The Hummingbird Project

I take my grandson to the local library to pick out seeds. I'm hoping to grow his interest in gardening and CSB is a wonderful way to do it!

In January 2023, I attended the Cleveland Seed Bank's Annual Seed Swap for the first time. It was so much fun! I brought a lot of my extra seed to share and I was able to pick up many types of seeds that I didn't have and was interested in. Talking with other people at the event, I learned about the plants they love and how to grow them. It was great that some groups were there sharing native or medicinal plant seeds. I am planning to attend next year and in the future!

A nice organization with a wonderful selection. Very helpful to novice planters. Not overwhelming in my email or text message which is also very nice. I highly recommend.

They are wonderful and an important service to the community.

They have provided the community with seeds through their seed bank project, given lectures and educational opportunities, and spread the word about the importance of native plants and seed saving. Great organization.

The work that the Cleveland Seed Bank does for all of Northeast Ohio is amazing! The 30 seed libraries spanning Cuyahoga, Lorain and Lake counties, with each location offering a variety of vegetable, herb and edible flower seeds, new and seasoned gardeners alike can find something for their gardens. With the various events throughout the year, including the seed exchange, they are an invaluable resource to our community!

I’ve gotten seeds at the library from Cleveland seed bank and attended their seed swap. Both great programs! I’ve also attended speaker events, one that instructed beginning gardeners and another that taught healthy and economical seed starting with soil blocks. Cleveland Seed Bank is a wonderful organization serving the needs of the city’s residents

Has helped me garden and grow closer to nature and my community for several years. Super grateful for them and their mission.

I found out about the Cleveland Seed Bank because of their free seed packets display at my neighborhood public library here in the inner city. I took a packet of pumpkin seeds and ended up harvesting 2 New England Pie Pumpkins with which to gift my neighbors. Since then, I have been going to the amazing Winter Seed Swaps and their guest speaker programs. Because of their program on composting given by the Rust Belt Riders, I finally started my own compost heap this year! I'm an avid gardener, and so I get excited about such things. Anyway I have benefited from the Seed Bank, and because I grew some French Marigolds from my stash of seeds from the Winter Swap, my neighborhood also benefits from having something beautiful on the street. Beautiful flowers are good for the spirit.

In a world with growing food insecurities, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, the importance of Cleveland Seed Bank's programs and initiatives is only intensifying. I have participated in, and been in awe of, their efforts since early days. Co-founders Marilyn McHugh and Chris Kennedy pour their passion into every thing they do for the various communities in Northeast Ohio and beyond. The manner in which Cleveland Seed Bank, and The Hummingbird Project more broadly, serves humanity with knowledge, kindness, charity and dignity has earned them a tremendous amount of respect as evidenced by these reviews. This is an amazing nonprofit in every way!

Last May I enjoyed attending the Spring Plant Sale w/ Tomato Monster Heirlooms! Choosing among the many varieties of heirlooms and meeting like-minded people was a delight.
I felt proud to be able to plant such healthy and unique varieties of tomatoes in my community garden this summer.
Recently I gathered some seed pods from my milkweed plants at my home and will be dropping them off at the seed collection point in my community.
The Hummingbird Project offers so many opportunities that are essential to gardeners and nature enthusiasts.

The heirloom seeds produced beautiful, delicious and nutritious veggies in my urban backyard. The staff were super friendly and helpful. Can't say enough about this group!

I had a fun time this summer growing heirloom tomatoes from my seeds from the seed bank. I shared too

When I was new to gardening, I couldn't believe that a program like the Cleveland Seed Bank actually existed. You mean I can get seeds ... for free? In the years I've been using the program I've been able to grow my own food and flowers, broadening my love for gardening and enabling me to connect with other gardeners in my community. I've started sharing my own seeds in exchange. I love the social ties this fosters almost as much as I love the delicious veggies and gorgeous flowers.

This group really focuses on environmental impact and everyday actions.

The Hummingbird Project was founded by two extraordinary people who realized that even small-scale actions could change the lives of individuals struggling to make a better life. For the first years of its existence, the Hummingbird Project was entirely self-funded by its founders. Whether the project involves educating farmers in India and Africa about low cost or no-cost ways to enhance productivity organically or fighting food insecurity by starting the Cleveland Seed Bank which maintains seed libraries in the Cleveland Public Library branches where anyone can take vegetable seeds for free, every penny donated to the Hummingbird Project goes directly toward helping people to help themselves. These guys are heroes!

Great experience able to make a pre-order on their website, and pick up quickly right after.

The plants did great and I hope to order again.

My family was able to use the seeds from the Cleveland Seed Bank to grow our own food in our garden. Seeds can be expensive, so we were very grateful for the seed donations. Also, it was genuinely fulfilling to grow heirloom plants and play our part in perpetuating the lineage of these seeds and contributing to the next generation

Cleveland Seed Bank is so helpful and generous!! They provide free FREE organic seeds at a lot of public libraries and also in person and offers help in sowing them and advice when needed - Thank You!!!

Having watched the Hummingbird Project since its inception, I have been heartened to see it grow and serve. It's hard to believe its 13 seed libraries can now be found in 4 Ohio counties. As the largest seed saving organization in Ohio it sponsors and annual winter seed swap in January which my friends look forward to. Their work to promote local seed harvesting and planting has been extensive.

Amazing work, helping foster resiliency, independence, community and also the preservation of the environment & ecology.

The Cleveland Seed Bank makes gardening a possibility for me. I appreciate that they were able to remain operational during the pandemic, even if the library near me was no longer a pickup place.

I love volunteering at the Seed Bank's seed exchange in the winter! So many people. So many smiles. Some come looking for treasures, difficult-to-find seeds for heirloom plants. Some are new to gardening and come seeking basic seeds for their starter gardens and advice. Winter still has a firm grip on Cleveland, but one comes away knowing Spring is around the corner.

The Seed Exchange continued to operate throughout the pandemic. I received correspondences/information to keep the community informed. Early in the pandemic (before the shutdown) I was able to visit a seed exchange. I received heritage seeds from a library in the community this late Spring.

The Cleveland seed bank offers an amazing opportunity to try your hand at gardening with little risk; and their annual seed swap brings together an amazing community of talented of gardeners! So much of my inspiration and learning has been sparked by this organization.

I adore The Cleveland Seed Bank! I have used their Seed Library Program twice in the past two years to get seeds for gardening, and I have saved my own seeds from the fruits and veggies I grew. Their seed swaps and workshops are a great asset to our community. TCSB is a great resource for beginners to the world of gardening as well as veterans.

Fantastic community support with the Cleveland Seed Bank and Seed Swap initiative, including finding creative ways to keep the seed-sharing community active even through the teeth of the COVID lockdowns.

GREAT mission, GREAT team! the CLOZTALK team is honored to call this org a partner & promote its good work!

CLOZTALK team
>> Jonny Imerman, co-founder

Great program to help everyone feel able to start growing from seed. Thankful for the free seeds, information on how to plant, harvest, and save seeds for future use. I would have never known about the beauty of the milkweed plant let alone grown any to help with the natural habitat for the monarch butterflies. Look forward to dropping my seeds off and what goodies you have next year.

I’ve gotten seeds from the Cleveland Seed Bank two years in a row and I love it! Free heirloom seeds you can pick up at a local library or have mailed. I’ve grow sunflowers, pumpkins, zucchini and a lot more!

Absolutely devoted to both Humanity and the Environment!!! This is an organization that produces results that benefits many communities. They are progressive, supportive and are visionary’s.

this was an awesome experience for myself and my special needs daughter, this was our first time planting so it was a learning experience, hopefully next year we can get some more seeds because we will be better prepared. thanks so much.

I have been a member of the Cleveland Seed Bank for several years now. This organization is wonderful in their drive and dedication to saving and sharing seeds with people of all walks of life in the Northeast Ohio area. Their annual seed swap is by far one of my most anticipated events. I stock my supply with just about all of the seeds I will grow for the coming spring. I love this opportunity and I love this organization. Great job!

The Hummingbird Project facilitates several public initiatives I've taken advantage of, including their Seed Bank - I look forward to the Seed Bank launch every year and especially this past year, when garden centers were overwhelmed in the pandemic, the Seed Bank was a huge ally to food security in our city. I'm really proud to be part of a community that has an organization like the Hummingbird Project!

Our family Loves the Cleveland Seed Bank. They sent us free seeds monthly in the mail that we were able to plant in our new garden! We saved some seeds to plant next year. So excited.

I have had the opportunity to see this amazing group grow over the years. It was actually my introduction to the world of non-profit work, and I have been involved with them and other non-profits as I have realized the difference that can be made when a common goal for greater good is organized and acted upon.
The people that started it, along with so many other inspiring people along the way, have contributed to the success of THP, and continue to remind us to push ourselves to make the world a better place.

Come one Come ALL! Donation NOT required but Appreciated!
Love this Organization and share their mission of saving our heritage seeds.
I'm so glad I found them and have been spreading the word to everyone I know.
I believe that everyone should have an edible garden!
Even if it's just a little cherry tomato plant in a 5 gallon bucket on your front porch balcony like I started with. Now I have dozens of different fruits, veggie plants and herbs.

I have taken two of their workshops and have used their free seeds given away at our libraries. I now teach friends how to save seeds.

The heirloom seeds were beautifully packaged and all germinated! The variety chosen truly enhanced my garden this past season. I appreciate all the work behind the scenes that made this project a reality. To have such a mindful heirloom product delivered to my house during a pandemic, made my life that much safer and improved. I doubt I could have found better seeds anywhere this year.

Wonderful folk doing wonderful things for wildlife, humans, this planet, their community, plants and trees, and flutterbys!

The Cleveland Seed Bank is wonderful. They provided me with free seeds this past spring. It really helped me to ease my stress by planting after I lost my job due to the Covid. I planted basil and was able to share it with friends. I am very grateful for this program.

The Cleveland Seed bank is amazing. We were able to select our own seeds, they shipped them so fast, and we had absolutely delicious food this summer. What a fantastic organization. Thank you.

I walked into the spring Seed Saver Event and was simply overwhelmed with seeds of all kinds and lovely folks to help explain how to plant and care for my selections. I am growing Loufa in my garden this year with seeds from Seed Saver. Isn't this a hoot! Who knew it was a plant.
I now look more carefully at dried veggies and plants to harvest seeds to plant next year and give away. I learned about how to do this with lively conversations and literature offered.

How cool to be part of a community that supports re growth!

Cleveland seed bank does a professional job of distributing seeds. Makes you interested in planting a garden in your yard.

The Hummingbird Project's annual seed swap has fueled so many personal and community gardens and urban farms, including providing seeds for Trinity Cathedral's Urban Farm which raises food to feed hungry people in the city. In addition, this event brings growers of all types together to network & offers them access to people providing services and products to improve their harvest.

Obtaining free seeds really helped our garden thrive this past summer! Thank you!

I contacted The Cleveland Seed Bank (part of the Hummingbird Project) about giving them some milkweed pods I had harvested as I had many more pods/seeds than I could use. They were very responsive and followed up quickly on all of my questions and comments. They seemed very committed to their role in our community. I got the milkweed pods to them and feel the pods are in great hands and I am very thankful that they were there to take my seeds and feel confident they will be used to help the Monarch population.

ALWAYS EFFORTS TO EDUCATE AND FACILITATE
Good publicity
Available locations

As cancer patient it’s very necessary for me to have best, most nutritious food possible on my limited budget. Hummingbird Project’s Cleveland Seed Bank, provided the best organic seeds for my little organic vegetable garden, as well as, edible leaved and flowers organic nasturtiums for salads. ������
I wouldn’t have been able to have my organic garden this year without the Hummingbird Project and their Cleveland Seed Bank’s free organic seeds. All the more necessary during this pandemic! Thank You all very much.

I have known Cleveland Seedbank since their start. They used to leave seed packets at book stores, coffee shops etc. Their relentless activism for their free distribution of heirloom seeds has made our beloved city of Cleveland a better place, without a doubt. I hope that they can continue their work and be an inspiration to other places and other peoples for generations to come.

The process of obtaining seeds was extremely easy. My plants turned out great! Can’t wait to do it again next year.

The Cleveland seed bank is a true Cleveland treasure. Thanks for all that you do!

Enjoyed selecting, planting seeds and eating results

I first heard about the Cleveland Seed Bank at a free seminar they held at the library. The seed libraries are well put together and they adapted well in 2020 to follow pandemic safety guidelines.

I enjoyed the selection of seeds at the Carnegie(Fulton) and the helpful librarians. Keep up the good work. I got many of the butterfly seeds and I hope you can keep them coming. It is a good idea. I also wonder if there are seeds you can plant between stones or ricks that can feed butterflies as well. Thank you.

I have worked at the Cleveland Public Library for 5 years and we offer patrons free seeds through the Seed Bank. Patrons of all ages love it. The Hummingbird Project is a wonderful nonprofit!

I loved discovering new types of vegetables. And the cost is phenomenal—free. Great deal and great for the garden. Thanks for the opportunity.

Amazing organization! I started borrowing seeds through their seed bank initiative this spring and it was such a cool experience. I learned so much, and look forward to participating more in the future.

I ordered organic seeds and they quickly arrived! Highly recommend supporting this group.

In the past, Shaker Heights Public Library has hosted a Seed Library provided by the Hummingbird Project and collaborated on related programming for our community. This year, our Library closed to the public for the pandemic a couple weeks before we were due to receive the seeds and make them available. While we and our patrons were disappointed to not be able to participate by having the seeds here and doing more programming, the Project kept us informed and we were able to point our patrons to the by-mail service they quickly set up. We are hoping to host the bank again in 2021. It has been a big hit with our community and has fit in well with our other community engagement activities.

My family and I are so THANKFUL to have been introduced to the Seed Bank! We are learning how to plant and sustain our own garden.

What an amazing group! Anytime we can share and save seeds from plants that aren't GMO or modified any other way - we should take the opportunity. Everything from them grew well and thrived. I love the fact that we are keeping these plant lines strong and healthy - the way they are intended to grow.

Thanks to the seed bank and partnership with our local library, my family with two young children were able to plant a successful garden that we harvested this fall! We will be using the Seed Bank again next year to diversify our plants even further. Thank you!

The Cleveland Seed bank is such a great non-profit. They go above and beyond to educate the community about the importance of saving seeds. They also build strong community with their fun seed-swaps which I look forward to each year. Lastly, they give away free seeds which is such an amazing resource and so helpful and appreciated. I love the fact they have it tied in with local libraries as well. Thank you and keep up the great work!

The Cleveland seed bank provided seeds for me to grow veggies in my garden!! I♥️the seed bank!

I enjoy learning about native plants and celebrating community at the seed swaps. During Covid the Seed Bank was very adaptive and sent people sent seeds to their homes. I grew zucchini thanks to the seeds they sent and shared bread and veggies with my neighbors and friends.

The Cleveland Seed Bank has educated and served many residents in Cleveland. At a time when seed saving is important to learn and do on a community level more than ever, The seed bank has lead the way in my neighborhood. I attend the annual seed swap, participate in seed grow outs, pick up seeds at the library down the street, and have consulted with the staff about seeds in my garden. I am planning to host a seed saving workshop at the community garden I co manage in the future. They also host important events such as the seed school in a day event last week. I am lucky that their office is right down the street and I feel I can contact them about seed saving as the staff are supportive and friendly and enthusiastic about helping people save seeds for a future of seed/plant diversity, food security, and ultimately human and other species survival. This Non Profit is more than worthy!

I have received free Heirloom seeds for 3 years in a row.
I believe the small amount of money saved ( by myself) , has motivated me to grow more.
Thank you

I first met with the Hummingbird Project when my husband met Chris and Marilyn in a permaculture design course. Since then I have been a strong supporter of the work they do both locally and abroad to help bring understanding and enthusiasm to the work of sustaining food availability and plant diversity. Every year at their seed savers seed swap I am impressed by the number of young people who crowd the tables to take advantage of the huge variety of seeds they can add to their plots no matter where they garden. And the difference The Hummingbird Project has made in the lives of the people they work with overseas can't be overstated.

I'm very grateful to the Hummingbird Project and the Cleveland Seed Bank for providing high quality seeds and education. I've used and shared the seeds and seed saving strategies in my community garden. The gift keeps on giving!

These folks really do a tremendous job getting seeds into the communities hands, for free! We have grown many awesome varieties of produce from the seed bank stock and they also gave us free milkweed plants this year!

A couple years ago I attended The Cleveland Seed Bank seed swap event in Oho City. I was very impressed with discovering the large crowd of people and the variety of seeds on tables everywhere! There was music and delicious food snacks and some friendly and knowledgeable volunteer hosts and hostesses around the room to help me navigate the event with ease. Then at a certain point, we were all ushered from the church hall to the church where a speaker presented a timely speech including some really fascinating information. The whole experience was so amazing that I look forward to the next event possibly this coming Spring. The Cleveland Seed Bank needs to stick around forever as their work is truly valuable!

I absolutely love everything about the Seed Bank. I work at the Cleveland Public Library, where we have a Seed Library. I did not know about it before seeing it here. I love that the seeds are free here, not only for myself but also for the community, as there is the opportunity to generate food at a very low cost. And of course, I found that growing plants from seeds is super-fun and rewarding! And the veggies taste 1,000 times better than grocery store veggies. I really hope more people will take advantage of this program. I am always very happy when I am at a location with a Seed Library and people "check out" seeds. It is a real blessing to the CPL patron base, often from low-income areas. It is also great to promote eating healthy foods like the seed veggies, another issue in our patron communities, where often there are limited healthy food choices available or healthy foods are too costly to buy.

It was a fun project to collect flower seeds for future use. I enjoyed meeting other volunteers.

We talk a lot about food security, food deserts, and poverty. We talk about ways to improve food access, increase independence and create sustainability. The Hummingbird Project has found a very basic, yet incredibly effective way to help address these issues. One subsidiary; The Cleveland Seed Bank is based in a city with high poverty rates, economic disparities, and crime rates. Yet they set up workshops in neighborhood libraries and offer seeds. Seeds for food and seeds of knowledge. They share information with everyone who attends these free and fully accessible sessions. Most attendees are new to growing, but some are garden-knowledgeable and the info sessions become inter-generational trainings of best practices to become somewhat self-sufficient in the inner city. One could argue that seeds are now available to everyone; they are within purchasing guidelines for SNAP, so that means they are without financial restrictions to even those in the most need. This, however, is not the case. To a family already struggling financially, the $10-20 necessary to purchase seeds & start a garden could be equivalent to a week’s worth of dinner. The Cleveland Seed Bank eliminates that issue by providing free seeds to all. No income check, no background check required. This organization is incredible. The altruistic nature of giving just to make the world a better place, by teaching people to become a bit more self-sufficient in order to help solve the food insecurity issues, is just amazing.

Cleveland Seed Bank has done a great job of local education on saving seed and gardening. A Seed Bank session I attended was at a library near me, and the organization has actually enlisted many Cleveland-area libraries in the effort. Many branches have their own little bank of seeds from the organization that people can take and plant in their own gardens. What's more, Cleveland Seed Bank's early spring seed exchange has grown to become a well-attended, delightful, fun, and educational event. Kudos to them.

It's hard to quantify the impact in my life that the HP has made because it is truly immense. Their education and work has led me down many fruitful (literally) paths. I now tend to a massive 14 acre food forest with my friend harvesting fruits and forest medicine such as apples, walnuts, ginseng and more. I've planted and started many 'beyond organic' gardens with all the soil building techniques I learned from them.
The most important thing they have always provided though is their kindness and attention.

I have been getting seeds from the Cleveland Seed Bank for years and love it. Beautiful flowers and vegetable plants grown! And the staff at the library is wonderful! Thank you!

The hummingbird project is doing amazing work making a huge difference one drop at a time. ✴️

The Cleveland Seed Bank is a valued part of the Cleveland community and the greater community of seed savers around the world. I'm so thankful to have connected with them and to have partnered on the Seed Steward project. They are facilitating extremely important work and have helped to educate the public about how essential seed saving is to the continuation of a diverse ecosystem.

Hummingbird is a great project. Chris and Marilyn are teachers who inspire their students with their works. More power to this organization.

Chris & Marilyn of THP are such wonderful inspirational teachers plus curious learners themselves! Their openness, compassion, depth of wisdom & experience is so vital for our present times to usher us into an organic sustainable natural wholesome living. Through THP and their impactful projects/trainings, I see many countless lives & communities being touched and transformed for a better today & tomorrow. It's amazing & heart-warming to see such dedicated and passionate beings collaborating with so many people on so many fronts to make a positive change! Guiding lights!!

The Hummingbird Project and its initiators are very inspiring and will make many more people believe in and work for a sustainable organic future!

Had a wonderful learning experience with Chris & Marilyn. They are very grounded & passionate about their work. Their openness to learning and sharing makes them very authentic and lively.

I was inspired by the Humming bird project. It allowed me to look at soil from an earth citizen perspective. There is more to soil and that is what connects us to our health and mother nature work for all living beings. Thank you for the work that you do for mother earth and its beings.

I had the great opportunity to receive training from Chris and Marilyn, founders of THP. I also learnt about the Hummingbird project and found it very inspiring. I believe in their mission and am very happy to endorse THP.

Without the soil, a fragile living community, there is no life on earth. This is the essence of the Hummingbird Project. A project that imparts this knowledge in an impressive multidimensional and interactive manner. Essential learning lovely people.

I am inspired by the Hummingbird Project's vision of seed-saving and seed-sharing and various initiatives Chris and Marilyn implemented to promote soil regeneration. For many years, they have helped marginalized communities in Africa and India to create food security and sovereignty by teaching them how to work with the foundation of the health which is the soil. I had a chance to learn from them at Navdanya Earth University in India and I learned so much about the soil food web and how I can use this knowledge to start my own composting system at home.

It's a great initiative. The work done by Chris and team is commendable.

Chris and Marilyn have big hearts and lots of knowledge. They are helping farmers all over the world achieve sovereignty by educating them about the soil food web, the benefits of organic farming, and how to save seeds so they are no longer enslaved by big Agribusinesses companies. They are literally saving farmers lives and livelihood.

Brilliant people doing brilliant things! The lessons I had with them were fascinating - bringing to light the importance of healthy soils and how we can restore ecosystems and agriculture from the ground up.

These people are doing an amazing labour in educating farmers and citizens in how to understand the real world of nourrishing the soil and sustainability. It's actions that change the world and the Hummingbird project is doing it in the most humble way. They have helped and continue helping communities to be free from starvation, scarcity and droughts. All my support to amazing people like them.

we love you

They are doing a wonderful work in bring awareness on the life in the soil and to protect it through organic farming.

THP does wonderful work around the world with open source materials to empower others to be leaders in their community.

I met the founders of The Hummingbird Project at an Agroecology course in India. Their passion and deep knowledge of the soil food web, seed saving and regenerative agriculture was incredibly inspiring. I am so glad that this organization exists to spread this important life saving knowledge where it is needed most. They give me hope for our future and for the planet!

I attended the Cleveland Seed Bank’s annual Seed Swap. The event was amazing! It was wonderful to be in the same room with several hundred Cleveland seed savers, take part in the educational workshops and take home so many beautiful organic (non-GMO) seeds for my garden!

The Hummingbird Project has been such a eye opener. I for the first time in my adult life finally had some land to grow some vegetables but I didn't know where to start so a friend of mine told me about this organization so I went to thier seed swap event. This was a great event to network with other gardeners, to learn about how soil works, what seeds to grow, how to get your garden started. This really got me on the right path and the people with The Hummingbird Project were so great, passionate and helpful. This year I was able to eat so many vegatables from my garden and I found taking care of the garden from sprouts to harvest helped to center me and to have a hobby that turned into a real passion, and I have The Hummingbird Project to thank for this.

Truly inspiring to get a chance to learn about the work that they do from seed saving to the tiniest organisms and bacteria in the soil. It shows that small things can effect on a large scale. We are all connected in the soil food web and that the things you don't notice at first is often the most important!

They are competent, hardworkers and above all very generous. Hurrah for the hummingbird project and long life to them!

What an honor to study seed and soil with the directors and founders of the Hummingbird project! They are not only knowledgable and passionate about agroecology, seed sovereignty, and the incredible diversity of life in the soil, but also know how to teach these challenging, but critically important subjects. I was a part of a month iong agroecology course at Navdanya in India where the directors taught us the foundational biology of plant reproduction, practical techniques to save and store seed, and how to work with seed over many years to breed new varieties that are locally adapted to yield more, even in challenging conditions. They also taught us about the soil food web and the incredible diversity of life in the soil. They even set up a soil laboratory for us to peer into the microscopic world of soil life. This is just the beginning of what the hummingbird project does. Perhaps their most important work is at the community level in the United States, Africa, and India where they help protect biodiversity, food and seed sovereignty, and farmers rights. The Hummingbird project founders are a wealth of experience and knowledge. I am deeply inspired by their work.

The co-founders are so loving, caring and gentle with the very delicate subject matter of our livelihoods which run more and more at risk as the planet undergoes such drastic change. As a teacher, I am so appreciative of the holistic world view they approach the importance and excitement for how to care for ourselves, and the natural world we come from. Thank you! Keep up the good work!

The Hummingbird project does amazing work. The cofounders are exceptionally proactive and to look to how they can best serve the communities they engage.

The Hummingbird Project is based on the idea that no action is too small to make a difference in our world. They help people around the world with basic quality of life issues such as having clean water, fertile soil, cheap local energy, and healthy nutrition. The founders have worked tirelessly to educate farmers about techniques in organic, biodiversity-based farming necessary for survival as we all cope with climate change and a poisonous chemical food industry that puts profits over people. Their work has greatly impacted numerous communities on the Indian and African continents. They also encourage seed saving/sharing and farm-to-table programs to help people in their own USA community have healthy food. Join them to replace the poisonous system we now endure with truly nutritious, natural food and Earth-nurturing practices.

The Hummingbird Project is a phenomenal organization making a significant impact in Cleveland, OH, India, Africa. The degree to which The Hummingbird Project, and its leaders Marilyn McHugh and Chris Kennedy have been able make such tremendous positive change with limited resources is amazing! This organization is making every community it touches better, and I am proud to serve on its board!

The Hummingbird Project is one of the most inspiring project I have come across till this day. Chris and Marilyn not only care about the people and the Earth, they also have a striking passion for sharing, learning, helping others. The way they chose to connect with communities, by spending time building relationships and understanding the local needs, reflects their ultimate devotion to make a difference...not for their sake , but for others' benefit. Their Hummingbird Project reflects its founders' genuine compassion, care and love.
It has been a honour to come across their way and learn from their project, receive their teachings, and share our experience in the field of food security. I wish them to receive all the support possible to keep growing their project and allow more farmers, small stakeholders and communities to receive their inputs and work hand-in-hand. Chris and Marilyn have become such a source of inspiration, both as people and within their project.

Chris and Marilyn are so genuine and down to earth people and this reflects in their dedication and effort they put in the hummingbird project. I have learnt so much in their lectures and there was never a moment that I found dull or boring. All the sessions were very engaging and active. I never though that I would take back so much knowledge about soil and the amazing variety of organisms that live within it. Also, outside classes they were ready to answer any questions that we had. Overall, this is an amazing initiative and I would definitely want this non-profit to be more well known because they are doing a fantastic job!!

Drawing their inspiration from the story of the humming bird trying to save the forest from burning down by doing the best it could do, Chris and Marilyn to are constantly striving to save the Earth and our ecosystem in every possible way they can. They have been a true inspiration to me and many others. Simplifying and breaking down complex science into a fun environment, this power couple shuffle around the country explaining to a thousand others about the party underneath our feet by means of their telescope and helping farmers convert their inert soils and inculcate these awesome creatures to create LIVING SOILS.

It just does not end there. Their amazing attempts at not just saving the soil but the seed as well with the Cleveland Seed Bank and all other initiatives gives us power to do more for our soil,seed and stomach.

More power to both you guys!

Chris and Marilyn are a key asset to a better understanding of your soil, your production system and working either in team or in community on a regenerative project. Their classes and explanations are dynamic and outstanding. Ask them for help to become an Hummingbird yourself, get ready for a better future and be the change you want to see.

Dear Chris and Marilyne
as a total Greenhorn in matter I enjoyed your classes on seeds and soil at Navdanya - the Highlights of the whole course in fact.
I not only learned about for me so far totally unknown facts - I first of all was inspired by the love and passion you transmitted for the living soil, and the composition of compost and those beautifully ugly wurms and bacteria and and ;-))
Thank you ! Hope to keep in touch.
Gemma

Chris and Marilyn are excellent facilitators. They are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about their work. They are able to present technical information in an engaging way and connect with their students. I am inspired by their efforts to educate communities internationally to save seed, share seed, cultivate and appreciate healthy soils, create healthy communities, and combat climate change. The Hummingbird Project is a brilliant and genuine organization.

The Hummingbird project is, in my perspective, not just a project ,but an inspirational art-form that is beautifully shared with everyone who seek for the better change for the mother earth. And also they have a power to inspire people to see things differently.

It all comes from the two passionate representatives; Chris and Marilyn. Not to mention their abundance of knowledge and expertee, their attitude of sharing what ever they can offer and the joy of life with people is what have made The Humming Bird Project one and only.

I met them through Agroecology course at Navdanya farm in India, and their lectures, workshops, and even just a casual talk had opened my eyes and given me the positive perspective and ideas to work towards our common goal of saving this precious planet.

Thank you Chris and Marilyn again for all the inspirational things you have shared with us.

I met Chris and Marilyn approximately 1 1/2 months ago in India, where they were co-facilitating/co-teaching many aspects of the A-Z course at Navdanya - a space created by Vandana Shiva.

In a short time I learned so much from them. Topics such as, but not limited to, the science of seeds, seed saving, seed libraries/exchanges, living soil and its biology, compost, urban farming and living life with a purpose.

During the course they infused each lesson with knowledge, passion, excitement and a sense of humour - always leaving us with a thirst for more. Their classes were interactive, inclusive and inspirational for each and everyone of us from across the globe, regardless of our skill set or knowledge base.

On a personal level, as a secondary school principal from Canada, I wanted to instantly capture their enthusiasm for sharing in the teaching and learning process and transport them directly into my school community!!

Chris and Marilyn are doing incredible work on 3 continents through their organization, The Hummingbird Project. They meet people where they are at, and infuse their love for making the planet a better (and healthier) place with thousands of people along the way.

Together, they are truly the most inspiring and positive educators I have met!!
They have, most definitely, inspired me to 'get out there'.

I have been living and working in East Africa for the last 12 years, working on a variety of development programmes from across sectors. Most recently, I've been the Programme Director of a $7M, systems-based climate change resilience programme in northeastern Uganda and on the Somali border of Kenya. I left my work to pursue direct trainings in permaculture and agroecology so that I could provide more hands-on and technical input in to resilience building in East Africa, as well as Southeast Asia where I'm increasing doing work.

I've dedicated this year to attend various trainings, including the one at Vandana Shiva's Navdanya Centre outside of Dehradun in India. Chris and Marilyn were among the stellar line up of instructors from around the world, hand-picked by Dr. Shiva for their deep technical knowledge on issues of seed saving and soil micro-biology. Chris and Marilyn are artful in their ability to take complex scientific concepts and convert them in to digestible, interesting and inspiring modules that are effective in helping the lay person understand important issues effecting living soil; a precious global resource under threat.

In the African context where people, especially women and girls, are increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks and stresses, it is critical that small farmers and homesteads are sensitized to the importance of selecting climate resilient seeds, or seeds with traits that can fetch higher market prices, linking poor communities with greater market opportunities and income generation.

Lastly, I have recently been doing work in southeast Asia on how to integrate principles and practices of permaculture to public health issues, including HIV/AIDs, Malaria and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia. Chris and Marilyn saw eye-to-eye on me with how to address issues of malnutrition and even reducing environmental disease vectors to address a host of issues that effect household and community health, which adds to the system-based approach to the Humming Bird perspective, well beyond the aspects of agriculture and food production and in to comprehensive resilience and community well-being.

Not only have I gained greater technicals skills in the short time with Chris and Marilyn that I'll apply to my work with climate vulnerable communities, but I also look forward to partnering with the Hummingbird Project in the future on helping communities to restore functional ecosystems and enhance community health through regenerative food systems.

Chris & Marilyn are two people who are SO passionate about the work that they do, and this passion and love permeates into the world around them in their chosen field - soil microbiology, creating living soils, saving seeds, organic farming - basically all things earthy and good :) They are committed to serving others, as is evidenced by their many travels all over India - far away from their beloved Cleveland - heading into deep rural pockets, spending time with Indian farmers, usually with only one English speaking translator in tow. And all this with their own funds. They are both excellent educators and their excitement for their subject is infectious! They are good people and I am Truly blessed to have met them. I wish them all the best in their endeavors. Support them wherever you can!!

The work of Chris and Marilyn of the Hummingbird Project is both relevant and impactful. It is evident that both of these individuals are deeply committed to and passionate about the health of our soil, and I sincerely hope that this dynamic duo continues to propagate their legacy of education, empowerment and inspiration of a better world.

Chris and Marilyn shared their inspiring journey of setting up the Hummingbird Project and Cleveland Seed Library at the A to Z agroecology course at Navdanya. It was fascinating to look at soil under the microscope in their Living Soil workshop and learn more about the life of soil and the critical role of the humble earthworm. It was also great to learn more about some of the practicalities around saving open pollinated seed. I leave feeling inspired and empowered to start working towards setting up a seed saving group in my community. Thank you! Poppy

The founders of the project, Chris and his beautiful wife Marilyn, introduced the A-Z agroecology course at Navdanya to their work, their knowledge and experience. By showing us how they work, they didnt only educate us to become more aware of the problems and find better solutions, but gave us an excellent example how we can make a change ourselves with our own capacities. This is what truely matters - share your experience and spread the idea of how to get started. We were left with hope and inspiration and thank Chris and Marilyn for their work! Kind regards, Ricarda Ruediger

The Humming Bird Project is a fantastic and effective non profit, not least because it is small, flexible and exquisitely focused on what it knows best: Soil and Seed, and nature's food cycle. Openhearted and charming founders Marilyn McHugh and Chris Kennedy have the ability to teach diverse groups of people--young/old, educated/uneducated, farmers and city dwellers--about the amazing complexity of the soil food web. Not only do Chris and Marilyn facilitate educational workshops about soil, seed and regenerative growing practices, but as scientists they also test, analyze and offer solutions for problem soil. In addition, they offer assistance to farmers wishing to transition from toxic chemical inputs to organic methods. We have interviewed Chris and Marilyn for our film in production about the life of Dr. Vandana Shiva. Over a three year period of meeting with The Humming Bird Project in India, we have witnessed first hand the powerful impact this organization has on people's lives.

The Hummingbird Project embodies and extends the inspiring educational outreach work of its founders, Chris and Marilyn McHugh, by targeting several of the most daunting environmental and food security issues facing humanity, and responding with elegant, practical and (most importantly) effective solutions: rebuild the soil food web, save locally adapted seed varieties, and re-build locally resilient agricultural systems. As a sustainable agriculture program coordinator and instructor, I have enthusiastically drawn upon the generously shared knowledge of the Hummingbird project founders as a sterling example of how a small, conscientious, and well-organized effort can literally change the world! The project equips farmers in India and elsewhere with the means to reclaim their future, by offering a unique synthesis of scientific rigor (applying breakthrough interdisciplinary research regarding the soil health as viewed through a living systems perspective), and hands-on, transformative learning delivered by talented professionals who draw upon many years of cross-cultural experience to reach farmers literally on their home soil, where real change from the bottom up becomes possible!

Chris and Marylin have been coming to India for the last 6 years working and training farmers in seed and living soil in addition to training hundreds of farmers and students at Navdanya in principles of agroecology. Their beautiful spirit and tireless efforts have inspired in turn many students to start their own agroecology projects in different parts of the world and strengthen the movement for Seed Freedom. The Humming Bird project is an extremely important project in the global struggle for seed sovereignty and ecological agriculture, empowering local communities and building resilience.There is no more powerful gift you can give farmers than the knowledge and resources to be independent of the system that keeps them impoverished. We highly recommend collaborating and supporting the humming bird project that is creating long lasting and positive change in India and around the world.

Marilyn and Chris have created a non-profit that is truly more than just the sum of it's parts. The reach of their mission has crossed borders, both real and imaginary throughout the world and have made a real difference in the lives of whom their paths have crossed with. Their love for helping others and creating new opportunities for people to engage and do something real and meaningful is what makes their non-profit so great.

The Hummingbird Project is truly regenerative. The team's creativity and grounded sense of reality makes for a super-nourishing organization that has a solid benefit to the Earth. These folks come from the Earth and give to the Earth. They seem to me to be ancient healers resurrected as "Marilyn" and "Chris." As a fellow community organizer, I find them to support my work in incredibly thoughtful ways and feel very strongly that they have my back and that I have their's. I worked recently on creating a pollinator garden in memory of a black child killed by the Cleveland police named Tamir Rice. In my beginning efforts to build community support, I reached out to The Hummingbird Project just to let them know what I was up to. I hardly knew what I was asking for because this was such an enormous project for my experience level. The email I wrote was very long-winded but they read it in its entirety, and then responded quickly. They then continued to follow through in ways that were extensive and powerful, and important aspects of the project exist solely because of the role they voluntarily played on behalf of our community. The Hummingbird Project is made up of very highly respectable people who deserve every good thing coming their way. I hope this review helps garner more support for them :)!!!

I am grateful to Chris and Marilyn for coming up with such a lovely project, and am glad that I could meet them .Thank you, You guys are doing an awesome job for the community and for Mother Earth.
With respect,
Drona D Chetri

I was fortunate enough to meet Chris and Marilyn at the A-Z Organic Farming and Agroecology Course at Navdanya Biodiversity Conservation Farm in India last month. Together, they gave several presentations about the importance of living soil and living seed. These classes opened my eyes to the magical world of soil, and although I thought I knew how valuable and precious soil was, I didn't entirely understand until I left their presentation that first day. Hearing about what they have achieved on a local and global scale in regards to ecological regeneration and community development, has left me marvelling at just how much 2 people can achieve. The passion and enthusiasm that Chris and Marilyn exude is whole-heartedly inspiring and a rare thing to find in today's world. Zoe

Chris and Marilyn have been doing tremendous works on helping other people around the world. I always remember Marilyn always says how they enjoy the work of service; and they have been helping others selflessly. Their works are real and have great impacts to people. They show how science and technology go hands in hands with farmers. I am happy and fortunate to be able to meet them; I have learned so much from them and I cannot wait to collaborate with them next year on the work with soil and food sovereignty.

I met Marilyn McHugh and Christopher Kennedy during the Ato Z Agroecology course in Navdanya,they were teaching us about the soil food web and the role of microorganisms in the soil. They give voice to this little microorganisms that are so important for life in the soil. Its amazing their passion when they teach and the way they make simple a subject that its not that easy to understand.
They have an amazing mission in this world and they are doing it really well .Its all so amazing the work that they are doing with the farmers in India, these farmers who need help to transition from chemical to organic farming practices, and with the knowledge that THP is sharing since 2011 with the "Living Soil Training" they have shared the information to over 2500 individuals . Its amazing...They are amazing, inspirational...
But they do not act only in rural areas, the "Cleveland Seed Bank" its an amazing program that create awareness about seed saving, grow, and share open-pollinated seeds.
They teach kids too and empower them. They are multipurpose and can convey the message in a way that everyone understands.
It would be wonderful that will exist more people like them in this world ,that believe that its possible (and they prove it) to start small and spread the message and help others.

"And this is what we are called to do, no matter who or where we are, or what our capabilities. We are called to do the best we can! " The Humingbird Project

I met Chris and Marilyn at the A-Z Agroecology course hosted by Navdanya. They bring such charisma and enthusiasm into everything they do! Their amazing work fostering the Hummingbird Project and the Cleveland Seed Bank has clearly touched the lives of so many. During our month long training during this course, both Chris and Marilyn shared their deep expertise and knowledge in thoroughly accessible ways---their teaching style is incredibly flexible and adaptable to the needs of the group they work with. This enables them to get across critical lessons in a friendly, understandable way. Furthermore, it's obvious that they deeply engage with the people and communities they work for---service to others drives their passion and this shines through all that they do. The Hummingbird Project does such important work while spreading compassion around the globe.

Chris and Marilyn's dedication to the work of the Hummingbird Project and the Cleveland Seed Bank is unparalleled. They love the work they do, are incredibly hard working, and as a result, are driving rewarding and meaningful projects throughout the world. The Hummingbird Project and the Cleveland Seed Bank excel at collaborating with other organizations and individuals and continually move the needle in educating and empowering people about issues and methods that are so important to the future of food and healthy communities. The organization's projects and passion for the work is inspiring and contagious.

I met Chris and Marilyn from the Hummingbird Project at a course on agroecology held at the Navdanya farm in Dehradun, India. They taught multiple classes on soil and seeds over a period of about 4 days. Out of all the teachers that taught at this course, they were by far my favorite! They taught us how to take soil samples, save tomato seeds, and all about soil microorganisms and the soil food web. But really it was their energy and passion that inspired me so much and made me want to learn more about soil and about seed saving! Marilyn and Chris are an incredible duo, and their organization is truly a testament to "being like the hummingbird" - hard-working and making real change one step at a time!

I attended a one-day Soil Fertility workshop that Marilyn and Chris taught as a part of a Permaculture Design Course. Their enthusiasm, thoroughness, passion and professionalism were immensely invigorating. They adapted well to group class discussions, as well as one-on-one conversations. Marilyn and I talked a little bit about their projects abroad, specifically small-scale energy-producing biodigesters, and her ability to relate to me and the information was quite refreshing. I would recommend to anyone interested in resilient community agriculture to keep the Hummingbird Project on their radar and get involved however possible.

The Hummingbird Project is the passion and commitment of co-founders Marilyn McHugh and Chris Kennedy. I first met Marilyn and Chris before they started The Hummingbird Project. With an interest in permaculture, regenerative practices, teaching and community service, they traveled the world on a delayed honeymoon and returned with a vision that became The Hummingbird Project.

The Hummingbird Project is a participatory, community-driven non-profit doing cutting edge food justice work in developing nations and at home. The mission of The Hummingbird Project (THP) is: Working for Social Justice thru Ecological Regeneration & Community Empowerment. Funded primarily through small, individual donations, THP chooses its projects carefully for high impact and effectiveness on communities of individuals in need of the expertise in soil biology, biogas digesters and permaculture that Marilyn and Chris have to offer. They believe that the key to a sustainable community based organization is to meet the needs of their constituency for the long term. They are committed to staying for long periods of time in country, and to knowing and listening to their beneficiaries. They strive to implement a values-driven, honest, and humble approach; and also to apply self-regulation and accept feedback. Today, The Hummingbird Project has grown into an international network of volunteers, collaborating organizations and projects on three continents.

For the past several years, The Hummingbird Project has worked closely with Dr. Vandama Shiva doing farmer trainings and education in six states in India. Their expertise is in teaching the importance of the soil/food web -- the microbiology of living soil -- and organic farming methods to farmers that have become trapped in the vicious cycle of purchasing genetically modified seeds (rather than the tradition of seed saving) that require the use of costly pesticides and result in depleted soil with decreasing yields. Their passion is inspiring and the response to their trainings has been profound. In an effort to get feedback from the farmers and adapt to their needs, Marilyn, Chris and volunteers created a farmer survey (written in HIndi) and sent close to 500 of those surveys to a group called Statistics Without Borders.

Other projects of The Hummingbird Project include work in East Africa -- building biogas digesters, water management, compost management, tree planting and orchard management, among other things -- and the Cleveland Seed Bank, a community based seed saving initiative.

I am a gardener. Last year I spent time at Navdanya in India & met Chris & Marilyn (The Hummingbird
Project). They were teachers/participants. I was impressed by their vision & integrity. Also their
skillfull, joyous teaching.
I hope to stay in touch with them.
I'm especially interested in their work with seed banks. We need to take our food system back into
our own hands so that we can pass it on to children.

I asked Marilyn and Chris to lead a soil food web workshop in conjunction with myself in Kentucky recently after meeting them nearly a year ago at another course and was super impressed with their knowledge and ability to transmit it. It was a delight to see people so enthusiastic about the life in the soil and stewarding this precious natural resource. Their dedication to the science and practicality of the soil food web is outstanding and my five foot tall corn plants a week before the fourth of July is a testament to their treatments. Also i love hearing their stories of their work overseas as i also do this sort of regenerative agriculture work overseas and appreciate their journey immensely.

These are great people with a great mission. The enthusiasm that Marilyn showed about the soil food web was contagious to say the least and Chris's passion for teaching and relaxed manner in front of a group of people was equally enjoyable to take part in.

Additionally, they are very fun people out of the workshop setting! I recommend attending any workshops they put on.

I met these folks in 2009 during a permaculture design course and we've kept in touch since. We study and apply the soil food web concepts together and share our findings. While I was working to apply compost tea and soil biology to creating a business, The Hummingbird Project was created with a greater purpose in mind.

I am continually impressed with Marilyn and Chris's focus on using their vast knowledge in practical applications around the world. They take the cutting-edge theories straight to the places that need them the most. When I work with The Hummingbird Project, I know that the info that I get is field-tested and smartly designed. They do not spend time promoting products and companies; they just teach and give so many skills that can directly help peoples' lives.

I know first hand that money that goes to the Hummingbird Project is spent on real, life-changing education for people who need it. They are much more than an organization that gives out T-shirts and takes photos. They put their lives and careers on the line to create a real relationship with the people that they teach.

Living Soil is the connection between all living creatures, and the Hummingbird Project continually supports places that need living soil the most.

I am 59. I grew up in Flint, Michigan in an urban renewal neighborhood where an inner state highway was being built. I could not understand the waste of tearing down old homes and hauling them to landfill. Why couldn't we re-use the windows, the doors, save the hard wood floors? This was 1965, 1966 and I was visioning decades out. Waste, wasteful practices, patterns of living that are redundant and out of sync, "modern" ways of living, have always been a reality that I had a hard time accepting and kept me isolated and often alone in a culture that seemed hell bent on getting it wrong every time.

So, that is the back story. For decades I had a dream of having everything in my yard be there for a reason. Food, medicinal uses etc. I did not know about permaculture until recently but the idea of planting everything in my yard for a use has always appealed to me. Marilyn and Chris and I organized a "permablitz" at my house last summer. We made a pollinator garden on my curb with all the day lilies and cone flowers from the side of my house and then I planted food at the side of the house. We put down card board, inches of wood chips and inches of top soil/compost. This summer this pollinator garden has come up and is really taking off. I saved tomato seeds, planted them and they are all in the garden now at the side of the house. Marilyn came up with a yard plan and I know my goal is to get the front and back yard planted with edibles, many of which are perennials.

They are brilliant but make their knowledge accessible and I don't feel patronized or talked down to. I love their knowledge and commitment. Give them your time and money. They really deserve it. The Cleveland Seed Bank is amazing. They brought the movie Open Sesame and I was able to invite a city council person who gets the movement that is happening now and became even more supportive of our wanting to pass the law so we can have hens for eggs here in Lakewoood, Ohio. I have found kindred spirits. Am inspired by them to turn our block club into a resilient community. They are the best, period.

Marilyn and Chris taught a soil ecology class as part of a permaculture certification course I was attending in Athens, Ohio. They were great teachers who were able to make a fairly complex subject matter very engaging and accessible. During the class, we also learned about the Hummingbird Project and what they had been doing while traveling and while in their home base of Cleveland, Ohio. I was very impressed! The scope of their work resonates with the values of altruism and long term sustainability that are so often lacking in the world. The Hummingbird Project is a truly inspiring, all volunteer organization that is only limited by their current level of funding. If additional resources were made available through grant funding, and therefore increased public awareness, the Hummingbird Project could accomplish the great work they're doing on a grander scale, and exponentially increase their impact on the world.

I met Chris and Marilyn at an organic farming conference in Ohio. They later collaborated with the non-profit for which I was interning. It turned out we would both be at the same organization in India for a few months where they were teaching and I was doing a Fulbright research project.

Over this time, I got to know Chris and Marilyn well. They are fantastic, driven, patient, and humble people who are doing amazing work all over the world. Their work is truly inspiring and has given me new ideas about the kind of work I can do in the world. They are professional, yet warm and approachable. The way in which they relate to people from all backgrounds in casual conversation, teaching, and training, is friendly, open, and accommodating. I am excited to collaborate with them back in the United States.

I met Marilyn McHugh and Christopher Kennedy in Kenya at a school called the Daraja Academy (daraja-academy.org). I was there volunteering and Marilyn and Chris were there sprinkling their permaculture magic dust over the entire school. I did not even know what the word bio-gas was before I met them. Their tentacles arched far and wide and with such enthusiasm and knowledge that their language ended up creeping up into my own.

They are 2 of the hardest working people I have ever met. They had just come form 6 months in India and hit the ground running in Kenya and at Daraja. They taught biology classes to the student, donating their microscope and teaching them about soil health. They invested in a biogas system that they donated to help the school cut down on their carbon footprint. They started grey water areas on campus and planted trees everywhere, also starting a seed bank. They helped girls with their science projects on topics that were new and exciting to them and had girls thinking differently about future careers.

There was nothing that remained the same that they touched. They give tirelessly from their hearts, minds and their own pockets. It was such an honor to meet Marilyn and Chris and I cannot say enough about the work they are doing in the world. You will never meet 2 more humble people. NEVER. They are truly a gift to this planet.

I happened to meet Chris and Marilyn during the A-Z Agroecology course at Dr.Shiva's Navdanya farm and Biodiversity Conservation Center. And it gave me great satisfaction and pleasure to see this wonderful couple work with farmers and other grass root organizations to bring the secrets of the soil to the eye of the farmer. Knowledge about why to do organic farming and knowledge about the organic farming practices and its philosophy is essential to stay grounded in organic farming and I see Chris and Marilyn as one among the many upcoming voices who advocate and promote organic and sustainable agriculture for a better future.
Cheers to them and to all those who support them.
Paddy

I had the opportunity to meet Marylin and Chris during the course of Agroecology- Organic farming from A to Z. I really enjoyed their courses and practical work related to the soil food web and the role of microorganisms in the soil. As a geologist I mainly deal with dead matter, so their course helped me learn about the interaction between the living environment and dead matter. They inspired me to think about the soil as the substrate full of living creatures that needs to be nurtured in order to obtain nutritous food for us and maintain the health of the soil. After leaving the course and returning to my home I did not forget what they taught me. Instead I am using the knowledge and practices in my home garden and moreover, I am telling my friends and colleagues about it, so they can maintain their soil by considering the soil food web and enjoy the benefits that come out from it.

I think that if there would be more people like them, working so selflessly and effectively in the field of agriculture towards simple and sustainable solutions, we would easily preserve agricultural soils healthy and enriched with nutrients for many future generations.

I hope to meet them again someday to share and excange more ideas and experiences in the field of agriculture and enjoy their pleasant company.

There is a great need, worldwide, to promote the adoption of strategies that enhance the important roles and functions of soil biodiversity for sustainable and productive agriculture. The Hummingbird Project teaches and encourages integrated soil management approaches that build on the available information, knowledge, and expertise to build a better food system. The Hummingbird Project leaders, Marilyn McHugh & Chris Kennedy, are making exceptional progress and creating opportunities for a sustainable agricultural future in the USA, India, Kenya and Uganda. In this regard, I ask you to financially support their efforts to harness the economic, environmental and food security benefits from better management of soil and community life. (also check out and support their newest Project: The Cleveland Seed Bank)

It was with great pleasure that I met Marilyn and Chris at Navdanya Farm in India during the fall of 2011 where they were teaching courses to interns and local, rural farmers whose chemical farming practices have led to decreased crop production and increased debt. Their classes focused on living soil, composting, and other benefits of organic farming. Their use of a microscope and computer is particularly beneficial because, with the use of the farmers' own soil samples, they are shown the difference between healthy organic soils that contain living organisms and the sterile, dead soil that results from the ever-popular chemical farming.

I have been most impressed by their monumental success with very little funding. Marilyn and Chris are warm, enthusiastic and tireless in their efforts to promote sustainability throughout the world, from Cleveland to India and East Africa. In two years time they have-- almost singlehandedly-- received federal non-profit status, successfully crowd-funded an educational training program in India in 2012, created a seed bank in Cleveland, Ohio with corresponding educational classes in the summer of 2013, and once again returned to India in the fall of 2013 all while gaining increased financial support from a variety of grant funders. Importantly, all individual donor gifts are allocated to program support so you know each dollar you donate goes directly to the farmers and folks most in need.

Finally, what impresses me most and keeps me ever interested in their efforts is the dedication to create systemic change. Marilyn and Chris are not interested simply in helping people in need-- they are passionately dedicated to reversing the activities and mindsets that created those problems using engaging educational tools that empower and inspire individuals living in poverty, food scarcity and those at risk of suicide. Three cheers for The Hummingbird Project's continued good work.

I met Chris Kennedy & Marilyn McHugh during a permaculture design certification course in Oberlin, Ohio, several years ago and their passion for their work is as focused now as it was then. I had the wonderful experience of working with them this year as they developed the Cleveland Seed Bank as a program of The Hummingbird Project. They are dedicated to their mission, transparent with their goals and are two of the most genuinely compassionate people I've ever met. The world is a better place because of them. I look forward to working with them on replicating their programs in as many communities as possible.

Lauren Berlekamp

I met Marilyn in early 2010 while attending a sustainable workshop in Corvallis, OR. Since then I have collaborated with the Hummingbird Project on many educational events across the United States. Their professionalism is second to none. They have an objective view and a diplomatic rapport that carries over into their work. Soon after our meeting, they completed their first trip to Daraja, an all girls school in Kenya. They helped incorporate compost, soil biology teachings, and started a biogas initiative. Since then the Hummingbird Project has turned into a year round passion. Marilyn and Chris are both leaders and teachers. They bring their integrity and commitment into difficult cultural situations. This helps them achieve a high level of success where other organizations often stumble.

Daniel McLeod
www.Sweet-Soil.com

I met Chris and Marilyn in September 2013 as a student in the A-Z of Organic Agriculture course in Ramgarrh, India. I was immediately struck by their approachability and genuine love for inclusive, knowledge sharing spaces, which always shone through during our lectures. As teachers, Chris and Marilyn have a unique pedagogical style that allows classrooms to become sites of collaboration, where through an understanding of the biological processes at work in nature, a sense of wonder expands exponentially. I have many memories of engaging lectures where Chris and Marilyn made the most of the resources available to them. When we had power outages during lectures they came up with trivia games, when we worked in the soil lab they used open source computer programs and microscopes to allow students to see the microscopic forms of life present in soil collected around the farm, and the list goes on.

I have been in contact with Chris and Marilyn since returning home and continue to feel supported by them and the work that they are doing in other parts of the world. Their dedication to Earth Democracy is evident in their unwavering commitment to their work and the support they offer freely to others.

It has been exciting to see the organization grow and change, especially the development of open source seed library software which I plan to use in a seed saving project that I am part of. I would jump at the chance to work with Chris and Marilyn again, they have so much wisdom to share and so many creative ways to share it!

I have the pleasure to know Chris and Marylin in Navdanya´s A-Z of Organic Agriculture & Agroecology course in India. As a teachers they show us the incredible world of microorganism to understand the life in the soil and that totally change the way I saw it, now I’m more conscious about soil nutrition and inspired to start to apply in our organization projects.
The way they teach, the background and their achievements are an inspiration for people who work in nonprofit organizations with communities and who know the importance of this to reach more and more people.
Amazing job, all the best.

Great teachers Chris & Marilyn, they make the biological world come alive for people. Although I majored in plant science, at Uni it was never stressed that soil is a living organism. I guess we just take soil for granted. However Chris & Marilyn made us realise that "SOIL NAHI TOH KUCH NAHI" translated, it means...without soil no life!! As it is the creatures that live and feed in the soil that supply nutrients to plants, without soil, naturally there would be no life. I am spreading their word among budding farmers. I wish these two great teachers and lovely couple all the very best of luck in their endeavours. The world needs more Conservationists like Chris & Marilyn...

Best Regards Always,
Raden

If I could describe The Hummingbird Project in one word, I'd say it's 'inspirational'. I met Chris and Marilyn at Navdanya, Dehradun, India where I had gone to attend a certificate course on organic farming. During the one-month period of the course, I got the opportunity to interact with them not just as a student, but also as a fellow activist, seed-saver and soil-lover, and I learned so much. Their work in Africa, India and Cleveland, Ohio inspires me to continue in my efforts to save seeds and promote natural farming. They opened my eyes to the life that exists in the soil itself, the intricate web of relationships that, in part, make possible the fertility of the Earth. The Hummingbird Project is essential to preserving an ecologically and nutritionally-sound food system, which is the need of the hour. They inspire others, like me, and through networks, as nourishing as those of the fungi in the soil, play a key role in realizing the dream of sustainable living.

As an upcoming organic farmer, The Hummingbird Project's founders, Chris and Marilyn, were responsible for completely changing the way that I look at growing vegetables. Rather than looking at nourishing the plants I realised that I was nourishing the soil which would in turn nourish the plant - knowledge and understanding that will help me for the rest of my life.

I was fortunate enough to attend their lectures at Navdanya farm's Earth University for the A-Z of Organic Agriculture & Agroecology course, and will be forever grateful that I had access to such important knowledge in such an easy to digest and comprehensible way.

They are a wonderful teaching team who complement each other with their various experiences, not to mention incredibly encouraging and supportive to all the students.
Their humility and 'go do it!' attitude was indescribably inspiring to all the course participants and I witnessed many a behind the scenes conversation where what they have achieved with The Hummingbird Project had prompted many of the participants to realise that they had the potential to do something similar and effect positive change like THP has already done around India, Africa and USA.

I am so grateful to have met Chris and Marilyn and having experienced their teachings firsthand, I know without a doubt that what The Hummingbird Project is doing is worthwhile for the future of organic farming and the world's food security.
Like the humble hummingbird, they're doing "the best they can", and that seems to be a pretty amazing job so far.

The Hummingbird Project is admirable. I was lucky to meet Chris and Marilyn last September at Navdanya Biodiversity Farm in Northern India. The knowledge we received from them about soil microbiology and its huge role in agricultural success or failure was profound. Their hands-on teaching style using microscopes to actually see the microbiology up close and personal made the subject fun, we related to it, and learned effortlessly and easily. They are a dynamic duo who complement each other so well, bringing together strong skills of teaching, communicating, and inspiration with extensive knowledge and scientific background.

I consider The Hummingbird Project to be very important to worldwide social movements revolving around Organic Agriculture, Agro-ecology and Sustainability. Chris and Marilyn are helping farmers become aware of and discover that their soil is not just the vehicle for plant roots to grab hold of and drink water and NPK from. It is a food web because it is a complex system which must be stewarded and respected, because doing so is the cornerstone of sustainable low-input agriculture. If your soil food web is in a balanced state of homeostasis, your plants will grow healthy and strong and your environment will be clean! Let's help The Hummingbird Project spread the word! and the skills!

Keep up the great work!

I got to know Chris and Marilyn during the A-Z of Organic Agriculture held yearly at the Navdanya Biodiversity Farm in Northern India. As part of the course's faculty during the Soil Food Web week, they were by far the highlight of the week. They are both very inspiring, passionate, knowledgeable and friendly. The Hummingbird Project reflects these traits as it spreads important knowledge in neglected communities.

They were always open to help us develop our own projects related to organic agriculture, and would openly share information with us so that we can accomplish our goals of championing these important food-related movements. The way they teach others if very dynamic, fun, and very professional and important. They have great skills in transmitting and teaching in very accessible ways.

I look forward to interacting and working with The Hummingbird Project in the future. I definitely see the project growing quickly in many ways because Chris and Marilyn have put their heart and soul into the project, which is making real and tangible changes in the world. I'm sure they will continue to inspire people and share their vast knowledge and experience in such a fun way all around the globe.

I am a student from Germany and I had the pleasure to learn from the Hummingbird Project during an Organic Agruculture Course in India in 2013. I have grown up with parents that tought me about nature and gardening so that I could develop an intuitive understanding about soil and nature. But Chris and Marilyn deepened my understanding and opened my eyes in a way that I am still very greatful for!

This is part of my reflexions that I wrote right after the course:
"Some days ago, I was so lucky to be able to examine a soil sample through a microscope. It was exciting and surprising to me to observe the colourful landscape of decomposed organic matter and living microorganisms: slowly moving bacteria, jumping protozoa and nematodes and beautiful fungi in-between. One can actually see the life in the soil! Just look at the earthworms that are visible to our bare eyes. They turn organic matter into fertile soil.

A plant and the soil are intimately connected and I only start to understand their intricate relationship.
.........

There are dead soils all over the world. In dead soils there are no microbes. Thus, soils are infertile and cannot nourish a plant. Once the chemical fertilizer has killed the soil, it will demand more and more fertilizer in order to replace the microbes and their miracle of work.

I don’t understand how we have lost our knowledge about soil and ultimately have stopped to believe in soil."

This course left me incredibly inspired and so ready to learn much more in order to be empowered to implement practically what I have learned. By now I have also a Permaculture Design Certificat and I am looking forward to see where I will engage in the future. The Hummingbird Project is a gift to the world today!

I met Chris and Marilyn when they taught part of the A -Z course at Navdanya. They were incredible. They brought to life, what to many would seem a dull and boring topic, "soil". I was not only impressed with their knowledge, but how engaging they were when discussing, explaining, and showing the wonders of something we often refer to as "dirt".

In addition to being passionate teachers they are also wonderful people, and fun to spend time with. i wish them all the best as they spread their magic all over the globe, and I am sure one day soon I will find a way to work with them.

Best, Patricia

Chris and Marilyn were extremely helpful in assisting our environmental NGO in Saudi Arabia with the challenges we face composting, and growing food in sand. We met them at the Navdanya conference last year, and found them to be knowledgeable,and good listeners.

To me, The Hummingbird Project is a product of a beautiful journey embarked upon by two extremely committed and enterprising torch bearers of sustainable living, Marilyn and Chris. I met the couple at Navdanya, India (a biodiversity conservation farm and learning centre founded by renowned physicist, Dr Vandana Shiva) as part of a month-long hands-on course in organic farming and agroeceology in September 2013.

Marilyn and Chris have an extraordinary quality of captivating a culturally diverse audience while teaching about complex soil structures - a topic that is usually associated with being very dry. As part of their 'Living Soil' workshop, the couple took painstaking efforts in making sure that age, language, backgrounds were no barriers to understanding the importance of cultivating living soil and being resourceful with the processes involved in growing healthy food.

Their workshops made specialised knowledge available. For example, Marilyn and Chris, personally funded and set up a Soil Laboratory at Navdanya for participants to be able to study the different microorganisms present in the soil. For someone who has never studied the Sciences but interested in growing healthy food, Marilyn and Chris, presented information that was visual and tangible. They are remarkably accessible and willing to impart everything they know and do it with an infectious energy.

In India, The Hummingbird Project undertake farmer trainings in rural and remote communities, where most people lack any sort of formal training in agriculture and are heavily reliant on labour- intensive traditional techniques and are also heavily exposed to misleading information about the use of chemicals in order to produce higher yields. For a country, that almost leads the world in indiscriminate use of chemicals in the form of pesticides, herbicides, nitrogen fertilizers etc, we need initiatives like The Hummingbird Project to educate and empower potential food-growers and real farmers in providing good food for their families and for a living.

As a side note, I will never forget a kind gesture from Marilyn, who spent so much of her precious time helping me write a grant for my own personal undertaking.

It is my distinct pleasure to have interacted with such inspiring individuals and recommend their work without any reservations. I am looking forward to volunteer with The Hummingbird Project in the near future and it would be such an honour to help them in any way I can.

After a wonderful learning experience with Chris and Marilyn during an organic farming course in India in 2013, I decided to find a way to exchange more great ideas with this passionate couple. If their training sessions at Navdanya's course in India had been so powerful and inspiring, I had to see their impact on farmers in rural India.

Fortunately I had the chance to accompany them as a volunteer on some of their farmer trainings - as part of the 'Living Soil' project - and see how Chris and Marilyn's dynamic energy and honest exchange with Indian farmers were spreading hope for change.

Chris and Marilyn's Hummingbird Project is authentic proof of how real solidarity, open knowledge-sharing and love for ecology can shape a better world.

I met Chris and Marilyn for the first time at Navdanya, Dehradun in Sept 2012. They were conducting a series of soil workshops and teaching a module at a course on organic agriculture that I was part of.

I witnessed first hand their passion to make a difference in people's lives, especially in their interactions with farmers and students at Navdanya. Whether it was taking the time to explain all about the living organisms in the soil, elaborating on different kinds of biogas installations, or helping co-ordinate the building of a community garden made by course participants, they were always extremely patient and full of enthusiasm at the same time.

We have kept in touch since and I have had the opportunity to meet them a couple of times more and hear more about the farmer trainings that they have conducted in other parts of India. They have been a huge inspiration to me, and made me think about how if just two individuals can contribute so much, there is no reason for me to think that I can't make a difference, if I really put my mind to it and overcame my apprehensions.