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Organic tea sales to benefit San communities 

2010-01-04 08:32:00

Organic tea sales to benefit San communities

When Nichole Lewis, owner of Green Earth Goods decided to go into organic farming, she was left with a supply of organic rooibos tea to find a home for. She came up with an imaginative idea to donate the proceeds to the Kalahari Peoples Fund. Here is what she says:

‘I started my business 4 years ago with the philosophy that the world could be made a better place one back yard at a time, one person at a time.  When the economy and competition from larger corporations made it impossible for my business to sustain, I decided not to be a victim, but return to my philosophy - that we can all make a positive difference.  So rather than worry about selling the remaining inventory of tea, I decided to donate it.  It was my way of making good on a promise I had made, to give profits back to the Kalahari people.  

‘The best part of my experience was confirming that I didn’t want to just be in business to chase the almighty dollar.  And in spite of all the economic challenges and personal ups and downs of the last few years, I still believe every person can make a positive contribution to a better world if they choose too.  I hope the money raised from sales of the tea goes further than I could have ever imagined!‘
 

The tea was sold in Austin Texas at the Christmas Arts Festival in Wheatsville Food Co-op as part of a KPF funding drive. The tea was originally purchased in Clanwilliam (Western Cape) in bulk. The volunteer tea-packers in the pictures are from Lamar Middle School.
 
The names of the teachers involved were Kristin Broyhill and Roxann Patrick. Megan Biesele, Director of KPF, returned to her own Middle School for the first time in 50 years to speak about her experiences with the San people in Africa and the work of the Kalahari Peoples Fund. Taesun Moon made the attached poster. Poster pictures by Catherine Collett, class pictures by Kristin Broyhill.

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