invitation has been extended by the Mayan villages where SHI works and participants will stay in the rural communities to truly experience village life. This is a perfect trip for anyone interested in experiencing sustainable agriculture in the tropics firsthand. Please help us to spread the word by sharing the details below with anyone who may be interested. Additional information can be found on our website: www.sustainableharvest.org/SWBelize0506.cfm Please note that program fees cover all in-country expenses and provide support for local projects.

Sustainable Agriculture in Belize
May 12 - 21, 2007

Until recent years, Belize 's environment remained relatively untouched, but now Belize is confronting serious environmental degradation. Toledo is the most impoverished district in Belize and perhaps the most threatened. A rainy region with a unique coastal ecosystem, Toledo is home to rare and endangered species. Unfortunately, this area now faces deforestation problems including slash-and-burn farming and the sale of logging rights to big timber companies.

After an orientation in Punta Gorda, the group will head out to the small Kekchi and Mopan Mayan villages working with SHI. While in the villages, participants will stay in guest houses and with local families. In addition to work projects, we will also take a weekend sightseeing excursion.

Program Fee :
The cost for this trip is $1,400 per person. This total includes a donation to the local program, project materials and supplies, liability insurance, all in-country transportation, rustic accommodations in the villages and double occupancy hotel accommodations when we visit tourist areas, meals and guide / translation service. This total does not inclue airfare to Belize, phone calls, souvenirs, or any additional costs not mentioned.

Sustainable Harvest International is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and program costs may be tax-deductible. If travel funding is an issue for you, please contact Sarah Kennedy at our outreach office to brainstorm some fundraising ideas.

Sustainable Harvest Belize:
SHI has been working in the Toledo district of Southern Belize since 1999. Currently the program has three extensionists working with 205 families and several schools. They teach a wide range of sustainable techniques using a variety of species. One of the most important species is cacao, which is native to southern Belize and grows in a natural forest environment. Cacao pods also contain the primary ingredient of a very valuable product: chocolate! If a cash-crop like cacao is firmly established in an area, that area is much less likely to be logged for timber. It is a long-term investment in the land that will contribute to the local economy and help the people of southern Belize lead the way to sustainable development.

Register Today:
Please contact the SHI office to reserve your place. Visit us online at www.sustainableharvest.org/tours.cfm, email sarah@sustainableharvest.org or call 919-942-2221 for additional information. Thank you for your help in spreading the word about this opportunity! You can make a difference.

Sarah Kennedy
Outreach Director
Sustainable Harvest International

Sustainable Harvest International  •  779 North Bend Rd. Surry, ME 04684  •  207.669.8254 (phone)  •  866.683.6594 (toll free) •  207.669.8255 (fax)  •  shi@sustainableharvest.org  •  www.sustainableharvest.org