Singing Rooster Fundraiser Supports Haitian Gardeners and Farmers

March 1, 2010 - PRLog -- In the aftermath of Haiti's January earthquake, Singing Rooster organized a fundraiser in support of spring vegetable gardens and farmers in Haiti:  www.SingingRooster.org

Haiti's recent earthquake shattered the already dismal life, with challenges now greater than ever.  Thousands from Port au Prince are moving back to the countryside. These small and rural communities face great difficulty absorbing the influx and need help feeding new people – many of whom were supporting their families by working in the city.

Two ways to alleviate hunger and eventual starvation is to help Haitians with spring gardens [this year & beyond] and to support LONG-term economic solutions through farming [like coffee].

In that vein, Molly Nicaise of Singing Rooster put out the call: “We're asking garden enthusiasts to contribute materials, tools, or/and donations to promote sustainable living through vegetable gardening and coffee farming.”

Her short-term goal is to collect materials to ship to Haiti in time for spring gardens. Nicaise said, “The outpouring of help is fantastic.  We have gardeners from all over who want to help spread their love of the soil.”  

Her successes thus far include: Old’s Seed Company in Madison donated several thousand vegetable seed packets, Noel Valdes of CobraHead.com donated over 100 garden tools, and many individuals combed garages and sheds for an extra shovel or hoe.

Eighty percent of Haiti’s population lives below the poverty line, and most Haitians live in rural communities comprised of small-scale subsistence farming.  In spite of an overwhelming majority living and working in farming, most Haitian food is imported and therefore expensive.  

Singing Rooster sees a resurgence in vegetable gardening as offering a way out for hungry Haitians:  “It’s not a matter of dropping off seed packets and tools – our work goes much deeper than that.  We see a need for a full scale and comprehensive program that involves knowledge and instruction on garden planning, soil amending and tool lending sheds.”

Nicaise’s work also includes longer-term goals of assisting coffee farming communities:  “Our reason for supporting coffee agriculture is simple: Haiti already has a fledgling coffee infrastructure that won't require years of development; grants providing minimal structure and support have quick impact to an economy that needs fast but lasting solutions.”

Additionally, incomes based on coffee farming puts an undue burden on families because farmers receive few payments [mostly at harvest time] that are to stretch and support families until the following year’s harvest. Vegetable gardens are a simple and elegant way of helping coffee farming communities stretch through the year.

The Rooster said it is an open-ended fundraiser; what they need most now is money to help pay for shipping materials via cargo container to Haiti and donations can be made on their website:

www.singingrooster.org

info@singingrooster.org

# # #

Our Haitian Mountain Bleu coffee beans comesfrom the same type of coffee plant & is grown in a similar region as the wildly successful Jamaican Blue bean - but at a fraction of the price.

100% of Singing Rooster's proceeds go BACK to Haiti.