Letter from the Executive Director

This winter I read The Serviceberry. Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s reflections on reciprocity got me rethinking whether berries going to birds is so simple as a crop going to “waste.”  Kimmerer’s core message — all flourishing is mutual — reminded me why Savanna Institute’s work is so meaningful to me. 

Our work is aimed most directly to multiply farming systems powered by the diversity and perenniality; it’s about getting more trees on farms. But it’s more than that. It’s about being a venue and a vehicle for reciprocity. 

Reciprocity is central to the “how” and the “why” of our work. Shared vision and mutual support form the good soil necessary for our mission to take root. Staff, supporters, farmers, folks throughout the food system —  along with soil, water, wildlife — we all depend on each other for our mission to bear fruit. And we all benefit, in so many ways, when farmers find success with trees. All flourishing is mutual!

As we report and reflect on our work, we are both humbled and energized by the progress we have made together, and I’m excited to share it with you here. To frame up the report, and to hopefully spur your own reflections, here are a few themes on what makes this work meaningful to me:

Need & Readiness

The world is hungry for change. From the scientific community’s clarion calls to action on climate and biodiversity, to the growing demand for regenerative solutions from farmers, our mission has never been more vital. In 2024, more than 150 Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates have called for a fundamental transformation in agriculture, advocating for “moonshot” innovations in perennial crop development and diverse cropping systems. At the Savanna Institute we are answering that call by advancing impactful research and on-farm demonstrations that advance precisely those critical innovations.

Reach & Community Building

This year, we have reached and engaged more people than ever before. Through purpose-driven partnerships, impactful programs, and inspiring events, we are fostering strong, growing communities dedicated to perennial agriculture. The 2024 Perennial Farm Gathering, returning to an in-person event, was a lively testament to our expanding reach and the collective passion for transformative agricultural solutions.

Hope & Inspiration

In a world facing climate uncertainty and fractured communities, our work is a source of tangible hope. Every farm we support and every community we engage is part of a larger movement renewing our relationships with the land and with each other. Together, we are not just imagining a better world—we are growing it.

Many of you reading are already supporters of our work. We offer this perennial report as a gesture of reciprocity; I hope you take great satisfaction in reading about what you have made possible. 

And in that spirit of reciprocity, I’d love to hear from you — what makes our work meaningful to you?  

Thank you for your unwavering support. We invite you to continue with us, as we work together toward a present and future where our farms are full of trees, birdsong, and many marks of mutual flourishing.

With gratitude,

Keefe Keeley, PhD
Executive Director
Savanna Institute

P.S. And the birds? Many of them eat more bugs than berries! On Savanna Institute’s demonstration farms, our initial observations suggest that in fields with more birds around, we see less crop damage from insect pests. So we’re studying this, including by installing field microphones to monitor birdsong. I hope you’ll stay tuned and learn along with us as we combine science, practice, and an ethic of reciprocity to work toward mutual flourishing with our feathered farm friends!