Agriculture in Luly, Haiti consists mainly of plantains, breadfruit and watermelon. In order to produce sufficient food to support families higher yields and more diverse crops must be incorporated. Increased crop yields will enable families to have a more balanced diet as well as provide excess amounts to sell at local and regional markets, thereby augmenting family incomes.
A high percentage of families in Luly are single mothers with an average of four children (2001 report by UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division). A recent assessment by American medical professionals of primary school children in the area showed that 30% of all students are in the low percentiles of growth indicating widespread malnourishment.
The Luly Community Garden project enables the 26 selected co-op members and their families to enhance their diets for better health and to become more self-sufficient. Crops grown in the garden will be small and large varieties of tomatoes, peppers, millet, carrot, eggplant, cucumber, and peanuts.
Adjacent to the bio-digester, on the second parcel of land, stands over 150 Moringa trees planted. Moringa is often referred to as The Miracle tree throughout the tropics due to its exceptionally nutritious leaves and its seeds water purifying capabilities. Leaves contain seven times the Vitamin C of oranges, four times the Vitamin A of carrots, four times the Calcium of milk, three times the potassium of bananas, three times the iron of spinach, and two times the protein of yogurt.
A solar dehydrator and hand grinders will be used to assist in drying, processing, and packaging the Moringa leaves for sale or personal use.
The program focuses on sustainability through education, locally-sourced materials, idea sharing, community cooperation, and continued support. Our mission for training Haitian gardeners stems from 1 Timothy 6:18, “Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.” By empowering the local community with garden techniques, and encouraging them with scripture, we are prayerfully seeking a positive outcome of decreased malnutrition in Luly.
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