Let's Build Gonave, Haiti!

We have finished the design of the first phase of the pollinator garden.  This is a very rough draft of the plan, but gives an idea of the flow of the park.  The number of plants listed is incorrect but were placed on the page to identify where exactly they will go. See the plans here: http://gardenplanner.almanac.com/garden-plan.aspx?p=694060 If we are able to get approval of the grant we applied for, this would be the first phase of the project.  As you can see, most of the infrastructure such as compost bin, greenhouse, storage shed, and water features are built in this phase.  This is due to the chance that we wouldn't get approved for additional phases.  Also if we had to build the next phases over a longer term due to financing, we would have all of the required facilities to move forward. Let's hope we get the grant!  Go Gonave!

Norway made news about their goal of creating a bee highway.  Their plan is that all types of bees and butterflies would benefit from this, and many of the bees are considered endangered.  So along the "bee highway", one will find pollen plants, nectar plants, some plants that do both, shelter for bees looking for a new home, etc.  It is looked at as a radical concept that is modeled after the US Butterfly Program .  This is designed to help protect and multiply the Monarch Butterfly as it makes the yearly journey to Mexico from the US. La Gonave is secretly doing a similar project, yet on a much smaller scale.  Our highway would first go from the oceanfront through the city of Anse-a-Galets, and then out to the hillside.  Along the way, would be pollen plants, high nectar producing plants, water, and shelter.  Our goal is to make the life of the honeybee less stressful.  By creating our own version of a highway, we can ensure that beekeepers c...

Today marks almost a month since the Bidens Pilosa have germinated.  The plants are not flowering, but the leaves are starting to change.  Not long ago the plants created additional stems with leaves.  Now it appears that the leaves are starting to change their design. As the plants start to grow, you will see that the next stage will be flowering.  I really am excited about how these plants transform and change.  In the wild, these plants would grow much faster in more ideal conditions. Go Gonave!

I could be sealing the deal with yet another not-for-profit group there on La Gonave.  This group is much larger than the La Gonave Haiti Partnership.  Both groups are doing amazing jobs, and the honey bee program at Let's Build Gonave, Haiti could be making a major impact early to mid-next year. I will keep the name of the second NGO a secret for now as we are working out major details, but this seems like a go.  Also I am working on a different program that will help with the deforestation issue.  The honey bees and the deforestation issue go hand in hand.  The bees pollinate flowers which allows them to grow and create new varieties.  This also helps with fruit bearing trees, as the bees will help to pollinate them as well.  Bees are key to these plants and trees survival.  The plants and trees are also very much important to have inorder to keep the bees alive.  This symbiotic relationship is key to life on the island. With plants ...

Recently a division of Let's Build Gonave, Haiti has been doing research on native plants and trees that either once existed on Gonvae, or still exists.  The idea is to not only reintroduce species of plants and trees that are in limited supply, but to also bring up the natural level.  Some of the trees and flowering plants will help with soil erosion, ground cover, build tidal flats, etc.  Many of the plants will serve many different purposes.  A key to building the honey industry are trees and plants that offer flowers that attract bees.  In addition a few are known to attract butterflies.  Adding back the vegetation life on Gonave will help with farming and crop raising. Stay tuned as we develop a plan to help build up the vegetation life on Gonave.  Go Gonave!