AGRICULTURE & FARMING
Promoting stronger economic growth in the St. Suzanne area through the creation of sustainable jobs has always been one of the most important goals of HBHH. Because farming is one of the pillars of that economy, HBHH has started an agriculture program to make this goal a reality.
This program has several elements:
Shade Nursery: In the summer of 2007, the teen and young adult mission teams started this program by building a shade nursery. This first step was taken after extensive research and discussions with local farmers identified shade nurseries as a key first step. Why? Because shade nurseries protect potted seedlings from direct sunlight and heavy rains until they are mature enough to be planted in fields by local farmers. This step was made possible by HBHH collecting donations to provide lumber and agricultural supplies, sponsoring engineering drawing, organizing a mission trip and land provided by the local Catholic Church.
Expertise: In February 2008 a team of four Haitian agriculture experts came to St. Suzanne to teach a seminar on "ti fore" (little forest). This program taught the farmers ways to create immediate income and a way to help stop the deforestation that is so rampant in Haiti. The result was thousands of trees were planted and distibuted. This created many "ti fore" pilots in the St. Suzanne area of Haiti. This project is being expanded so that thousands of trees will continue to be planted each year.
Pilot Programs: Property is being purchased to start a coffee co-op that will create jobs and income by providing local farmers access to coffee seedlings, fertilized land to raise coffee plants and transportation to markets in nearby villages to sell the harvested beans.
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A cabbage and yam pilot was started in the fall of 2007 to help feed the poorest of the poor. Due to the programs success, HBHH has been able to add new families each year in a 'pay-it-forward' program.
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Another 'pay-it-forward' program began in 2009. Thirty-two families received a pair of goats to raise, along with instructions on caring and breeding the goats. The first born of each pair was returned to the local committee, who then incorporated new families into the program. After the first-born, additional goats born to each pair are retained by the family, and thus they have on on-going source of meat and milk. This ongoing project is another example of providing a hand up to both individual families and their communities.
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In 2011, HBHH secured funds to begin work on a poultry farm to provide a stable source of protein for the community of St. Suzanne. The project will also allow for the sale of chickens, which will provide additional income to the community.
