Life Garden: Agricultural Research and Teaching Farm

Vision: a multi-site research and teaching garden where…

  • Farming methods and solutions specific to the situations and needs of La Gonave are researched and developed.
  • Farmers from all over the island will come to learn about appropriate growing methods and technologies that will work in their unique situations.
  • Seedlings will be mass-propagated for distribution and reforestation.

Life Garden: Progress Report

  • We were excited to add Paul Donn Jean to our staff as Director of Agriculture. Paul Donn brings much to the table, with many degrees: BS in Agriculture and MS in Project Design and Development. Most significantly, he was born and raised on La Gonave and his life passion is to see agriculture flourish in his homeland.
  • Paul Donn currently oversees a staff of five Life Garden employees.
  • We have established a grove of approximately 1,200 moringa trees. These trees are being used for a) source of seeds, b) transplanting, c) leaf harvesting, processing, and packaging. Moringa, ounce-for-ounce, one ot the most nutritious food sources in the world, grows well even in the most troubled soils and has great potential here as source of nutrition where diseases stemming from malnutrition are so prevalent.
  • Thousands of tree seedlings are being propagated in our new shade nursery.
  • An on-site office space for our agriculture operations is near completion.
  • Eight 1,000-gallon rainwater cisterns are storing water so that we do not need to draw from the town’s water source.
  • A 40’x40′ outdoor teaching pavilion/classroom has been completed.
  • MOUNTAIN Campus – Starfysh has recently signed a long-term lease for another 4-acre site in the mountains. This particular site is obviously far different from our sea-level campus, its soil black, fertile, and rock-free. Here we will be able to propagate trees to greater maturity before re-planting, enhancing their probabilities for survival. This campus will lend itself well to propagating species that thrive at elevation (e.g., coffee, cacao, etc.).

Needs:

  •  Seeds, Tree Stock  $10,000
  • Tools and Supplies  $5,000
  • Well, Water-storage Cisterns for Life Garden – Mountain Campus  $14,000
  • Life Garden Office Furniture/Supplies  $1,200
  • Conference Supplies and Education Materials (chairs, tables, notebooks, etc.)  $5,000
  • Life Garden Staff/Employee Salaries  $42,000/year