Seeds of Self Reliance Projects and Partnership Activities
Seeds of Self Reliance started in 2008, although we had been doing this type of work
informally for many years. We received nonprofit status in 2009. The focus of our efforts in recent years has been working and partnering with Haitian communities and NGOs in Haiti and the Dominican Republic (DR). Our first project started in the Batey Libertad (see youTube video cut from Fleischer Films documentary film "Cane and Abel")with the purchase of land and establishing a community garden with the help of two volunteers, David and Forest. This is now in full production with around 40 family plots producing corn, beans, pigeon peas, banana and plaintain, cassava, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, gumbo and eggplant. Fruit trees bamboo, passion fruit vines, and shade trees have been planted and are growing strong is this form pasture/dump. Student groups and volunteers continue to visit and learn with this community.
When Peralta, a Saman community leader, saw the Batey Libertad project, he began gathering support for a similar project in his community. In 2009, a smaller parcel of land was purchased and they have divided it into family and a community plot. We have provided seeds, a treadle (human powered) pump, and a drip irrigation system. They are providing the labor and management of their plots. This is exactly how we hoped our model would spread.
Our main project in Haiti involves partnering with a grassroots organization called Initiative pour le Developpement Durable du Haiti (IDDH). This group was already established and organizing school and collective gardens. What they wanted from us was some appropriate technology (a push seeder and wheel hoe) that they could make there as well as some exchange of ideas. Two volunteers, Peter and Meredith (picture on right), are currently working there. Peter is connecting school kids from Haiti with school kids from Cambridge, VT. He's also helping to initiate some composting and rabbit projects. Meredith, a registered nurse, is working in the local clinic. We are exploring ideas to set up a system to sell Haitian Blue coffee, organic cacao, and dried mangoes in VT with the proceeds going back to farmers in Haiti. Here's a link to Peter and Meredith's Blog:
Other ongoing projects and partnerships include seed distribution with the help of High Mowing Seeds, a student run garden at Cambridge Elementary School (in our home town), Development in Gardening, Inc. (DIG) project support, and a community farm for the Association of Africans Living in Vermont in partnership with the Intervale Foundation.
In the past, we have been involved in 'Farmer to Farmer' exchanges to India, Jamaica, and Guinea where we worked with local farmers and extension agents on sustainable agriculture techniques, including biological control of maize pests, cultural management of citrus diseases, and organic vegetable production. We have supported ongoing projects in Haiti, Senegal and Mali with visits, seed donations and technical advice. We have hosted and exchanged ideas with farmers and agricultural experts from Haiti, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, Columbia and Kazahkstan at The Farm Between. We have hosted University of Vermont classes and NOFA workshops on our farm, also.