Published Fri, Jun 09, 17. Written by .
May Update from Rand
I’m just getting around to updating you on my recent trip to Haiti at the end of last month. I
continue to be impressed with the work being accomplished by the agronomists and workers. It
was about three weeks into the rainy season; the swales were catching rainwater, collection
ditches were filling the ponds...the waterworks are working!
Now is a tough time to plant some of the vegetables, but they have acres of "Kneehigh" corn,
okra flowering and beginning to produce; we purchased $105 US of peanut seed that was
planted. Over 800 mango trees have recently been planted and they are growing! We are trying
to get all the land that has any slope to it covered in trees; most of the 4500 papaya seedlings
started in Feb were in the process of going into the ground.
I got to see first hand how a bigtime tropical rain could erode the land. Any furrow that had any
slope to it hauled our topsoil to the creeks! So....we learned how to use a transit and marked out
places for tree belts across the farm that are level or on contour. Trees will be planted then well
place the furrows parallel to these trees thereby holding the soil during the rains and conserving
water during the dry season (too complicated?)
Our Gooding Rotary Club granted us $2500 for a diesel water pump, pvc (500 ft) and mango
trees; we got the whole package to work.....the pump lifted creek water up to a high point where
we can irrigate during the dry season. This is huge because now we can farm year around vs
most of the central plateau shutting down for lack of water.
We have had many issues with neighbor livestock running loose and causing damage to our
crops and trees. The rich low land below the orphanage has been completely fenced by
Cedie....and what a fence (living trees for posts and US barbed wire). He has money to finish the
fencing at Vision Farm as well....what a difference this will make.
Another bright spot: Mesije, a 17 year old young man wanted to earn some money in Feb...we
worked out a deal for him to plant and care for a small garden plot at the orphanage. His project
looked great! He was very proud of his work and I was elated. He made a few bucks and is now
the overseer of 5 such garden plots that the other kids have undertaken...pretty rich stuff!
After rereading this note it all sounds pretty "rosy"....trust me it's still one step forward and 2
back...we are still involved in a huge learning curve, but....food is beginning to come to the
orphanage kitchen!
God bless GVCM and Vision Farm
Blessings, Rand
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