Let's Build Gonave, Haiti!

Go Gonave!

I mentioned that several crops can be grown on La Gonave, and that the focus was a few specific crops.  I failed to mention tea.  While coffee and tea grow in similar environments, there are a few areas on La Gonave where both can have a good chance of growing. Unlike coffee which takes about two years from when it is first planted to produce a crop, tea takes much less time.  It could be possible that La Gonave could grow both crops and sell them overseas. Now is the time to be patient and stay hopeful. Go Gonave!

La Gonave could produce a few different crops on a large production scale, which would hire many people in the process.  While farming is normally looked at as a small profit industry, it serves a few purposes.  It employs people of La Gonave, programs will help to fertilize farm soil in a natural way, the island brings in profit, and it creates a stable economy for the island. Coffee could hold promise in the near future.  There is currently a mid sized Haitian company that we are in talks with about coffee production on the island.  This offers farmers on La Gonave the chance to raise coffee beans.  This company sells coffee to big box American retailer Wal-mart.  The opportunity to put La Gonave on the map is happening in many different ways. Currently ideas are to have honey production, coffee production, Moringa, and wax production.  Other crops considered strongly are Sunn Hemp, which will provide potential biomass for the island as well as "green fertilizer" for f

So working with three different organizations to bring honey bee production to La Gonave Island.  An initial assessment will happen in Feb 2015.  So there will be someone personally that we will have that will go to the island to see if the island can support a bee colony.  The biggest obstacles are the correct plants that will provide enough nectar for the bees.  If the assessment comes back negative, meaning that the island isn't suitable, that isn't the end of the project.  What will happen is plants will be brought to the island from Haiti, or seeded into the soil.  These plants will have to survive on the island successfully before another assessment can be done.  When that assessment is complete and successful, then honey bees will be installed on the island.  The bees will be from a farm on the Haitian mainland.  Also beekeeping will be taught to a farmer or two on La Gonave as well.  This training is very important to keep the hives healthy.  After these hives are su

First off, sorry for the long delay in between posts.  I have been working with two different organizations, and soon to be three to get a few projects going on La Gonave. You are aware of the Honey Bee Project, but other projects will be farming activities and solar ovens.  The proposal that I am sending over will allow for honey to be available to all residents on the island of La Gonave.  Now the initial capacity of honey production will not allow for this, however as the honey bee network grows, it will be available to all residents on the island for no charge.  The language within the proposal allows for additional growth within the honey production for spin off businesses.  If honey production exceeds local demand, it will then be sold to different locations in Haiti itself. Farming is the next project which as I mentioned will focus on cover crops.  We are excited about this as it will allow for cover crops which can change the landscape of La Gonave forever.  Later as the

We are proposing with out partners to build a 15,000 gallon waste treatment facility on La Gonave.  This plant would not be located in or near a large population center, due to the capacity size. The facility would use the latest green technology.  Details on how the plant will work, treatment process, the number of jobs, and fees are still being worked out. This facility would work 100% with household waste only.  Meaning that in the future any industries that locate near the treatment facility would not have access to the plant.  Potentially industrial parks would have their own water treatment facilities where those companies can buy sanitation credits. The timeline for this facility would coincide with housing developments from Hurko Co. Go Gonave!

In order to support not only the future honey bee program on Gonave, which to our understanding is the first, there will also be a farming program. Under the farming program the idea is to grow mainly large scale cover crops to help prevent water run off and soil erosion.  Also these cover crops are known as "green fertilizer".  They provide more nutrients in the soil than cow manure. These cover crops can also be used for future compost and bio-fuel programs.  Two of the crops will provide much needed food to the people of La Gonave.  Crops such as Buckwheat, and Daikon Radish will be grown and harvested.  Also Sunn Hemp will be grown to help with composting measures. The farming program would be open to farmers or people who are interested in farming.  This program is still being worked out. Stay tuned as we work on this plan.  Go Gonave!

According to www.aneki.com, Haiti ranks in the top 5 largest economies in the Caribbean, at #5. The country's economy is $13,420,000,000.00 US.  To see the full list click here .