Let's Build Gonave, Haiti!

The countdown to La Gonave is coming up.  During my trip there, I will be teaching 4 adult student apprentices about beekeeping.  The goal is to have them at the certified beekeeper level before I leave the island.  We also will be installing 2 or 3 hives. The observation hive may come in time for our partner to bring it with her to the island.  If that is the case, we will install the hive there at that time.  We do know that the $1,500 hive has been awarded to our partner not-for-profit.  This is the first observation hive to ever have existed on La Gonave, and possibly the entire country of Haiti! Since we lost the grant for the pollinator park, we will be teaming up with the same not-for-profit an reapplying for the grant.  This could allow us to continue down the path of having a pollinator park soon on the island soon!  We are extremely excited about this project and are already finding ways to do more with less funds.  We decided t...

While we are still just a few weeks away from knowing if we will get the grant for the pollinator garden, we are very excited to tell you about the progress we are making. The garden will be modeled off of the diagram that I am attaching below. We are ironing out details as it this will be a more oval, circle, or square shaped garden.  While it will not be exactly what you see above, it will have a very similar feel.  There will be a center path that will have vine type of plants such as the coral vine that will hang above.  The creates a natural shade canopy which is needed from the hot sun of Haiti.  Off from the center path will be smaller paths that allow visitors to see other areas and sections of plants that they would not be able to see otherwise. We are looking at creating bamboo arches that will help create the canopy.  Above you see swings and playground equipment.  Currently there is no budget for this portion, however we would later cons...

With the grant that we are hoping to secure we are going to improve the existing park (Public Plaza) with some landscaping as well as adding a few trees to the property.  While a small amount of the grant money will go towards the Public Plaza (some 10-15%), the vast majority of funds will go towards the new pollinator park. With that said, the parks have to be protected and cared for.  While the newly formed La Gonave Wildflower Association will plant and maintain many of the plants and trees, it leaves a very critical element.  That is having someone that will make sure that goats and other farm animals, as well as theft and vandalism doesn't occur.  Also emptying out trash bins and keeping the parks clean would be required.  Having a parks department would not only keep both parks clean and maintained, but any new parks that are added, will have the staff needed to properly take care of them. These parks are public assets and will help the local economy ...