Since 2002, Quito started a participatory organic urban agriculture program (AGRUPAR) as a city policy. AGRUPAR in Spanish means to get together. This food security program has grown to 2,500 orchards and involves approximately 16,000 citizens living in the city´s periphery. AGRUPAR involves women and men of all ages and races, addicts that are trying to recuperate their lives, and anyone interested in learning in growing their food and feeding their dreams. Urban agriculture translates into an additional monthly income of USD 151 for each participant (Ecuador´s monthly minimum wage is USD 354), however, what people value the most is its positive impact to their family´s health.

Due to the eruption of the volcano Cotopaxi since August 2015, located 2 hours away from the city, Quito has experienced ash fall. Together with forest fires, various orchards have been damaged or lost. In the past five years, over 10,000 hectares of forests have been burnt. Restoration requires nearly 10 million dollars.

“Trees for Seeds” is a campaign to support the Municipality´s reforestation program launched in November 2015. For every tree planted, we intend to raise USD 1 dollar. 2,300 hectares are included in this plan and an average of 100,000 trees is the annual goal. The donations will serve to buy seeds for the damaged orchards as well as trees for the reforestation program.

Seeds will become orchards and entrepreneurs. Trees will become forests that will help Quito adapt to climate change.