Originally posted on Facebook - Crop Options for the short Term for Haiti

Am thinking of Haiti and short term prospects to help some of the farmers who have lost most of their trees, crops, animals according to an article I read from Associated Press ( cannot find the article online btw)

Yes, I know that trees such as breadfruit, bananas, cocoa, coffee can take 8-10 years to bear and that Haiti may experience many hurricanes, storms and ITCZs in that time.

Those factors influenced my thinking about short term crops and my practical experience... Pumpkin grows on the ground, however that may not be seen as a staple for the Haitians, cannot imagine them eating fried pumpkin, the way we do... After all, there are many persons in the Hindu community, who take as little as possible of that item when there are prayers. Tomatoes can stretch so far, melongene can go so far also.. Beans which grow on vines, need wire fencing to be placed on to spread and provide a yield....

Regardless of our choices or opinions as to what can be done to regenerate their food supply, here are some practical suggestions:
1) Take some of those $1.00 plants which are available in seedling form, transplant them to a brown paper bag filled with potting mix or pro mix which is a growth medium. This will speed up the growth of the plant and provide that much nutrients into a fragile soil.
2) Label the plant, with the date of receiving the plant, possible age, instructions on the care of the plant, the name of the plant and if possible a drawing of the fruit ( no colors nor inks pls).
3) Water the plants gently so as to leave the brown paper bag intact for as long as it is in your possession (be mindful of the type of water which you are using as you do not want to make the persons ill on eating their crops....
4) Find out about the regulations as to the import of plants into Haiti.
5) Obtain approval for our "fast grow plants" (no fertilisers nor artificial stuff pls, as this is food for persons with sensitive stomachs)...
6) On the day, prior to the plant leaving, place the skin of one banana peel chopped as small as possible so as to provide extra nutrients
7) Donate some younger plants of a similar type so that a person may have some fast growing and some slower growing plants to provide for them for a little longer....
8)Alternatively you can grow some vegetables and send some across for a period of time.....
9) Pray and let go....

copyright Jennifer N Bailey email: jennifernbailey24d@gmail.com