A lot has changed, and a lot has remained the same. We continue our work in Boucantiste where the bulk of our workforce continues to maintain and grow our grass.
In Bernaco we have added more food crops, i.e.. sweet potatoes, peanuts, congo beans, tapioca, avocado, and pistachios.
Since Christmas we have been making plans to start a tree nursery to begin the process of reforestation in our community. Fifty percent of the 1,000 trees scheduled to be planted will be fruit trees and the other fifty percent will be forest trees.
We have also added sugar cane to our current crops.
Each of the food crops not only feed our families, but also offers the opportunity to take produce to the market and make a little extra income for our workers.
But all of this takes funding. BonZeb currently needs commitments for $2,000 per month for payroll. This is an ongoing need that is there every four weeks and will be growing as the nursery and sugar cane plantation(see picture) begin operating.
In order to move the sugar cane stalks up to our property we needed to hire a donkey train for transport, as the road that once went through the property has now been abandoned by the government and is impassable for motor vehicles. The cost of such a train, ten donkeys, is $2,000.
The water pump and plow that are currently in use by over four dozen local farmers in and around Bernaco have been very useful to planting and irrigation of crops. This has allowed for better crop yields and once again more food and nutrition for our families.
There is a need for these same implements further up the hillside in Boucantiste. The cost to bring a plow to our workers is $3,000 and the water pump and piping is $2,000.
The tree nursery also comes at an expense of approximately $3,000.
Our wish list is $10,000 and our ongoing need is $26,000. It seems like so little to help employ, feed, and improve the lives of 500 individuals.
I hope you can help us by being a recurring donor and wish to make just a one-time donation please do.
Thank you.
