Let's Build Gonave, Haiti!

With La Gonave the issue of power is one of many reasons economic development doesn't happen. While there was once a solar producer in Haiti, that company doesn't appear to be in business any longer. One reason would be the cost of the panels that were sold. The panels were way over priced to the point where you can import panels that were superior in quality and power produced for cheaper. While some will say that buying from Haiti is important, we agree! The problem is that businesses have to make products where the price for the goods make sense. Otherwise they do a major disservice to the country. The lost jobs, prospects, industry, etc all affect the country due to companies over boosting the price of goods. Regardless La Gonave would need solar and wind to provide power. While the island would never be a power mega-house, it could become self-sustainable with energy. First the island residents would need to start off with basic solar panels of about 100W. Als...

Not long ago, the now ex-President Michel Martelly signed a decree that allowed the island of La Gonave to be entered into a long term land lease. The company, which was foreign, would have been able to own all things on the island (movable and immovable), and would have setup accounts to a foreign bank for a tax haven. In return, the company claimed it would build up the island and provide jobs, housing, education, etc for the island's people. Most local Haitians on the island felt that this would not happen and they would get the short end of the stick. In fact we stopped working on the island when we found out the decree was signed. Anything that we would have put on the island would be owned by this company. So why invest in something just to have it tied up in legal battles and even possibly loosing your investment.? What stopped the process at the time of the decree was that Haiti didn't have a full Parliament so they couldn't vote on it. Without a vote, the d...

For those who read this blog, they may ask what is wrong with using charcoal to cook your food? Actually in Haiti it has lead to devastating issues that compound. For one making charcoal requires the cutting down of trees. Once a lush forest is now a desert. Only 1-3% of the original forest cover still exists in Haiti. Cutting down trees, and not replacing them leads to soil erosion, weathering of the soil from the sun, wind, and rain, and even make an area arid. Haiti lacks food and water security, most of which traces back to the lack of good soil, which traces itself back to deforestation. Is deforestation the only cause of the lack of food and water security, no. It is a major problem that must be addressed and locals must adopt a different way of preparing meals and heating of water. Haiti, like many poor countries has access to kerosene. Kerosene was once widely used and lost favor over propane and electricity. Not only can kerosene power a refrigerator but also sto...

One way to help build up the economy on La Gonave is by farming, but not necessarily traditional crops.  Currently we are using modern beekeeping to raise organic honey.  While beekeeping isn't new, using modern hives is something that is new for La Gonave and Haiti.  Using this method will produce more honey, and allow for a safer way to extract honey. Also while on La Gonave, we started the first steps of raising Kiwano.  Kiwano is a wonderful crop as it does will in tropical climate and can do well in drought.  The plant does well in Africa, so having such a crop in Haiti can allow La Gonave to have a strong market in Kiwano.  Currently this crop is already in the small sprout stage and will fruit sometime this summer. Hurko and Let's Build Gonave Haiti loves being the first at what we do.  The first Observation Hive was awarded to an organization on La Gonave, thanks to Hurko getting involved in the process.  The first Kiwano plant is also...

We felt that the start of the New Year would be best if we go back to publishing under the Let's Build Haiti publishing title.  This is done for a couple of reasons.  One, Hurko is a company that I am working for, however not all of their projects are associated with Haiti ala La Gonave.  For two the original publishing was this title, and this is where many of our earlier supporters found us.  Since changing the name, many could no longer find us. With that said, the name of the blog will still be Let's Build Gonave, Haiti.  That name will not change in the future.  We want to make sure that we keep the title that directly relates to our mission, which is La Gonave, Haiti. Hope we haven't confused you on the change.  Go Gonave!

Hurko and La Gonave Honeybee Association is researching the building of an app that the public and local beekeepers can use.  The idea would be to explain what our association is about, the island, and projects that we have. This app will help link local beekeepers to important resources about beekeeping on the island, maps, and trainings/meetings.  We will decide by Summer of 2016 if this is a project that we are going to move forward on.  Currently we are also researching a virtual newsletter.  This newsletter is mainly for educating people outside of Haiti about the honeybee project to increase revenue and investments, however locals will be able to access the newsletter as well.  We are still looking into a potential website that would link from the app, and would contain the newsletter.  A website would be built from cooperative funds and have forums so that the association members would be able to help each other with issues that come up.  Las...

Observation Grant that we talked about in a previous blog for $1,500 plus $150 for the purchase of honeybees, has moved on the the final stage in the process of approval. The beecause.org has approved the first phase and the information that was provided.  We are now on to the next one and we are extremely happy.  This observation hive will set La Gonave apart from many areas in the Caribbean and even the United States.  How many schools, colleges, or universities have observation hives? We are committed to Haiti, and La Gonvae.  What started off as talk and hope has lead to the joining of Hurko, a relationship with a not-for-profit, and now an emerging economy on La Gonave.  Once the hive is put in place we will have photos.  Not only will you see the hive being assembled, installed, but also the honeybees being placed in. Go Gonave!

About a month ago I got connected to a Haitian American who has been working with coffee exports in Haiti and now they have started their own mead.  Mead is basically a honey wine.  While the product does exists, it uses a series of secret Haitian spices, and local honey from Washington State.  The investor wants to change where the honey is obtained and is looking closely at La Gonave and our budding industry. I had an opportunity to sample his mead, which was amazing.  Next weekend I will visit the meadery that made the product.  While talking to the investor about our plans for the honeybee operation he had mentioned that he would possibly be interested in our honey production and possibly putting the meadery on La Gonave. One of the things I have been pushing from a far is that La Gonave is the best place to do business as it is a blank canvas where you can put various ideas.  The honeybee project is starting to create a rippling effect, which is w...

If you don't know what co-working spaces are, they are usually a facility that houses multiple different companies at the same time, under the same roof.  These can be startups to well established companies.  They can be from a single worker/owner to a company that has over 15 employees.  Parts of the co-working space allows for the business to have an office with four walls, or they can choose to have a dedicated desk in an open air room, or sharing a space with someone else who is with a different company. Usually all of the businesses will have access to the same conference room for a fee, access to printers, and wifi.  So the question is, could Hurko Co putting it's headquarters on La Gonave lead to a co-working space? Hurko Co could build the facility and base it's operations there, and then lease out other space in the facility for many startup businesses that exist or will exist in Anse-a-Galets.  I mentioned the Business and Innovation Park in a pr...

One of the ways to finance a project with less risk is to do get donations and investments.  While we are doing that, we have to understand that grants are also very viable. When you look at the entire project everything has been from private financing.  These grants will add a new layer to the project.  Grants are a way to say that we have a strong project that these agencies believe in.  Not only that, but as I mentioned it propels the project faster by providing money that can be immediately injected into the project. Just yesterday I talk about the pollinator grant, which totals about $1,000.  Now it is up to that agency to decide if our project is worth the grant.  Like other things, even if we are not awarded the grant, the honeybee highway and pollinator gardens will still be built.  Albeit much slower.  What would take less than a year to build could take 5 times as long.  The honeybee project is going at a much slower pace due...

View the company website here. Be sure to check out the company website and like them on Facebook . Go Gonave!

One major issue on La Gonave is water run-off.  When there is a hard rain, many areas are flooded.  Water borne illness can spread as polluted water mixes with drinking water.  Most of this is due to the lack of trees, plants and grasses to hold back the water.  These vital elements hold the soil in place and allow for the water to soak into the soil and fill under ground aquifers.  This then will be water that the population can drink. Due to erosion and deforestation, any new development that disturbs the land, will only make the situation of water run-off and erosion worse.  One plan is to build a series of pipes or small canals that will allow water to run off the roofs and walking paths.  This water will then flow to dry creeks that we will build.  These creeks will be designed to slow the force of water down, and even have different paths for water to go.  To save on costs, local stone and rock will be used to line the path of the cr...

We have ordered a special variety of blackberry that could survive Haiti's relenting heat.  While the island has favorable conditions, heat could prevent the plant from surviving or produce fruit. Blackberries are a fruit that is not only known for pies and jams, but also known for it's high vitamin properties.  In places like Seattle, wild blackberries are everywhere and as a result millions of blackberry flowers produce several tons of fruit that is rarely harvested by the general public.  In fact all of the states in the lower 48 can grow blackberries. Given that there are many different types of blackberries, many will not survive in Haiti.  We are hoping to create the correct soil chemistry, as well as reducing heat to grow blackberries.  If correctly modified we could possibly make a variety that has no problem surviving in Haiti.  While this plant will produce a tremendous amount of fruit for locals it also is a wonderful addition for honeybee...

So what does a Memorandum of Understanding mean for La Gonave and how does it impact the community? Well a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU is an agreement of two or more groups, entities, people, etc where they make serious requests and propositions with each other.  It isn't a legally binding contract, but an agreement. So this means that La Gonave and Hurko, would enter into an agreement where land on La Gonave would either be purchased, loaned, or leased, in exchange for improvements and/or development.  The agreement wouldn't cost Anse-a-Galets money, nor would taxpayers be involved.  It would use land that could be for profit making by Hurko.  The agreement wouldn't allow Hurko to sell the property to another party, but it would allow another party to own any property that Hurko has on the land, and to take over any lease. If the land is leased to Hurko, it would probably be at no expense to the company, in exchange for investment into the community....

The city of Anse-a-Galets, Let's Build Gonave, Haiti, and Hurko will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU.  I will be working with/for Hurko to make the honeybee project a reality. The purpose of the MOU is to develop a viable honeybee operation on the island of La Gonave.  Given that city land will be needed for some parts of the project, a MOU is needed to show that all parties are serious about moving forward. I had mentioned in a few earlier posts about the city park/plaza revitalization and how it would require the city's approval.  While this is still the case, a MOU will be sent to the city in the middle of February with work on the plaza to be done later. The plaza will form part of the proposed honeybee highway which will serve as the spine of the honeybee operation.  This highway is needed since the lack of fodder for the honeybees are somewhat limited on the island. This MOU paints a clearer picture for the future of La Gonave and it's...

Early on when I started this blog I had talked about Focus City sites on La Gonave.  Hurko Co was leading the charge of doing this and many different places on La Gonave were considered ideas.  These would be places where there was a small to no human population, mostly flat terrain, high potential to tourism, etc.  Hurko Co had been very quiet for many months, and had not mentioned much about what they planned on doing in the future. Hurko mentioned building hand carts, and honeybee hives that would employ locals, but other than that, very little has been mentioned.  The original plan of building housing on the island from the company seemed to have vanished.  There was not actual timeline for when housing would start.  Now it seems that the Focus City could get some steam.  The most I have been told is that individual houses and farms would be the initial focus.  Still basic infrastructure would be built though no detail if building heavy rai...

One plan that I recently was discussing with a while back is how the island of La Gonave needs a business mentor and a system in place to help start up businesses.  One of the things that Hurko mentioned they are working with is to create such a business incubator. The plan is mainly around food eateries, but also include service industries as well.  This is big because it helps start small businesses and also will help with eventual tourism to the island.  Part of the plan is to have a period where there are no rental fees for space for a period of time.  Also it would be a small pilot program to see how well it does.  From there if it does really well, then it would be expanded. I like the idea and think that it is a way of fulfilling many things that are going on with La Gonave.  For one it provides services that currently do not exist.  It allows for more money to stay on the island vs going off the island.  It also provides jobs. We wi...

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!

Yes I talk a lot about shipping containers being used on Gonave.  Well the fact is, these containers are cheap to buy, Goave is surrounded by water, so these containers can be shipped in, they are durable against earthquakes and strong wind, they are fast to build, and the list goes on. With that said, I will post and re-post some pictures on the internet of shipping container apartment buildings that would make sense for Gonave.  ****I do not own these pictures and if rightful owners want them removed, please let me know.**** All of the above are made from shipping containers.  While some are obvious, others like the third picture may not be.  These containers make perfect sense and can help increase population density on a island of small size.  Now looking at these buildings you may think that they don't provide enough options, but you are wrong.   I will show you how the inside of these apartments can look.  Now again a spec...

I was recently approached by a family friend who said that creating a pod district, similar to what Portland has, can be a tourist draw, but also serve the needs of local Gonavians. So I am putting together a plan to build a small pod district that could serve food and beverages.  I have written before that beer stalls would be important as they can serve beer that is brewed from Gonave.  I envision burger, beer, tea, coffee, sandwich, asian food, etc as stalls that could be developed in this pod district.  I will be looking at a few ways that this could be implemented along with plans that Hurko has announced.  This could be achieved by using 20 ft long shipping containers, which would be rented out to locals who have a sound business plan and financing.  I will speak more about this later as I gather more input and concrete plans. Go Gonave!