The Land Also Needs Time. Support Cafe Lahu's Campaign

Before planting the future, we must first restore the land.

This year, 30 Lahu families have chosen to embark on an incredible journey. 

Instead of growing maize on the land committed to the project, they have chosen to give the soil time to recover before taking the next steps towards regenerative agroforestry.

This courageous decision means giving up part of today’s income to build a more sustainable future in harmony with nature. 

Regenerating the land is part of a wider vision to equip the Lahu community in Kangluang with the tools needed to nurture and sustain a more reciprocal relationship with nature. While we are eager to see change happen, we have also learned to listen to what the land is asking of us. 

Our greatest lesson: the land also needs time.

We are now sowing the seeds for change. To make this possible, we need your help to meet our fundraising goal of €3.500. You may donate via Bizum or debit/credit card.

What does The Land Also Needs Time focus on?

Nasui, a Cafe Lahu farmer.

The Land Also Needs Time focuses on three key areas: restoring the soil, strengthening the farming families' knowledge of regenerative agriculture and providing partial financial support during the transition.

Nasui, photographed above, is one of the farmers leading the transition. Like many others, she has spent her life growing maize using the unsustainable farming methods available to her.

For Nasui and other participating families, this transition is an opportunity to strengthen a more reciprocal relationship with the land. What we give to the land shapes what it gives back to us. To nurture this reciprocity, Nasui has committed to healing the land through a small but powerful act: giving it time.

1. Restore Kanglaung land 🌱

Restoring the land requires investment in resources needed to address the effects of generations of chemical use and farming practices that have degraded Kanglaung's soil. 

We have chosen to use Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), a fast-growing legume that is commonly used to improve soil quality. Sunn hemp captures nitrogen from the atmosphere and helps make it available in the soil, removing the need for chemical fertilizers. After approximately 60-90 days, the crop will be plowed and mixed in the earth, acting as a green manure and helping preparing the land for our coffee and fruit trees.

The Sunn hemp seeds will be equally distributed among all participating Cafe Lahu farming family.

Your support will fund:

• A bulk purchase of Sunn hemp seeds

• Seed transport and delivery

• The farming tools and irrigation equimpent required to plant and maintain the crop. 

2. Strengthen knowledge of regenerative agriculture🌾

   
   

The transition from mono-cropping to regenerative agriculture requires new technical knowledge and practical support. Training will help participating families complement their existing knowledge and develop the skills needed to restore the soil and implement regenerative farming practices.

Training will support Nasui and other participating families throughout this transition.

Your support will fund:

• Training programmes in regenerative agricultural practices, with particular attention to the inclusion of Kanglaung’s women farmers 

• Organizational costs, including trainer's travel expenses and other related costs.

3. Support farmers during the transition 🌽

   
   

At the heart of Cafe Lahu are 30 Lahu farming families. As part of this transition, each family has chosen to dedicate 1 rai (0.16 hectares) to the project. This means giving up the income they would normally earn from this land during this year and following years, until the fruit trees begin to produce.

The collective decision reflects the families' commitment to the future of their land, their community and the generations to come. However, making this transition also creates additional pressure for families whose livelihoods depend on every rai of land.

Your support will fund:

• A minimum subsidy of 50 EUR per participating family that plants Sunn hemp, partially compensating for the income they would otherwise have earned by growing the usual crops.

Ways to support the project

We welcome every donation, regardless of the amount, with great gratitude. 

If we do not reach our fundraising goal, your donations will be allocated to provide as many families as possible with the opportunity to continue the transition to sustainable farming practices.

Donations via Bizum

For donors, in Spain, our Bizum code: 12693, Associació SomLahu.

Donations via debit/credit card

For other payments by card, visit our donation page to contribute. 

Please include The Land Also Needs Time in the comment box, and your email if you wish to subscribe to our mailing list for campaign updates.

Subscribe to our mailing list for updates

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This campaign will run until August 12, 2026 at 11.59PM GMT+2.

Restoring the land is restoring the community

Your contribution is helping to create a ripple effect that will be felt for generations to come. Thank you for being a part of this positive transition and supporting the Cafe Lahu community in building the new future it has chosen.

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Cafe Lahu maintains full transparency throughout our fundraising campaigns. If you have any further questions, please reach out to us at info@cafelahu.org.