Lake Worth High School and the HATT remembrance walk

Today, I set up a table with Dr Wallace Thomas for HATT and spent my lunch hour with the students of Lake Worth High School.  We experienced a very enthusiastic student body wanting to volunteer and participate in the walk.  We had a constant flow of young people who were registering for the community event on January 14, 2012 in downtown Lake Worth, Florida. 

In one lunch period we had almost 50 students sign registration forms and commit to the cause.  The vice principle was very kind in letting us set up in the back of the student cafeteria. I brought along my hand embroidered Haitin table cloth to cover a table, hand made baskets from Bomardopolis in NW Haiti to hold brocheures, and some branches of aMoringa Tree to educate the students about the importance and value of trees.

I had so much fun with Dr Thomas.  I can't wait to get back soon to encourage the students and faculty to participate.    We are going to have such a great time for such a good cause on Januarty 14, 2012 remembering  those who lost their lives and those affected by the earthquake.  We are also going to be working on projects to bring long term sustainable projects for .

HATT walk a thon

Januray 12th 2010.  The earthquake.  300,000 dead.  When I travelled to Haiti for the first time in 2005 I made some wonderful friends and was treated like family by so many.  I had seen some of them living in circumstances that most of us in the US had never seen first hand.  When the earthquake hit, nothing prepared me for a difficutle circumstance becoming even harder.

 Recently, I met Que Osterval with an organization that is focused with two of the passions that I have been striving for the last seven years.  Planting Fruit trees and water security.  HATT(Haitianamericantreetrust.org) has given me the opportunity to help my friends in Haiti by working on a remembrance walk and walk-a-thon to raise money for long term susitaniable projects in Haiti.  

January 14, 2012 will be a time to remember and raise awareness for the need for help to our neighbors in Haiti.  Visit the HATT website for more info.  I will be blogging about my participation in this event

fruit tree nursery project

I am working on a project to build a fruit tree nursery that should produce 100,000 fruit tress in one year in Haiti.  If anyone would like to help me with this project I would appreciate any help.  If you have any experience in a tree nursery or know someone interested please let me know.  My number is nine54-214-8397.  Thanks  Doug.

Importance of planting more trees in Haiti

One of Haiti's greatest problems is that majority of the island nation(10 million) cooks their meals with wood charcoal.  Haiti has less than one percent of its forest remaining.  This deforestion has caused serious ecological problem.   When tropical storm sytems hit the island during hurricane season the heavy rain produce soil erosion, crop destrution, reef degredation, and in some cases loss of human life.  Planting more trees can help in many ways to stabalize life on the island.   Fruit trees are a great idea because the Haitian people do not cut these for charcoal, and fruit trees provide food and economy to the people.