Our Agricultural Training Center (ATC) is a place where we demonstrate and teach sustainable gardening methods for Haitian families to learn skills to keep their families fed with nutritious food from their own production.  The ATC was designed to focus on “demonstration” gardens so that even people who are traditionally resistant to change can see the benefits of our methods over time and will want to know how they can do that for themselves.

One of the things we demonstrate and teach is how to make something out of nothing.  For example, we demonstrate how to make “tire gardens” out of old discarded tires, and how to make fertile “soil” from composting organic waste.  With just these two methods, families can have a steady supply of fresh vegetables.  We teach sustainable methods for having successful gardens in the tough conditions in Haiti, starting with basic soil science and how to prepare good soil medium to grow optimum vegetables.

By using good soil made from composting, adding “fertilizer” from worm farming, and biochar (made from agricultural waste, rich in carbon, moisture, and beneficial microbes) in tire gardens, Haitian families can have reliable gardens where normally they could not exist. Our sustainability training changes lives for generations, giving “food for life.”  Thanks to all of you who help Haiti by supporting our development of sustainability programs.

Rad Hazelip, Assistant Executive Director