Our Work
Where We’re Growing
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Columbia
In May 2020, in partnership with the Heart & Mind Festival and with the help of a private donor, we were able to work with Rodrigo Barros in an emergency reforestation effort.
In recent time, illegal mining has run rampant in the Columbian Sierras, having devastating effects on the entire ecosystems and desecrating sacred land. With the help of the Colombian military, a Council of 400 Indigenous people were able to halt the continuation of mining under the conditions that they build two temples at the site that was being illegally invaded.
There are only two species of trees that this tradition uses for building their sacred temples with and both species had been destroyed during the invasion of the land. Additionally a Grove which was where the Mamos and Zagas would pilgrimage when they had to make very special Pagamentos for deep healing, was also decimated. To further the gravity of the situation, the 400 indigenous people who’d left their land to gather and create a stronghold against the miners were running out of food and had access only to water that had been poisoned by mining run-off.
We were able to send them funds to reforest over 2,000 trees, secure their land back, build 2 temples, and feed 400 indigenous people working to protect their land.
A special thanks to Maestro Manuel Rufino, Mamo Rodrigo Barros, Robert Farina, and Ginny Griego.
Akwesasne, NY
For 2 consecutive years, Root to Heaven has donated trees and shrubs to the Mohawk Nation in Akwesasne. Working in partnership with Akwesasne Freedom School, On:kwe Community Garden, and Youth Leaders, we have also assisted in the planting of community garden and land rehabilitation for an Agroforestry Initiative.
Schoharie Valley, NY
In Spring 2021 we were very honored to gift and plant 500 trees with our friends at the Waterfall Unity Alliance. The mission of the Waterfall Unity Alliance is to protect the Schoharie Valley and all Earth, build alliances across movements & cultures, and create solutions to the existential challenges of our time.
Calhan, Colorado
In Winter 2022, we began a multi-year, massive reforestation, and regenerative education project with our partners at Sanctorum Ecovillage, home of the HeartFire Festival
Catskills, New York
In Spring 2022, our founder, Nicole Adriana Casanova, planted over 35,000 seeds and plants to support and protect pollinators species.
Puerto Angel, Oaxaca, Mexico
In November 2022, Root to Heaven will host its first ever Permaculture and Regenerative Training Retreat, working alongside 25 chiefs from the area to rebuild and regenerate land after natural disasters struck the area. Retreat participants and locals will learn the foundations of permaculture, composting, and planting rain gardens.
Our Family Tree is growing
Root to Heaven is being asked to help develop land projects and communities is Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Central Mexico, Jamaica, Poland, Lithuania and beyond. Your generous contributions is what makes our work possible.
