NEWS FROM STARFYSH.ORG – SUMMER 2022
STARFYSH IS WORKING TO BRING HOLISTIC, SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION TO THE ISLAND OF LA GONAVE, HAITI
Supply Chain
Much is heard about supply chain issues in the States. We’re currently struggling ourselves in getting supplies to Haiti. What we have been doing, and what has worked in the past, is to purchase a used 26 ft box truck, fill it with the supplies we need, ship the filled truck to Haiti where, after it clears customs, it is driven straight to the wharf where we transfer the supplies to a boat for the journey out to the island. We then sell off the truck in Haiti for close to what we paid for it in the States. An economic and efficient system that has really worked well for us. Unfortunately, the Haitian government is no longer allowing filled trucks to be shipped in (i.e., they have to be empty). We learned this just as our most recent supply truck left Grand Rapids for the shipping port in Florida. Now, while we explore new shipping options, our current (filled) truck waits in the States.
Life Garden Coffee
Supply chain issues also delayed the import of our most recent batch of coffee from Haiti. In addition to delays in the coffee bag printing and delivery, instability and unrest in Haiti prevented co-op farmers in the mountains from transporting the coffee beans down to our roaster in Port-au-Prince. Today we are happy to announce, however, that the wait is over! We have finally received our shipment in Michigan and we are ready to fill orders once again: online (starfysh.org and lifegardencoffee.com), Bridge Street Market (downtown Grand Rapids), as well as a few coffee shops around town. We’ve even had a few groups (4H, churches) approach us about selling our coffee as a fundraiser for their own group.
Fundraising with a purpose. Wins everywhere. Proceeds are channeled right back into planting more and more trees on the island. To learn more, visit LifeGardenCoffee.com/fundraising.
Donated Truck
In our work across the island of La Gonave, the singular issue we battle most with is transportation. Much of our work is done “by extension.” Villages cannot come to us; we must go to them. If you have visited our work here, you will agree that moving from point A to point B is extremely challenging and even dangerous. Washed out mountain roads, oppressive heat, salty air—stress out vehicles in ways not seen in the States. It seems that one or more of our vehicles are down at any given time. We’re always trying to stay ahead with replacement filters and parts. Our current “fleet” consists of several ATVs, 2 side-by-side UTVs, and a large canter for delivering heavy loads to work-sites. What we have needed for some time is a rugged 4-wheel drive pick-up truck.
We are happy to announce that this need has been met with the recent donation of a 2016 GMC 4×4 with high ground clearance. Perfect! Thanks, Steve and Renee B, for your generous gift! It will help us to keep delivering hope to some of the “uttermost parts” of La Gonave.
Dear Friends,
In these troubled times, it is important that I reach out to update all of you who follow and support the work of Starfysh on the island of La Gonave.
Current Challenges
As I’m sure you know, the current situation in Haiti is very unstable. At baseline, the vast majority of Haiti’s 11 million people live in desperate poverty, with food insecurity and poor health as a way of life. Government corruption and instability remain roadblocks to improvement. Rising levels of gang violence on the mainland make it difficult, even dangerous, to move about. Desperation and hopelessness lead to violence and, for many, to risk their lives by fleeing Haiti in overcrowded boats.
Starfysh’s work focuses exclusively on the island of La Gonave and the 100,000 people who live there. We are thankful that the violence and unrest have not reached the island. But the instability of the mainland significantly impacts life on the island. The cost of food has gone up over 25% in the past year. Rice, their primary food staple, is simply unaffordable. Today, to buy a small 2-pound coffee can amount of rice at the village market in Anse-a-Galets would cost the equivalent of $8 US, which is obviously too expensive for nearly everyone here. The price of cooking oil has nearly doubled in the past year. Signs of hunger and malnutrition are more apparent than ever. Families are, more than ever, dependent on what they can grow in their own gardens.
Many outside mission organizations have brought their missionary staff home until things settle down. Visitor mission teams have all but ceased. I personally have managed to continue my own travel schedule, (quietly) traveling down every two months but with great care and under the radar.
Haiti’s shipping ports have also put new roadblocks in our way in getting needed supplies to the island. We currently have a fully loaded 26 ft box truck and a recently-donated pick-up truck sitting here in the States, waiting for things to open up at the ports. Gangs control the roads from the mountains down to the city, which caused us significant trouble in moving coffee beans from the coffee farms down to our roaster in Port-au-Prince.
The Good News
With all we are up against, one might expect nothing but tough news coming out of the island. Fact is, it is the very trouble we’re up against that has allowed our model of indigenous-led work to prove itself! Seventy (yes, 70) La Gonavians have meaningful employment because of our presence on the island. Farmers continue to show up at Life Garden to get seedlings and fruit trees for their gardens and farms. Expansion of Life Garden’s shade gardens has begun, which, when completed, will more than double our current tree seedling capacity. Five elementary schools, with dozens of teachers and hundreds of students, continue to meet. Our ESL (English as a Second Language) school is growing. Construction of a brand-new school will be completed by this Fall. And Life Garden Coffee is back in our US warehouse. We have plenty of coffee to fulfill your orders and pump profits back into planting trees on La Gonave.
Leaning In
When surrounding indicators suggest we go into a holding pattern until things calm down, we choose to lean into our vision to see La Gonave thrive. Our shared vision for La Gonave is too big to be reasonable, which is why, I believe, our project successes are head-scratchers to those who don’t know the God we know. Defying logic, God is blessing our work in the face of what we’re up against, and it is getting people’s attention. In a country where hope seems to be giving way to despair, the island of La Gonave, “the forgotten Haiti,” is being noticed. Light, it seems, shines brightest when the background is dark.
Today, more than ever, I’m asking you to lean in with me and support Starfysh with a generous gift during this season. If we weren’t making a difference, I wouldn’t be as bold in my ask. But we are making a difference, and we are making progress! Join me in helping La Gonave be a beacon of light in the surrounding darkness that is Haiti.
Blessings to you all,
Steve Edmondson, President, Starfysh
A School for Pikamebe
GPS COORDINATES: 18.91192°N | 73.21795°W
We are in the middle of a school construction project in Pikamebe, a remote village in the mountains on the west side of the island. Though only twenty miles away, as the crow flies, from our base of operations in Anse-a-Galets, the journey to Pikamebe takes over 5 hours. The roads are rocky, winding, and treacherous, and they take a toll on our vehicles.
The decision to build the village of Pikamebe a school was easy. Their existing school building is one storm away from collapsing, with its leaky tin roof balancing precariously on already-leaning cinderblock walls. Dirt floors. You get the idea.
But it was also hard, because we knew going in that Pikamebe’s distant location would add complexity and cost. Transporting building materials and workers to the remote worksite would take more time and add cost. Pikamebe has no water source (perhaps to come?), so we have had to bring in water just to make the concrete for footers and foundation. We are employing local Haitians to do all the construction. Every cinder block is made one at a time. The school is on schedule to be under roof in time for school in the Fall. Large cisterns will store rainwater from the school roof.
Moringa
Moringa grows fast and well in Haiti, and its leaves are one of the most nutritious plant sources in the world. Fresh moringa leaves are great as a garnish added to any meal, but they wilt quickly within hours of harvesting. We have worked to process the leaves into dry powder form for long-term storage. However, we found that simplified methods (open-air drying, mortar-and-pestle pulverizing) cannot produce the quality and safety needed. We must bring the process indoors to a controlled, sterile environment. We hope to build a production facility in 2022-23 to widely integrate moringa into the diets of those suffering from malnutrition.
Schools
After just twelve years, Starfysh supports five schools on the island of La Gonave, providing education for children who would otherwise not have the opportunity to go to school. These schools are in Makochon, Nan Mango, Anse-a-Galets, Troulligene, and Sous Saline. We are also building a new school for Pikamebe.
Compassion & Relief
Not all of Starfysh’s efforts fall into the category of development. From time to time, we are made aware of an urgent and extraordinary need to which we are compelled to respond. Such was the case last Summer when the island was near-famine conditions and we provided food to several hundred who were facing starvation conditions. More recently, in early 2022, we provided funds for the construction of a small apartment facility (near the salt flats) where, to-date, seven homeless people have since moved in and are being cared for. Again this year, we are keeping our eye on the hunger situation on La Gonave. And, as in every year, we hold our collective breath until we get through the Summer/Fall hurricane season.
Agriculture Curriculum Completed
After over a year of work and preparation we are excited to announce that our new school curriculum for agriculture education is complete and has now entered the editorial process. The curriculum, written by Starfysh agronomists, Natalie Matthieu and Paul Donn Jean, will fill a recognized educational void in a country once known for her agricultural abundance and where, all agree, agriculture will play an important part in Haiti’s eventual healing and recovery.
Partnership
Starfysh is partnering with Trees that Feed Foundation in establishing a significant breadfruit tree forestry on the island of La Gonave. Breadfruit seedlings interspersed in among recently-planted banana plants. The bananas will live and produce for years. The breadfruit trees, however, will live and produce for many decades. Over 400 breadfruit seedlings have been planted this Spring alone.
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To learn more about our work or support our projects, visit starfysh.org.
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