Latest News from Our Agronomists and Farmers!

May 1 is National Agriculture & Labor Day in Haiti! We’re excited to share some staffing updates about our agronomists and farmers, along with developments in our agricultural programs.

At St. Paul’s School:

Agronomist Schneider Chancy leads programs, supported by fellow Agronomist Yves Michel Laurent and farmer Jean Yvener. Yves also teaches agriculture in the classroom and leads the weekend garden club.

This week, all 250 of our kindergarten students received a moringa tree seedling and learned about the benefits of healthy, local food!
Simon and team are preparing to plant 500 plantain trees and 3,000 pepper plants—middle school students will take part in the planting.
The demonstration garden—where students learn about a variety of crops and study their economic and nutritional value—is being relocated to a newly fenced in area on the campus.

At Petit Trou Hospital:

Agronomist Simon Bertrand (pictured left) leads the landscaping and farming programs, with support from Juto Mactine and Donaldson Bonjean (pictured together).

Most of the recent work—leading up to and following the inauguration—has focused on landscaping with flowers, trees and shrubs in collaboration with our friends at the Botanic Garden in Les Cayes.
In the coming weeks, Simon and the team will begin developing the land next to the hospital—planting plantain and lime trees, creating vegetable gardens, and creating a dedicated space for training community health workers and smallholder farmers. Lots of gratitude to our friends at Boulder Rotary for supporting this initiative!

News from the Bees!

Jean Elie Laconte, Professional Beekeeper & Educator, continues to manage 34 hives, including two at St. Paul’s School.
15 gallons of honey have been harvested in the last three weeks and education continues with local beekeepers!