From mines to vines.
Roots of Peace turns land poisoned by war into farms and vineyards, so that the fields that once took lives now feed families.
One toast that became a movement.
In the late 1990s, inspired by Princess Diana's campaign to ban landmines, Heidi Kühn hosted an evening with landmine survivor Jerry White. She raised a glass and made a wish: may the world go from mines to vines. Roots of Peace began that year.
The idea is simple and powerful. Clear the mines, then plant. When farmers can work their land again, families earn a living, children walk to school safely, and the soil itself becomes a reason for peace.
“May the world go from mines to vines.”Heidi Kühn, the toast that started Roots of Peace
Where the fields have been given back.
Afghanistan
After mines were cleared from the Shomali Plain, farmers replanted vineyards and connected with buyers abroad, including supermarket chains in India.
Vietnam
In Quang Tri province, one of the most heavily bombed places on earth, cleared land now grows black pepper and taro.
Cambodia, Croatia and Iraq
The same model of clearing and planting has helped farming communities recover in each country.
Guatemala
Today the work also moves families from aid to trade, with irrigation and market programs in the Western Highlands.
Healing Ukraine's farmland.
Since the full-scale war began, Roots of Peace has worked with Rotary e-Club of Ukraine and the Rotary Club of Odesa to clear mines near Mykolaiv and restore vineyards and orchards there. By Heidi's estimate in 2023, more than 30 percent of Ukraine had been contaminated by landmines.
Roots of Peace also partnered on Wounded Land, a documentary made in Ukraine by Ukrainians about vintners who kept farming through the war. In January 2023, Shab El Awar proposed showing it at EarthX in Dallas.
“Each fruit tree planted feeds future generations.”Heidi Kühn, September 2026
Friends at EarthX and beyond.
John Mathers, past president of the Rotary Club of San Francisco and a leader of the Global Climate Pledge network, introduces Heidi to Steve Bender and invites her to speak about Ukraine at the Rotary Pavilion Steve organized at EarthX.
Heidi invites Steve and John to the Roots of Peace Mines to Vines dinner in San Francisco, where young landmine survivors and the Consul General of Ukraine speak.
Heidi keynotes EarthX 2025 in Dallas, and she and Steve record a Rotary TV interview together. Her partners call the collaboration “Roots of Peace and EarthX Ambassadors of Peace.”
Patrick Dunn, then Roots of Peace's director of global partnerships, proposes a Peace and Planet track at EarthX linking peacebuilding and the environment.
Heidi invites Rotarians to a walk in Muir Woods marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, founded in San Francisco in 1945 with Rotary's help.
Heidi launches Pax Agricultura and the UC Berkeley Kühn Initiative for Post-Conflict and Agricultural Development, with a Rotary Club of San Francisco peace pole ceremony at the founder's reception.
Photos coming soon. This gallery will feature Heidi and Steve at EarthX and moments from Roots of Peace fields around the world.