Farmers learn about TIST from other TIST farmers and join small groups of 6-12 people that form clusters of up to 500 local farmers. Clusters coordinate the small groups of women and men and provide leadership opportunities that make a difference in their local community.

Farmers decide whether, where and how to plant trees, change farming methods, source and own the seeds and keep ownership of the trees and land.

Trees are typically planted on degraded and/or unused land (e.g. around houses for shade, in small wood lots for firewood, along boundaries as windbreaks, along streams for flood and soil control).

Participants contract to maintain the tree groves for 30 years in return for annual carbon pre-payments per live tree, and a 70% share of the net profits from carbon credit sales. In addition, farmers have achieved over $7 per tree of non-carbon benefits

After 5 years of tree growth, tree mass and the volume of carbon stored in the trees can be calculated, the carbon captured is verified to international standards, and carbon credits can be offered for sale.

Carbon credits can be retired to offset a carbon footprint, or can be retained and used at a later date.