Safeguard the Biocultural Heritage of Cacao
For thousands of years, cacao has been revered by the Maya as a sacred plant — a bridge between the human, the natural, and the spiritual.
A living being, a teacher, and a guardian of cultural memory.
But over time, cacao was stripped of its sacredness. What was once an offering to the Earth and the cosmos became a commodity. The communities who carried its wisdom were displaced, and the ancient varieties of cacao — the ancestral seeds — nearly disappeared.
Now, it’s time to bring cacao to its roots — in respect of the land and the people.
We are creating an Ancestral Sanctuary in Guatemala, a space where the guardians of cacao can once again gather, share wisdom, and regenerate the sacred relationship between people, plants, and the Earth.
To begin, we need to raise $30,000 before the end of December to:
- Purchase the land that will hold this sanctuary
- Build a fermenter and dryer so local farmers can process their cacao directly
- Build a water system
- Expand our nursery to nurture new life
- Begin the foundation for our seed bank, protecting the ancient cacao varieties of Guatemala
This is the first phase of a long-term vision — to safeguard ancestral seeds, empower local communities, and offer an educational center where cultural knowledge and ecological regeneration unite.
Every contribution, big or small, will help us root this vision into the Earth.
Together, we can restore cacao as a sacred heritage — for the people, for the planet, and for the generations to come.
If you feel called to support, you can make an offering or reach out directly to us to collaborate or spread the word.
With gratitude and love,
Heart to Earth Collective
For the regeneration of culture, soil, and soul. 🌍🤎
Why it matters
This project goes far beyond cacao.
It’s about reclaiming identity, healing our relationship with the land, and restoring the spiritual roots of agriculture.
By supporting this sanctuary, you are helping:
- Empower indigenous farmers with tools for autonomy
- Revitalize ancestral wisdom and traditional ceremonies
- Regenerate soil, biodiversity, and community wellbeing
- Preserve sacred cacao genetics for future generations
This is how we weave together culture, ecology, and spirit — one seed, one story, one heart at a time.
Our mission
Heart to Earth, together with local Maya farmers and elders, is creating an Ancestral Sanctuary — a regenerative space where people and cacao can once again thrive together.
This sanctuary will:
- Protect ancestral cacao seeds — safeguarding biodiversity and genetic heritage
- Provide tools and equipment (fermenter, dryer, nursery, and water system) so local farmers can process their own cacao with dignity and independence
- Create an educational and cultural center — a place for knowledge exchange, ceremonies, and intergenerational learning
- Revitalize the ancestral relationship with cacao through rituals, teachings, and ecological practices rooted in Maya cosmology
This is the first phase of a long-term vision.
Next, we will create a seed bank to protect and regenerate ancient cacao varieties — ensuring they are never lost again.
Help us get to this first phase so we can move forward and shift the global chocolate industry — from commodity, to sacred medicine for the Heart and the Earth.