I really was looking forward to our class trip to ECHO long before we went. I had a friend take the class before me and she only had great things to say. I also currently have a few friends who are missionaries and are in areas of developing countries with very little resources.
One friend is currently teaching in Haiti, where she has no plumbing or electricity. Her students often get one meal a day while they are with her in the schoolhouse, which is made out of a storage portable.
Even though I felt like I knew a lot about ECHO before we went, I still was amazed at all the things they strive to do to help our global humanity. 
It may seem like a major undertaking to someone to grow his or her own food. Having lived in apartments the last six years, I know I wouldn’t consider doing it. ECHO helps to show that you don’t need the latest gadgets, or massive amount of land to produce a sustainable lifestyle; you just have to be willing to be resourceful and do the work.
ECHO’s focus on using appropriate and available technology is outstanding. Realizing there are items that just about everyone have access too opens up a world of possibilities. Plants don’t have to grow in a large, expensive terracotta pot, or a field acres and acres in size. Utilizing tires, plastic pools, or any old jar or tub will do the job.
Many fruits and vegetables, grown organically, are available to the public at their local grocery store. Other processed foods can be found in specialty sections or specialty stores, such as cereals, fruit bars, and personal care items.
There are many many items that can be produced in a better way, or as we learned at ECHO, there are many alternative items/plants that we are just not utilizing.
Organizations like ECHO are amazing. I pray for their ministry and their desire and skill of educating not only people in underdeveloped countries, but everyone around the world.
