NGO • LIVE-IN TRAINING CENTRE • ECOLOGICAL REPAIR • EDIBLE REFORESTATION • COMMUNITY LIVING

Sanctuary for Tropical Edible Plants (STEP) is an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization & Non profit) building a network of self-sufficient sanctuary communities across the tropics, dedicated to ecological repair, edible reforestation, and community living. Through the restoration of clear-cut land, STEP is creating thriving ecosystems where people live as an integrated part of nature.

We are currently raising funds to purchase land in Guatemala, where the first STEP sanctuary will be established—a fully functioning, self-sustaining community within an edible ecosystem. This sanctuary will restore degraded land into a productive edible ecosystem, while also serving as a working model for future projects.

Why It Matters:

Tropical edible plants are disappearing rapidly due to deforestation, climate change, and industrial agriculture. Preserving and reintroducing these species strengthens biodiversity while creating resilient, nutrient-rich food systems that communities can rely on for generations. Many fruit and nut trees can produce for decades, supporting both ecological stability and long-term food security.

What We’re Up To Now:

Before expanding, the priority is equipping the right people who will come build and help maintain STEPs environment. That’s where The Live-in Training Centre comes in, a place where people engage in hands-on workshops such as the Seed to Seed Cycle & the Life Diet.

Training Community Pioneers:

The Live-in Training Centre is part of STEP’s educational department, designed to train individuals who will contribute to building and establishing STEP communities, while also offering workshops for those who want to learn through practical experience.

Located in Peten Guatemala, near Flores Island, the centre operates from a large building that’s currently under repair, with a backyard garden in a quieter part of town.

Participants gain hands-on experience working with local plants, maintaining the environment & living within a community, taking part in workshops like the Seed to Seed Cycle & the Life Diet which focus on growing, harvesting and cooking foods sustainably, in a way that supports the life of the plant.

The centre acts as a bridge from the old world to a more self-sufficient way of living. Through practical experience, workshops & real-world problem solving, participants build the skills needed to function effectively with both natural systems and community structures.

By experiencing the abundance of edible plants available, (especially in tropical environments), participants begin to understand the long-term impact that is possible, and how much life can be creates when food systems work in alignment with nature.

To live in harmony with nature and within a community, participants are prepared to become pioneers of future-ready communities. While some may apply these skills to their own projects, the primary purpose of the Live-in Training Centre is to prepare individuals who intend on being pioneers of STEP and the projects long-term development.

Our Long-Term Vision:

STEP aims to establish 16 sanctuary sites across tropical regions. Each location will operate independently while contributing to a shared network of knowledge & development. These sites will not only be where STEP community members live, work, and learn together; they will also function as centres for regeneration, education, and conservation.

Every aspect of their development will be documented and shared as an open-source blueprint, allowing others to replicate and expand the STEP model.

How You Can Help:

Your donation will directly fund:

✅ Acquisition of land for the first STEP sanctuary

✅ Acquisition of land for the Live-in Training Centre

✅ Development of the Live-In Training Centre (site maintenance, infrastructure & improvements)

Every contribution brings us closer to regenerating landscapes, creating thriving ecosystems, and building a network of sanctuary communities where people and nature coexist in harmony together. By becoming a patron, you’re not only funding a project, you're investing in a future where biodiversity flourishes, food sources are nutrient-rich, and humanity plays its role as a steward of the planet.

All support is deeply appreciated—whether through a pledge or by sharing this project with others who might be interested in this vision.

Join us on this journey and be part of something transformative. Your support helps make this vision a reality!