Episode #24
$54 Million Over 40 Years: How Trees for the Future Made Carbon a Crop
How Trees Helps Smallholder Farmers Build Prosperity and Restore Land James Misner speaks with Cate from Trees about how a nature-based organization uses regenerative agriculture, trees, and local leadership to help smallholder farmers in East Africa improve soil health, diversify crops, and strengthen livelihoods. They also discuss why climate work is inseparable from people, how carbon markets fit into nonprofit revenue, and what happens when partnerships are not the right scaling strategy. Key Topics Cate shares her career path from advertising to public health, consulting, and Trees, where her work combines curiosity, persuasion, community, and mission. Trees uses trees as a starting point to support regenerative agriculture with smallholder farmers in Africa. Its mission is twofold: restore land and unlock prosperity for farmers. Cate explains farmer-led, locally rooted delivery, including informed consent and community-based support. Farmers move from monocropping and degraded soils to diversified farms with 4–5 crops in year one and 12–15 by year three. The model improves food security, dietary diversity, composting, pest management, savings, and market access. Village savings and loans help farmers save, lend, and reinvest in their farms and communities. Cate and James discuss why framing climate work through people makes funding more compelling. Trees adapts its approach to local soil, education, markets, and gender norms across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Cate explains why Trees moved away from broad partnerships when they began affecting quality and capacity. The conversation closes with how carbon credits can generate additional revenue for farmers and Trees while requiring verification and long-term permanence. Timestamps 00:00 — Opening the conversation and Cate’s career path 03:10 — What Trees is and why trees are only the starting point 06:07 — How smallholder farmers experience the program 08:22 — Farm redesign, composting, and integrated pest management 09:45 — From diversified farms to savings groups and small businesses 12:47 — Why climate work must be framed through people 15:09 — Scaling across countries without losing local fit 19:23 — The partnership model that did not work 22:28 — Translating the story for donors and outside audiences 26:12 — Revenue diversification and why carbon markets matter 32:52 — How to connect with Trees and Cate Resources & Links: The Kipos Group Website Schedule a Discovery Call with James Connect with James Misner on Linkedin Connect with Cate: Trees for the Future Official Website Connect with Cate on Linkedin
