CANAAN COMMUNITY SUPPLIES TREES TO FARMERS

Trees for Life is a program that gives thousands of olive trees to farmers starting out, as well as smaller farmers and those whose trees or lands have been destroyed by Israeli forces. In five years, the project has planted almost 50,000 trees (49,559 to be exact)! When you buy tins of Canaan olive oil a contribution of one dollar for each tin goes to the program and some of our partners do the same.  In addition, a number of solidarity commuities sell tree sponsorships and work directly with the PFTA. The Trees for Life project is solely funded by grassroots movements abroad and soley invested in the Palestinian fair trade movement in Palestine.  This project helps offset the enormous destruction of olive trees by the Israeli occupation army in Palestine.

There has been so much interest in buying trees as gifts, we have set them up as an item, three trees for $20. You can order a share or more on our shopping cart at CanaanUSA.com.  Our farmers thank you.  Together, we keep Palestine alive.

REVERSING THE DESTRUCTION

Trees for Life started in 2005 and is administered by the Palestine Fair Trade Association, with the support of Canaan Fair Trade and our olive oil distributors around the world, like US Campaign, Zatoun, The Olive Coop, Canaan USA, Jewish Voice for Peace, Alter Eco. The project plants thousands of olive trees in Palestine every year. Besides its development aspect, this program helps connect the Palestinian farmers and producers in the fair trade movement in Palestine to the grassroots fair trade movement in Europe and North America.

A committee of PFTA farmers implements and administers the program.  Growers must qualify for lots of 25-50 trees. They must have suitable land, the capacity to nurture the trees, fields prepared for planting immediately upon delivery, and a commitment to fair trade practices.  Priority for trees goes to small farmers, young farmers with inherited or acquired land, landed women interested in farming, and farmers who have lost trees to the occupation. Trees are planted between Tree Day, January 15, and Land Day, March 30. The ritual of planting symbolically connects growers to their international supporters and the international fair trade movement. (Trees for Life 2012 Report). (Trees for Life 2010 Report). (Trees for Life 2009 Report).