“This Land Gives Me Life:” Lucas’s Journey of Renewal

The story of Lucas’s farm is a story of transformation. What began as parched land in the Dominican hills has become a thriving forest of cocoa and fruit trees — a place that nourishes his family, his neighbors, and his spirit.

Lucas first began working his land in the late 1980s, when the area was little more than dry scrubland.

“Before, I didn’t know how to care for the land. I planted yucca and barely got anything. But Plant With Purpose taught me how to cultivate. It was like a mother to me.”

Today, his plot is a vibrant agroforestry system filled with cocoa, gmelina, sapote, and other fruit trees.

“This land gives me food, gives me life,” Lucas says. “It supports my family and protects the environment.”

His farm is more than productive — it’s regenerative. Trees like gmelina and cocoa sprout new life from old stumps, and fallen leaves enrich the soil naturally.

“I cut, I prune, I harvest, and I replant,” he says. “The forest renews itself.”

This cycle of growth has brought not only financial stability but also a sense of rejuvenation.

“I feel younger now,” Lucas says. “When I pick up my machete and go out to clear plants, it gives me health. It gives me life.”

Lucas’s impact extends beyond his own land. His trees provide work for woodcutters, sawmill operators, and shepherds.

“It’s not just me who lives off this land,” he says. “Many people benefit.”

He’s also become a mentor to other farmers.

“I tell them, ‘Plant gmelina, plant mahogany. Don’t just think about what you can eat today — think about what will sustain you tomorrow.’”

When asked what gives him hope, Lucas doesn’t hesitate: “My farm means my family doesn’t have to ask anyone for help. It gives us dignity.”