Stefanie Cantey

Founder / Dream-Carrier

I am a dreamer and a doer.

When I was in preschool I wanted to be a bus driver because I adored my bus driver. When I was in 5th grade, I fell in love with storytelling and decided to become a writer someday.

Since then, those ideas have never left me: I still consider getting a part-time job bussing kids around, and I write often in various forms. But over the years I've collected dreams like seashells, and I've placed them in a jar to admire and keep for the future.

Then my daughter completed high school, and I realized I could pursue one of those dreams. But which one? There were too many to choose from.

So I asked God for a new dream, "If you give it to me, I will do it, and I know it will be a success."

Six months later, he responded. And I had to laugh—it was beyond my imagination!

A Dream Worth Asking For

Abundant Life Bamboo LLC

The Impetus of Toilet Paper

My daughter and I were traveling in Northern Ireland, When I entered the bathroom of our lovely Airbnb, I discovered something that changed the trajectory of my life: Bamboo toilet paper.

“Brilliant!” I thought. “Instead of flushing trees down the toilet, we can make paper from another plant that grows a lot faster.” I practically jumped on my computer. “I’m going to order some and send it to your dad! I’ll include a note, ‘Thinking of you!’” I knew he’d love it.

Unfortunately, I struggled to find a way to have it shipped to the U.S. Since it was a U.K. company, I started looking for more accessible brands, but to no avail. Now I was really curious. Why isn’t the U.S. riding on the bamboo bandwagon?

Short answer: a lack of bamboo. It turns out our country imports nearly $25 million of raw bamboo every year, but its primary use is the bamboo shoots we eat in Asian cuisine.

That’s when I found a company trying to change all that. Their initiative is to bring all the benefits of bamboo to the United States by growing it in the United States! They support farmers with education and an opportunity to contract with them to buy the bamboo as they build processing centers and network with manufacturers. I immediately emailed the company to find out more.

As I continued to learn, I became even more fascinated with bamboo.

Grows up to 3 feet a day? Wow!

Requires no pesticides? Awesome!

Can be used in place of wood for lumber, building materials, and ALL paper products? No way!

It really seemed too good to be true. A plant that can help us save trees and decrease our reliance on imports.

Then I started looking at the numbers. This could generate a lot of revenue. I looked at my daughter sitting beside me on the couch as the ideas started tumbling through my mind. “We could help so many people.”

Already, specific names were coming to mind. Missionary and social-worker friends who don’t have a good retirement option. The kids we know, and don’t know yet, through Compassion International. Everyone without fresh drinking water.

I went home committed to researching all that I could about bamboo and to talking with farmers, entrepreneurs, and everyone I knew who could offer wisdom.

In August 2024, I formed my LLC. In January 2025, I launched my business with a gathering of local support. And now I am preparing to buy my land to plant our first bamboo grove in 2026.

Together

This dream is not about me.

If God has made one thing clear, it is that this dream will be realized by the unity of his Dream-Carriers.

I may be determined (a.k.a. stubborn) enough to go and make this happen all on my own. I could get a traditional bank loan and do all the physical labor myself. And fifteen years ago, I probably would have done just that.

But wisdom and life experience have taught me the truth that working together is more effective, efficient, beautiful, and representative of God's design.

So I am looking for other dreamers, visionaries, and never-give-uppers to carry this dream with me.

Are you a Dream-Carrier who wants to make a difference?

You Can Help.