Terra Experience's Commitment to Fair Trade & Environmental Responsibility

• "We strive to support sustainable development, fair trade, local artisans,  their communities and environment"

[Note - this page badly needs to be updated. 
Its on my New Years Resolution list for 2012 - thanks for your understanding.  Lynn]

As owner of Terra Experience my goal is to grow and continuously improve Terra Experience as a socially and environmentally responsible for-profit small business that is able to provide a fair wage and empower the artisan families with whom we work.  I believe in and strive to meet the goals of fair trade and the commitments to fair trade of Fair Trade Federation members http://www.fairtradefederation.org.  Terra Experience is not a formal business member of the Fair Trade Federation at this point. We hope to become so in the future.  Some of Terra Experience activities to support this commitment to fair trade are summarized below.  You can click on each commitment to learn more about what Terra Experience is doing to support Fair Trade and be a "Green Business"

In January 2007 I retired after 32 working in Water Resources Management and Pollution Prevention for the State of Wisconsin. I am looking forward through Terra Experience have to more time to share my love of and respect for the Mayan people and culture and as well as the earth we all share.

For more information on how Terra Experience started, please check out the Capital Times article "Fair Trade Friends".  We welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions (as well as your purchases)

Lynn Persson,   lynn@TerraExperience.com Terra Experience Owner
	Written in 2007, Being updated September, 2009

Fair Trade Federation's Definition of Fair Trade http://www.fairtradefederation.org/memcrit.html Fair trade means an equitable and fair partnership between businesses and organizations in North America and producers in the developing world. Fair trade businesses foster long-term and direct relationships with producers, because they know these connections are a highly effective way to help producers help themselves. FTF wholesalers, retailers, and producers are fully committed to: Paying fair wages in local context; Supporting participatory workplaces; Ensuring environmental sustainability; Supplying financial and technical support; Respecting cultural identity; Offering public accountability; and, Educating consumers.

Paying fair wages in local context;

• Doll Clothes, a fun product selected to provide a fair wage and support cultural traditions ---- Terra Experience was started in 1999 as a very small, socially responsible business to help Mayan friends in Guatemala earn some additional income for school supplies and other needs of their families.  Hand-woven Mayan doll clothes seemed like a good idea because they would take less time and materials for the weavers to make than the womenലaditional huipiles (over-blouses) that I collected that often took a woman 3 or more months to make.  I had a Girl Scout troop at that time and had been amazed by the number of 18" dolls and doll clothes they had and the interest in American history that evolved.  I hoped there might also be a market for fine hand-woven ethnic doll clothes that would allow me to provide a fair wage to Guatemalan weavers and give children in North America kids a chance to experience and support the living Mayan culture. An initial sale at a local school (http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/shorewood/shop.html ) was successful and so Terra Experience began and engulfed my spare time. 
   
• Initial Focus, Supporting Children's Education --- When I first visited Guatemala in January 1997 it was the beginning of school year and the families I met were struggling to find the money for school supplies. The cost of pencils, paper, books in Guatemala was similar or more than that that in the USA. I talked to weavers whose husband made 3 or 4 dollars per day working in the fields who were trying to find $10 to $25 for each child's school supplies. Often their children dropped out at or before 6th grade because of the cost and need to earn money to support the family. Also many villages had no schools above 6th grade.   My initial aim with Terra Experience was to be able to buy enough doll clothes and other products at a fair price so that the weavers I knew would have enough profit to buy school supplies and keep their children in school. It wasn't a lot, but it was what I knew I could do. I worked with the weavers to design and to find a price that I could pay for their products that left us both smiling (that we both felt was fair) and we hoped would leave Terra Experience customers smiling.  Terra Experience's Doll Clothes were sold on eBay, at local events and eventually on the Terra Experience Web Site ( http://TerraExperience.com ).
   
• Fair Wages in A Local Context ---  
  2007 --Today in 2007 like many other businesses that strive to support fair trade,  I am struggling to define what that actually means in terms the artisan and their families who make the doll clothes and other products that Terra Experience purchases and also compete in a world-wide market.  Terra Experience will be experimenting with the new Fair Wage Guide (http://www.fairtradecalculator.net/about.php  ) during the coming year to get a better handle on the time and materials it takes to make Terra Experience's Doll Clothes and what the average wage weavers are making for these products.  We hope to use this tool to continuously improve the products we offer our customers and the wages the Mayan weavers receive for these products as well as keeping Terra Experience a viable and growing small business in a world market.
  2008 - -  We had limited time in Guatemala this year. We did work with several of weaving families to try get a better handle on the time and costs that went into weaving doll outfits.  As a result we worked with several of the weavers to modify designs of the doll clothes for future years.
  2009 --   Got more information in use with the fair wage guide.  We are still processing this information

I was never sure, but I hoped that I was paying the weavers who usually spend 4 to 6 hours a day at their work at least equal to what their husbands might make in a full eight hour day of agricultural field work.  Generally this was the close to the $5.18  per day usually given as the minimum wage for Guatemala (International Labour Organization).  According to the US State Department the legal minimum wage in Guatemala for agricultural work has risen from $3.98/ 8 hour day in 2000 to $7.17 in 2006, but over 75% of Guatemala workers do not receive that wage (more information on Guatemala's Minimum Wage). 

Supporting participatory workplaces;

By buying from artisan families, fair trade wholesalers and nonprofit organizations Terra Experience supports participatory workplaces. We do not buy artisan products that are made in large factories or sweatshops.

Ensuring environmental sustainability;

Having worked in Water Resources Management and Pollution Prevention for the State of Wisconsin for over 32 years "Sustainable developmentᮤ ronmental protectionᲥ part of my core values. They are reflected in the name, Terra Experience that I chose in 1999 for my "spare-time" business.  Terra in Latin means earth. Now, having retired in January, 2007, I am working to grow and continuously improve Terra Experience as a socially responsible and green business that strives to provide a fair wage and empower the artisan families with whom I work and to share with others my love of and respect for the Mayan people and their culture and as well as the earth we all share.  Some of the ways Terra Experience has already done so are:

•  In Guatemala:

  • Try to increase awareness and understanding of environmental issues and the need for natural resources protection among individual artisans and their children.  I am friends with many of the artisans I buy from and have known them for many years.  We talk about our families, our work and things that are important to us.  As such I sometimes talk about my work for the Department of Natural Resources in Wisconsin and we discuss the importance of clean water and clean air and protecting natural resources air Guatemala.  Some of the books I gave artisans children have had environmental themes.

  •  Try to support environmental and public health awareness and education among some of the artisan communities that I work with and will continue to strengthen this effort in the future. 
    2007 -- Terra Experience has funded a $500 environmental education project with Maya Traditions and is helping financially two young Mayan women from Chajul become public health nurses through Foundations for Educationӣholarship program.  Terra Experience has also helped out a group that is working to protect Lake Atitlan , Prolago (http://prolagoatitlan.org/pub/bin/perform.fcgi  on several occasions (when it was in need of start up money and after hurricane Stan).
    2008 --
    2009
     

• In the United States:

  • Use paper with 30% or more post-consumer waste whenever available. Reuse backside of paper and donਡve my laptop computer networked to my printer to make printing an inconvenient and conscious choice.

  • Drive a hybrid Prius (50 mpg) and organize trips to minimize driving time and miles.   Occasionally use a minivan (20 mpg) when required to do so to carry inventory to shows.

  • Take advantage of Wisconsin෯nderful recycling program and Green Valley Disposal೥rvice (http://www.greenvalleydisposal.com/index.htm ) to recycle all plastics labeled 1 through 7, glass containers, steel, aluminum cans and all grades of paper including cardboard.

  • Work from home much of the time and home worksite has over 1/3 of lot in natural area including a major wetland restoration area that acts as natural rain garden.  Have improved energy efficiency at the home worksite by installing a high-energy efficient furnace, hot water heater and energy efficient light bulbs.  The need for air conditioning is minimized by architectural design (roof overhangs that primarily let sun in during winter), shade trees and use of fans and simple things such as closing curtains during sunlight hours.

  • Continuously looking for ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.  Have a goal to set up a system to formally track progress in minimizing energy use and become carbon-neutral by the end of 2007. Sept 2009 Update:   

  • Our web site is hosted by a service that is powered by 100% Wind power. http://www.purehost.com/green/index.bml

Supplying financial and technical support;

• For the Artisans Families that Terra Experience Buys Directly From

• We always offer to provide cipo谲epayment) for items we order directly from an artisan.
• All items are paid for in full, immediately when they are received from the artisan producers.    
• We have ongoing relationships with many of these artisans and their families and now their childrenডmilies and over the years have helped out with school supplies, books, reading glasses, and occasionally other needs (school and health costs) during difficult times.
• We have worked informally and cooperatively with the artisans discussing product design, material costs, artisan time and other factors to determine a fair price for the work that leaves both of us smiling and helps keep their children in school.

•  Supporting Community Capabilities in Artisan Villages

Terra Experience has supported the ongoing work of selected fair-trade and nonprofit organizations that have an ongoing presence in Guatemala and the communities that the artisans from whom Terra Experience buys live.  Our focus in on groups that empower and increase capabilities of Mayan artisans and their communities especially through education, family health care and environmental protection. For more information check our "Ways to Help" web page.    

o      Maya Traditions:  (http://mayatraditions.com ) In 2007 Terra Experience provided Maya Traditions (a fair trade wholesaler that works with several women৲oups in Guatemala from whom Terra Experience buys many products) a $500 scholarship for students involved in an environmental project in their communities.  In the past Terra Experience has given books, dolls, reading glasses and general scholarship money to the group.   In 2008 Terra Experience provided

o      Clinica Maya ( http://www.clinicasmaya.com ):  This non-profit works with indigenous midwives in the Lake Atitlan area of Guatemala (where many of Terra Experienceࡲtisans live) to increase their capacity and has a clinic and several other projects.  We have information about the clinic on the Terra Experience web (http://www.terraexperience.com/la_casa_de_luz.htm - to help out before they had their own web) and have found and brought/shipped diabetes and other medical supplies, rechargeable flashlights, reading glasses and books to the clinic routinely over the past several years.  We have also encouraged friends and individuals to volunteer at the clinic.   

o      Foundations for Education (http://www.geocities.com/foeduinc/ ):  This nonprofit finds sponsors for middle and high schools students that are committed to returning to their communities and working as teachers for at least 2 years.  Terra Experience has supported a high school student from Chajul for the last three years. She graduated in 2006.  This year my husband and I are funding Elena and Manuela Caba Zuniga, two sisters from Chajul, El Quiche. They graduated from the Foundations program in 2003 and 2004 and have worked for several years in the rural areas of Quiche empowering women৲oups.  The sisters decided this year to study weekends at the University to become public health nurses so they can bring these skills to the women৲oups with whom they continue to work. 

o      Collegio Maya (http://www.terraexperience.com/options_to_help.htm ):  Sandra is a friend of mine who originally was from Guatemala and has lived for many years in Madison, WI.  She has informally adopted an elementary school "Colegio Maya" in a small aldea outside Cantel Quetzaltengo and a nursing home in Mazatenango.   Sandra works with her friends (including Terra Experience௷ner) to get school supplies, books, building materials to the 104 students in the school and basic clothes and supplies to the nursing home. 

o      Prolago  (http://prolagoatitlan.org/pub/bin/perform.fcgi) :  This is a Solola Guatemala based group that is working to protect Lake Atitlan.  Terra Experience has provided financial assistance to this organization on several occasions (when it was in need of start up money and after hurricane Stan). As Terra Experienceࢵsiness grows we hope to be able to grow our support of this organization. 

o      Wisconsin Nicaragua Partners: (http://wnp.uwsp.edu/news/postings/postings.htm ):   This nonprofit group has fostered partnerships between Wisconsin cities and groups with communities in Nicaragua since 1968.  They have established over 78 learning and sewing centers throughout Nicaragua.  Terra Experience supports their efforts by purchasing Chica Nica doll dresses and has donated Spanish language Singer Sewing books, sewing kits, and other things to the group. 

o      Pueblo to Pueblo: http://www.puebloapueblo.org / :  Terra Experience chose this group to help after Hurricane Stan in 2005.   Pueblo to Pueblo is a US non-profit that works with Asociaci㬩maal a Santiago Atiltan based Guatemalan nonprofit focused  on re-establishing 24/7 health in the Mayan community at its ﳰilito Atitlanfter the mudslide, the group did a tremendous amount to help weaver and artisan families whose homes were destroyed as well as re-establish medical health-care in the area.   Terra Experience helped create a Madison-Guatemala Network (see below) managed to raise $1000 that went to Pueblo to Pueblo hurricane relief efforts. Terra Experience continues to support Pueblo to Pueblo efforts.

Respecting cultural identity;

Terra Experience's Doll Clothes, Arts and Crafts and Books and our web site all indicate our love of and respect for the Mayan Culture and "Our goal:  to give kids (of all ages) the chance to experience other cultures while playing with the dolls and toys they love."

Offering public accountability; and, Transparency:

• Who does Terra Experience buy its Products from? As a socially responsible business, Terra Experience strives to buy all of its hand-woven doll clothes and other arts and crafts products directly from:

• Artisan Families --- Our goal is to pay the artisans who weave and make products a fair price for their fine work. We always offer to provide cipo谲epayment) for ordered items. All items are paid for in full, immediately when they are received from the artisan producers.    We have ongoing relationships with many of these artisans and their families and now their childrenডmilies and over the years have helped out with school supplies, books, reading glasses, and occasionally other needs (school and health costs) during difficult times. We have worked informally and cooperatively with the artisans discussing product design, material costs, artisan time and other factors to determine a fair price for the work that leaves both of us smiling and helps keep their children in school.  In the coming year I will be gradually working with artisans to evaluate our product payments using a new tool, the Wage Guide (http://www.fairtradecalculator.net/index.php ) to insure that we are providing a fair price in the local context.

• Fair Trade Wholesalers --- such as Maya Traditions (http://www.mayatraditions.com/ ), Maya Works (http://www.mayaworks.org/ ), and Marilyn Anderson (http://manderson.home.igc.org/index.html)  who are members of the Fair Trade Federation;
   

• Nonprofit organizations --- such as Wisconsin Nicaraguan Partners (http://wnp.uwsp.edu/programs/women/women.htm ) which supports over 85 sewing and learning centers and other programs that enhance capabilities and opportunities to women and their families in Nicaragua.  Terra Experience also buys doll clothes and tapestries made by the families of students associated with Foundations for Education, Guatemala (http://www.geocities.com/foeduinc/ ).  This helps the families earn additional income to pay their portion of schooling costs and meet other needs.

In the few cases where Terra Experience is not able to buy directly from artisan families because the specialty item is made in a remote area of Guatemala that we do not travel to, we work with a local shopkeeper or wholesaler to order the item.  We try to work transparently, asking the shopkeeper what he or she will pay the artisan producer and telling the shopkeeper what Terra Experience will sell the item for, trying to insure fair compensation for all.  In the future we hope to find a way to meet the artisans and verify these payments.

In addition to Doll Clothes, textiles and arts and crafts Terra Experience sells books about Guatemala.   Our primary purpose is to share information about the Mayan culture and Guatemala with children and the purchasers of Terra Experience products.   When available Terra Experience tries to buy books that are produced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, but they are often not available. Some of the fair trade and socially responsible books that Terra Experience does stock are Marilyn AndersonӍayan Arts Coloring Bookനe NISGUA 㰡n class="hdr1">Guatemala Arte Maya Calendars羚nt>, Foundation for Education튉 "Threads Breaking the Silence" and numerous textile and childrenవblications of the Museo Ixchel in Guatemala City.