D.R.Congo
Given the constant threat of violence, Emmanuel de Merode, Chief Park Warden, Virunga National Park, is inspirational, with his uncompromising commitment to conservation and the protection of the Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and all of the species that call it home.

That risk became all too real when he was ambushed on the Rumangabo Road outside Goma (see our earlier posts when we were there) and shot multiple times.
Our thoughts and best wishes are with him as he thankfully makes a speedy and complete recovery.


An anthropologist, Emmanuel de Merode has been Chief Warden of Virunga National Park since 2008 when he was appointed by the Congolese government. He has stood in brave defense of the park against those who seek to pillage it for oil or poach the threatened animals who live there. It is unknown at this time who shot him.

Emmanuel has also led the fight against bushmeat, forest destruction, and encouraged the use of sustainable energy. Virunga National Park is home to many of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, as well as a large population of other animals, including hippopotamuses and elephants. “Virunga,” is a documentary about the brave protectors of Virunga National Park. Emmanuel is featured in the film, along with the park rangers who carry out this important but dangerous work.

We look forward to working with these brave rangers as well as the community that borders the park.

click below to see the film...

Virunga - Official Trailer 2014

This Sh*t Is About More Than Manure...

The Guardian Project (TGP) Is Expanding...

You're already familiar with
THE SHIT STARTS HERE - an agricultural micro-finance, focusing on composting animal manure into organic fertilizer, where the currency is sheep/goats, the loan is interest free, and a pay-forward component ensures the longevity of the initiative as well as our redundancy in any one area.

Well, TGP (The Guardian Project) expanded it's portfolio, beginning in D.R.Congo to include
THE BUCK STARTS HERE - a micro-finance initiative where money is lent at cost of capital only (no interest rate profit) to facilitate business opportunities.

Working out the details for The Buck Starts Here's first micro-loan.

 And beginning in Uganda and already in Rwanda as well,
THE SEEDS START HERE - an agricultural micro-finance initiative, where the currency is seeds, and the lender pays back not only initial loan but also a percentage of seeds generated from crop yield, ensuring exponential loans as well as our redundancy in any one area.

saplings will be nurtured with nutrient-rich organic fertilizer...yum!

 And because new sh*t is always cooking with our initiative, we are excited to announce that we will be working with a club of 30 school kids who have been studying bird life, forests and conservation with Nyungwe Park Ranger Cleaver.
As part of a program to increase awareness of the importance of trees, each student will receive a sapling and a rabibit. The rabbit manure will be composted into fertilizer to help the sapling grow (a great learning opportunity!) and as rabbits reproduce, one of their off-spring will be paid forward, with additional saplings, to other students, expanding this important awareness initiative.
We are excited to hear what ideas the students will come up with for other projects using the fertilizer their rabbits produce - perhaps starting their own own tree nursery.

Cleaver rocks! and we're so happy to be helping him with his wonderful idea.

"It all began with a walk in the forest..."
where we met Cleaver, one of the park rangers. Chatting during our hike, we explained our initiative. He told us about his brother, Innocent, who was a cooperative leader trying to improve the lives of his community members. A few emails, some months and 120 goats later, Innocent's cooperative is making plans for the future, thanks to increased crop yields. And Cleaver has partnered up with us to provide rabbits and plant trees with kids from a local school as part of a conservation program.