Our Work

Tree Nursery

Planting trees is the foundation of our work. Our primary tree nursery supplies seedlings to the surrounding community, including schools, farms, churches, and private homes. We sell edible and ornamental plants to those who can afford it, and we donate plants to those who cannot. Our primary focus is on fruit trees, which provide a healthy source of food to nearby residents while offering all of the other benefits of trees—from erosion control to shade to healthier air. We dream of planting one million trees in Haiti. And then one million more!

Irrigation

In 2017, we dug a 200-foot-deep well, which provides our nursery with a reliable, year-round source of water. In 2024, we installed a solar pump, which significantly reduced the labor required to transport the water. Previously, buckets of water were drawn by hand and transported by wheelbarrow to the nursery. Now, solar energy powers an electric pump that transfers the water into a large cistern. From there, it is distributed via pipes to the seedlings. Extra water is also available to the community for drinking, washing, and other domestic uses.

Seed Harvesting

We harvest seeds by hand from the fruit of our trees, supplying our nursery and local farmers with an economical source of seeds. Our seed bank also contributes to regional food security, helping ensure a future of greater sustainability and self-sufficiency for Haiti. We hope to expand our seed bank in the coming years, diversifying the variety of seeds and developing better methods for long-term preservation. As a bonus, the harvesting process provides our workers with plenty of fresh lemonade!

Education and Outreach

Education is at the heart of everything we do. Only by educating and empowering young people can we change the future. We provide free seedlings to local students and instruct them on how to care for their trees. We also offer workshops and apprenticeships to those interested in learning more about forestry and environmental conservation. Our outreach extends to farmers and others in the community who maintain their own gardens and orchards. Anyone who receives one of our seedlings can consult us for advice on tree health and maintenance.

Future Projects

Nursery Improvements
Our highest priority right now is to build a sturdy fence around our entire tree nursery. Currently, we have only a partial fence that is inadequate to the task of keeping goats and other foragers from nibbling on our fragile seedlings.

Renewable Energy
Following on the success of our solar pump, we would like to invest in additional sources of clean, renewable energy. This could include wind turbines for powering a larger irrigation network and biodiesel for fueling our delivery vehicles. We have even experimented with growing jatropha, castor, and other oil-producing trees to provide the raw materials for making biodiesel.

Secondary Products
We hope that one day we will sell not only our trees but also the fruits, quite literally, of our trees. This would require facilities for processing and packaging fruit juices, dried fruit, and other food products, as well as a reliable sales and distribution network. Ideally our organization would serve as an incubator for this type of entrepreneurial activity, helping to launch local businesses that are both economically and environmentally sustainable. We know this is an enormous undertaking, but we like to dream big!