February 14, 2007

or this Valentines Day.. let's make a difference in someone's life

I was thinking this over for the last few weeks and want to help someone else out in some part of the world and make a huge difference. Today, I was thinking about what kind of a service for Heifer International I could do for them from here in my remote part of the world in northern Canada. This is what I came up with. People could get a 'free' pdf magazine and they could donate the $5 fee to Heifer's International and know they are helping someone out to make a living in the agriculture field, not getting handouts and not starving to death. I like it in that recipients agree to share the offspring of gift animals with others in need, making them equal partners with Heifer in the fight to end world hunger. This is for today only.

Heifer International is one of the causes I encourage people to donate towards, though I cannot do it myself often. It is the gift which keeps giving. Today only, all proceeds from sales of the pdf form of "Down to the Roots" magazine will go to Heifer International.

Today, On Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2007, go to Heifer International and give someone a lasting Valentine gift. 

On the link page, Scroll to the Bottom At "General Donation", put a 5 into the @ $1.00 space

and then at "Please let us know if you are placing this order as" open the drop down box and select Business.

and then at "Please provide name of organization or company if selected above", type in "Down to the Roots" Magazine.

They will give you a receipt, email me that receipt at tenzicut@downtotheroots.net and I will send you the "Down to the Roots" magazine pdf in your email.

Ok, still not sure what Heifer International is? What Heifer International is, is to give someone a start (usually in third world countries, although Heifer International has projects everywhere) in some form of agriculture to sustain their family and have a source of income. Heifer International has no idea I am doing this and no, I do not get anything from it, other than hoping this little blurb will help a family I have never met, in some little corner of the world.

What I like about Heifer International is that is is not just handing someone some charity money, Heifer International helps children and families around the world receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant.

Though it started out with giving heifer cows as a gift, Heifer International now gives :

Heifer-
You can help get someone a Heifer. Each year that cow will produce a calf and for the first female calf born, it is passed to another family within the community. The protein in milk can transform sick, malnourished children into healthy boys and girls. The sale of surplus milk earns money for school fees, medicine, clothing and home improvements.

Sheep-
You can help someone get  sheep. Struggling families use sheep's wool to make clothes, or sell it for extra income. Sheep usually twin or better and that will increase the families (and communities flock).

Water Buffalo-
I always wanted to get someone a Water Buffalo since I cannot have one of my own. How about you? You can do it too.

Llama-
Llama's used to be more exotic in the United States, but to the rough, mountainous areas of Latin America, llamas are a blessing to families with limited pasture land, and they play a pivotal role in the cultural life of indigenous communities on the high plains of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. Women weave their llamas' fleece into warm clothing to wear or sell. They load them up with goods for market and trek with them across rugged slopes at high altitudes. As they travel, llamas' padded feet don't damage the fragile terrain and their selective browsing doesn't destroy sparse vegetation. You can help someone get a llama.

Chickens-
How about getting a starter flock for someone whose life may depend on them? You know how much your flock brings you food and enjoyment.

Ducks-
Like them but cannot have them? Let someone else raise them. These delightful creatures are good for the environment and people too. Ducks add protein to the diet from eating eggs, money in the pocket
from selling eggs and ducks, and better crops in the fields, as ducks remove weeds and bugs and add fertilizer. Give a gift of some ducks to a deserving individual.

Goats -
Goat's milk is the only milk known to half the world's people, but 80 percent of mothers and children in rural areas do not have any type of milk or milk products. The gift of a dairy goat is a lasting, meaningful way to help a struggling family on the other side of the world.

Pigs-
How about swine? I always said I would never raise them. Never say never.. but in many countries hogs thrive where other species will not easily. To help hungry, undernourished families put protein back in their diets at little cost, Heifer teaches farmers how to raise healthy pigs in countries where waste products are the only available feed. In Honduras, pigs eat rejected bananas, and in the Dominican Republic, they thrive on damaged yams.

For the Knitters-
They also place  4 animals which yield countless bundles of wool for families to make clothes, blankets, ponchos and more ... handcrafted pieces earn income for food and basic necessities. This is a gift that will truly warm the heart!

Other gifts also include bees, geese and rabbits. Tell others about this fine organization !
 

PS.. this is from one of our readers today...

"Thank you for encouraging me to do something I’ve thought of for a long time ... this gift [to Heifer International] is in honor of my milk cow, "Ginger" (long gone, but still in my heart) and your cow, "Daisy".  May she have many years of blessed life with you!! - Connie"