On the frontlines of the climate crisis, Maasai clan leader Dalmas Tiampati invests in the future of the region and his culture.
Last week, an exciting milestone was reached at the Maasai Center for Regenerative Pastoralism in Ejiado County, Kenya. Dalmas’s demonstration farm successfully installed a syntropic agroforest training garden full of nutritious superfood tree crops, marking a major step forward for local food security, womens empowerment, ecological restoration, and the preservation of Maasai cultural heritage. Spearheaded by clan leader Dalmas Tiampati, in partnership with trainer Roland van Reenen, this new garden is set to serve as a living regeneration classroom for local women and their families. Here, they will learn how to cultivate nutrient-rich superfood trees that can thrive in dry, challenging climates and grow the medicine needed to treat malnutrition -good nutrition.
Building on Research and Community Partnerships
This Food Forest builds upon prior research led by Eric Toensmeier, who explored which superfood tree species are best suited to restore degraded landscapes while combating malnutrition and boosting women’s incomes. This groundwork was furthered through Regenerative Farms (RF), which conducted on-the-ground testing, ensuring that the plant varieties chosen could endure harsh conditions and still deliver significant nutritional benefits to local communities.
Originally launched in 2023 with funding from a Jonas Philanthropies Trees for Climate Health grant, the tree planting project has already demonstrated its potential for environmental renewal and community uplift. Thanks to a generous gift from the Woka Foundation in March, the Maasai clan took the next step in creating a Regeneration Hub in Ejiado County. This new demonstration farm stands as a tangible symbol of the community’s commitment to sustainable progress, harmonizing traditional pastoralist knowledge with modern regenerative farming practices.
Regenerative Training and Women’s Empowerment
Under the guidance of Dalmas Tiampati and Roland van Reenen, local women and youth are receiving hands-on instruction in:
- Superfood Tree Planting and Maintenance
Participants learn how to plant, prune, and manage hardy tree species that withstand drought conditions while providing vital nutrients often missing from local diets. - Soil and Water Conservation Techniques
Regenerative methods such as composting, mulching, and water retention strategies rebuild healthy soil and increase crop resilience. - Biodiversity and Habitat Restoration
By reintroducing tree cover and diverse plant species, the program helps protect threatened wildlife habitats, ensuring the Maasai Mara’s biodiversity endures for generations. - Community-Led Resilience
Women take on leadership roles as both educators and implementers, ensuring that new skills, income opportunities, and decision-making power reside within the community itself.
Seeking Support for Next Steps
With the establishment of the demonstration farm, the project now aims to install an irrigation well and pay local women to maintain the farm and provide outreach and training to other families throughout Ejiado County.
Every contribution invests directly in breaking the cycle of poverty, environmental degradation, and gender violence in one of the world’s most challenging regions—especially for women and girls. By supporting indigenous leaders like Dalmas Tiampati, you foster locally driven, culturally relevant solutions that offer hope, resilience, and restored ecosystems.
Why Your Help Matters
By standing with Dalmas and supporting the Ejiado County Maasai clan’s Nutritious Trees Project, you enable more than just a farm or a training center—you bring opportunity, ecological restoration, and lasting change to a region on the front lines of the climate crisis, having been devastated by a decade of prolonged drought. Together, we can help local communities grow stronger, feed their families, and protect the area’s precious biodiversity for generations to come.
Join Us in Making a Difference
By donating to Regenerative Farms, you contribute to a future where every child has access to nutritious food and a safe, resilient, and restored environment. Thank you for being a part of our journey to end child hunger with regenerative farming and innovative ecosystem restoration solutions. Your support is invaluable in making this vision a reality. Together, we can plant the seeds of hope and ensure a brighter future for children and their families everywhere.
Help Grow Support for the Maasai Center for Regenerative Pastoralism
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Thank you for your unwavering support.
Sincerely,
Mary Johnson, RF Founder/President
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