JAY: I am very excited to have the opportunity to go to Haiti and work on the Ag Project for Nehemiah Vision Ministries. The main goal for the Ag Project is to educate the Haitian people and to empower them to raise more of their own food. As most people are aware, poverty is very wide spread. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemishere. In 2007, Haiti, imported over 500,000 tons of rice and wheat. To give you a comparison, Haiti, a country of roughly 9 million people, imported as much rice and wheat as the United States, a country of 300 million. Keep in mind that rice is a mainstay of the Haitian diet.
NVM recently purchased an Oliver 1855 tractor built in 1975. With the help of Lamb Farms, we spent the summer completely restoring the tractor. We intentionally bought an older tractor. This tractor doesn’t have any modern electronics. This will make it much easier for the local mechanics to work on it and maintain it. The Oliver 1855 has a diesel engine and is rated at 100 horsepower. We are planning on using it to till the ground, maintain the road, and possibility run an irrigation pump.
We have done some experimenting with a garden in Chambrun. We successfully grew corn, tomatoes, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, lettuce, and some local vegetables. The soil is very fertile, but irrigation is a must. The old garden plot has been overrun by the expansion of the campus since the earthquake in January; there is another garden just outside the new cafeteria.
NVM has also purchased some additional land that will be used for the Ag Project. This ground, like most of the land around Chambrun, is covered with thorn trees. Some of the local men have begun to clear the trees. These men are happy to do the work because they make charcoal out of the trees. This charcoal can be sold in the markets for cooking. We will have to fence in the field. Goat herding is a popular livelihood in Chambrun. There are lots of “free range” goats that would love to dine on our field!
In addition, we are looking into economical development projects within the Ag Project. As these opportunities develop and bear fruit, (no pun intended) I will keep you up to date.
NVM recently purchased an Oliver 1855 tractor built in 1975. With the help of Lamb Farms, we spent the summer completely restoring the tractor. We intentionally bought an older tractor. This tractor doesn’t have any modern electronics. This will make it much easier for the local mechanics to work on it and maintain it. The Oliver 1855 has a diesel engine and is rated at 100 horsepower. We are planning on using it to till the ground, maintain the road, and possibility run an irrigation pump.
We have done some experimenting with a garden in Chambrun. We successfully grew corn, tomatoes, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, lettuce, and some local vegetables. The soil is very fertile, but irrigation is a must. The old garden plot has been overrun by the expansion of the campus since the earthquake in January; there is another garden just outside the new cafeteria.
NVM has also purchased some additional land that will be used for the Ag Project. This ground, like most of the land around Chambrun, is covered with thorn trees. Some of the local men have begun to clear the trees. These men are happy to do the work because they make charcoal out of the trees. This charcoal can be sold in the markets for cooking. We will have to fence in the field. Goat herding is a popular livelihood in Chambrun. There are lots of “free range” goats that would love to dine on our field!
In addition, we are looking into economical development projects within the Ag Project. As these opportunities develop and bear fruit, (no pun intended) I will keep you up to date.