Category Archives: Pay it Forward

A Guest Post by Lori Williams: The Water Project

I’m not an environmentalist.  I’m an Earth warrior.

~Darryl Cherney, quoted in Smithsonian, April 1990

When my friend Lori shared her passion and commitment to The Water Project, I knew we, as gardeners, could help, too.  Before we hear from Lori about her incredible journey to make a difference in many lives in Africa, I wanted to first share ways we can begin a personal Water Project in our own backyards.

Gardeners know all too well that water for our crops, landscapes and gardens is a precious resource.  And, as we create more sustainable landscapes and gardens, we help conserve natural resources, like water.  Following are sustainable practices to consider as we kick off the 2012 Gardening Season:

  • Water harvesting by attaching a rain barrel to a downspout
  • Thickly planted garden beds with trees, shrubs, and ground covers
  • Beds planted along the edge of the road to slow and filter runoff
  • Terracing to slow runoff and encourage infiltration
  • Plant trees to create microclimates which reduce water usage
  • Learning good soil management which encourages rainwater infiltration
  • Mulching around tree trunks

And now, here’s Lori’s very compelling challenge and commitment to Africa.

The Water Project
By: Lori T. Williams

Imagine if you had to walk for six hours just to get a couple gallons of water, and had to do it again the next day.  We take for granted all the clean water we use each day to drink, bathe, and wash our clothes, dishes, and cars.

On average, The Pokot women in Africa carry 40 pounds of dirty water for six hours each day to bring the water back to their village so their families can drink it and live.  Without the dirty water, they die in a few days.  With the dirty water, they die years later of various diseases.

Facts: 

  • There are 1 million people in need of clean water in Kenya
  • It costs $21,000 per well, which provides clean water for 400 people for about 20 years
  • This breaks down to a cost of $52.50 per person for a community of 400 to enjoy water from one well
  • People in third world countries live on $2 a day or less

I have been moved beyond words, and into action.  As a community, we can make a difference and provide CLEAN water to the residents.

I am part of Kensington Community Church and attend the Birmingham Campus.  As a church, we are raising funds to install clean water wells for residents of the Pokot Tribe in the Republic of Kenya, Africa.

It is exciting for me to be able to partner with friends, family members, my business community, my church community, and my local and “virtual” community to truly make a difference to others and give the gift of life through water.

If you wish to learn more about this cause, please contact me through my website, Your Legal Resource.  I’d love to hear from you!

Thank you,

Lori T. Williams, Owner/Managing Attorney of Your Legal Resource, PLLC

Planting Great Seeds!

If you walk past a Reaching Higher classroom in Royal Oak, Michigan, it is everything but conventional!  You may hear these words chanted VERY loudly:

I plant great seeds in the corner of my mind,
My seeds are my thoughts, they are the winning kind.
My thoughts help me focus when I am still.
I say yes I can, yes I will.
I am a winner
I will succeed
Because I use my mind to
Plant great seeds!

I once believed seeds were only planted in the soil…until I discovered Reaching Higher. Five years ago I responded to an ad in my local newspaper by Susie Dahlmann, Founder and Executive Director of Reaching Higher.  Susie was recruiting volunteers interested in becoming trained Reaching Higher instructors so I called to express an interest. Since then, I have had the distinct honor and privilege of working with youth from my local middle and high school.  Just like gardening, Reaching Higher strikes an unexplained chord deep in my soul!

Reaching Higher’s unique curriculum is a well-designed nine-session program that is progressive and cutting edge. The thing I love most is that it is love-based.   Hands down, The Beatles were “right on” when they crooned “all we need is love!”

During the eight-week period, two instructors, five mentors and twenty-five students explore uncharted waters and endless possibilities together.  Here’s a brief synopsis:

SESSION 1 – You Are a Miracle
SESSION 2 – Remembering
SESSION 3 – Managing Stress
SESSION 4 – Purpose In Life-Setting Goals
SESSION 5 – Changing Limiting Beliefs
SESSION 6 – Fear to Freedom
SESSION 7 – Positive Life Choices
SESSION 8 – Happiness Through Giving and Loving
SESSION 9 – Graduation Celebration

So when I am not planting seeds in the soil during the growing season in Michigan, you will more than likely find me and many others planting seeds of love and hope for one another!

Thank you Reaching Higher  for putting the memorable words of The Beatles into action! I am grateful and blessed to be an instructor for this awesome program!

Together we can plant great seeds!   After all, for any of us to to nourish and grow, all WE need is LOVE!

May all your gardens grow,