By David Keyes
Harvest Hope Founding President
Taking stock (no pun intended) of the last decade I’ve been blown away by the
dedication of volunteers who have given thousands of hours to create a dairy
farm in a tiny sub-Carpathian village, and by the generosity of those who have
funded this bold endeavor.
I suspect we were like so many partners in North American who in the early and
heady days of contact with our sisters and brothers in Transylvania wanted
desperately to do something about their depressed economy and sense of
hopelessness: but what? In 1995, we asked the villagers of the Homorod Valley,
and have been following their lead ever since.
First, by mutual effort, we started a flour mill and small bakery. Jobs were provided, and new ideas were born in Transylvania: Church-based economic development of the sort advocated by the legendary Francis Balazs, our patron saint; an independent Romanian foundation accountable to no hierarchy; multiple churches working together in North American and Transylvania on a common project.
I’ll always remember the smell and taste of the first loaf of bread to come from the Harvest Hope oven in Okland; it was a taste of connection, and of things to come. Economic conditions have changed in Romania over the past decade, and today the bakery is leased to a larger bakery in a nearby town, still generating income for the church, but at least temporarily not producing any more of those luscious loaves.
Our efforts turned to a more ambitious, long-term project, the establishment of a model dairy farm that would lead the way in transforming the economy of the region. Thanks largely to the volunteer work of Okland minister Levente Kelemen, and to HHpH administrator Csaba Orban, the farm has been recognized by an agency of the European Union as one of the exceptional enterprises of the region.
This summer, the first heifers were given to villagers. As the breeding herd reaches “critical mass,” many more will be distributed. In Karasconyfalva, 46 villagers lease their pasture land to the farm, sparing them back-breaking work and significantly improving their economic condition. Sixty-five calves have been born in the Harvest Hope barn; the breeding herd membership stands at 54.
Harvest Hope was originally conceived as an arm of the Partner Church Council, with an interlocking board. While PHH has since incorporated as a separate non-profit, the dedication to the partner church movement has remained. Through our pilgrimage tours, we have introduced North Americans to their sister churches each summer for nine years. Dozens of partnerships have been created, revived, or significantly strengthened by Harvest Hope pilgrimages. We estimate that at least $200,000 has flowed to Transylvania as a result of these introductions, in addition to the $200,000 raised for Harvest Hope itself. Perhaps as significantly, lives have been changed and North American congregations enriched by our pilgrimages, which focus on partnership and learning encounters, and always have a spiritual component. The retained earnings from these trips pay all the overhead expenses of Project Harvest Hope, allowing us to give 100 percent of all donations directly to program in Transylvania.
“Buy more cows!” is our rallying cry, and $1000 will add a purebred dairy cow to the herd. When the herd reaches sustainable size, the business plan calls for starting satellite farms in other villages. Another top priority is to complete conversion of one of the farm buildings to an education center, where villagers will come to learn modern dairy practices.
Harvest Hope has always been part practical enterprise, and part idea and aspiration. Our uniqueness and sustained progress put us in a position to provide leadership in sustainable agriculture in Transylvania. Hence, our landmark conference May 9-10 in Illyefalva, which will bring together village leaders, farmers, politicians, media representatives, and entrepreneurs with authorities on cooperative agriculture and EU accession issues. Harvest Hope can be expected to continue to play a leadership role in economic development, helping to attract foundation and government support to rural areas, and to create networks and farmer cooperatives.
It has not all been easy. There are those who seem to delight in pointing out our imperfections, and as an all-volunteer, grassroots organization, we have them. Yet, the record of accomplishment by volunteers and donors is, I think, outstanding . In closing, I want to recognize my co-founders, Rob Eller-Isaacs, now serving as president; Janne Eller-Isaacs; Beverly Smrha, and most of all, Levente and Eva Kelemen. Thank you to all the partners who have made this possible, and please do come help us celebrate all we have done and will do at our birthday bash on Saturday at General Assembly.