History
World Hunger Relief, Inc., was chartered in 1976 by real estate developers Bob and Jan Salley. The Texas, non-profit charter provided for a program in agroforestry and related technologies to address the needs of the hungry, both foreign and domestic.
In 1979 Carl Ryther and his family returned to Texas after 17 years of agricultural missions in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan). The Salley’s invited Ryther to join World Hunger Relief in 1979 to develop a program to train individuals to address hunger needs around the world. In the following 25 years, WHRI trained over 300 interns working in 20 countries spanning 4 continents. These interns now work for various international organizations promoting sustainable food production and economic development.
During his years in Bangladesh, Ryther had developed simple food production systems to address the food needs of the poor following major civil and environmental crises. These systems; which included intensive vegetable production in grow-beds, rabbit husbandry, and agroforestry (Leucaena); were designed to maximize food production in situations of limited land resources. In 1980, Ryther completed a Backyard Food Production Systems training manual which was translated into several languages.
In subsequent years, WHRI training was expanded to include sustainable technologies appropriate to developing countries with more extensive resources and production. These systems included alley cropping, larger scale organic vegetable production, drip irrigation, rotational grazing, and additional livestock (chickens, cattle, goats, sheep, bees, and emu).
In the mid-1980’s WHRI personnel became active in development programs in Haiti, Guatemala, Mexico, Kenya, and India. Most of these efforts involved agroforestry outreach utilizing the “miracle tree” Leucaena leucocephala. Well digging for irrigation and sanitary drinking water was also a component of many of these programs.
The Ferrier, Haiti program is now 25 years old and has led to the formation of a sister organization, World Hunger Relief, Haiti. In our local community, WHRI has addressed hunger issues of low income, elderly and disabled individuals through various community gardening projects. We have also provided training for schools in gardening and composting. Each year we host scores of tours for school and church groups focusing on sustainable agriculture, environmental responsibility and world hunger issues.
In 1994, Lee and Kathleen Piche joined WHRI as co-directors working alongside Ryther. During the following nine years, they expanded the program to include a Grade-A goat dairy, dried flower production, and fresh market vegetables organized in a community supported agriculture (CSA) model. They were also instrumental in significant facility improvements including construction of the Carl Ryther Education Building which was completed just before Ryther’s death in 1999.
In recent years, WHRI staff has expanded to include a Development Director, Education Director and Farm Operations Director. In 2003, Neil Rowe Miller began as Executive Director. In the following year, we undertook a major reorganization of our intern Training program, providing a more comprehensive full-time curriculum, and offering living stipends in addition to room and board.
As we look toward the future, we anticipate significant expansion of our local education and outreach programs. We are also exploring partnerships with additional training centers and organizations around the world. We are excited about the many opportunities God is presenting us to combat poverty and hunger in His name.
Click here to view a February 2006 Waco Tribune-Herald article about World Hunger Relief.