Port au Prince: Life after the earthquake

Haitians are accustomed to tragedy, whether it is a flood resulting from hurricane-induced torrential rains, the collapse of yet another Haitian government, the loss of a loved one due to preventable illness, or the earthquake of January 12. Despite repeated tragedy, the Haitians are resilient, patient, and hopeful—lessons from which the western world should take note.

Based on my observation of just one week ago, Port au Prince is no better off today than it was six months ago when the earthquake devastated this city of 8+ million. No reconstruction is evident. People still line up for drinking water and food. The majority of foreign relief workers have returned home. All the rubble from the collapsed buildings remains. Garbage is piling up everywhere. Sanitation consists of a few makeshift portable tent toilets. Based on my taxi tour of the city, I would estimate that 1/3 of the buildings are a total loss, and another 1/3 remains in need of major repair.

While driving around Port au Prince, my friend and taxi driver, Sené Benjamin, remarked that he believes the death toll to be more like 500,000, not 220,000 as reported. Further, over 1.5 million Haitians have been displaced, many living in makeshift tents wherever a vacant piece of real estate exists. Sené lost his mother in the earthquake, and I sensed the depth of his sadness. Fortunately, he, his wife and children were spared from injury or death. Your support and prayers for Sené and his family are appreciated.

Despite this scene, the Haitians dream of a rebuilt Port au Prince or, better yet, another new city not too far from the remains of Port au Prince. They dream of employment, enough food, water and medicine to take care of their basic needs, and an education that presumably will lift them out of their impoverished condition.

Ranquitte: Life after the earthquake

Unlike Port au Prince, Ranquitte was spared from the earthquake. Yet, despite being far away from the epicenter, many former Ranquitte residents returned to Ranquitte as a place of refuge. An estimated 1,000 Haitians came to Ranquitte soon after the quake—another 1,000 mouths to feed.

In response, EcoCafé Haiti donated $1,600 for corn/bean seeds and the labor of our entire workforce to help the less-fortunate farmers plant the much-needed food crops. Additionally, we planted the food crops on the Christian Flights’ campus so that the school children will have a meal each day during the forthcoming school year.

Mdme. Edgar, one of our farmers

Many of the Ranquitte citizens lost loved ones in Port au Prince. One gentleman, Jerome, remarked that his “heart aches” for the loss of his son. As he put it, “my entire investment is gone. Now, my wife and I have no future.” Those words sound strange to those of us who dwell in a more developed part of this world; however, it is important to note that one’s social security and life expectancy are closely tied to one’s offspring in undeveloped agrarian countries. Without anyone else to care for you in old age, and living in an environment where each season’s food crop and the labor to support it determine whether you will survive the coming year, it is easier to understand the term “investment” as a descriptor for one’s child. Our prayers go out to Jerome and his entire family.

Employment awards, coffee accolades, coffee for sale

July 1, 2010 marked four years of continuous employment for our twenty-five employees. In and of itself, this is cause for celebration. As important, when meeting with the team I meticulously detailed the consistently high scores and accolades received from various concerns for the EcoCafé Haiti coffee. As noted in my last update, we received between 88-90 points on a 100 point tasting (“cupping”) scale—awarding us the distinction of a “very good to excellent” coffee rating, doing so on each of several “cuppings” by independent coffee tasting laboratories.

The employees were jubilant over this news. When I further explained that we beat out 27 other coffees from the Caribbean and Hawaii in a blind cupping, including the Jamaican Mountain Blue and Kona coffees, the employees were raucous. If only we had some more Vuvuzelas, another major earthquake of a different type would have been witnessed—this time in Ranquitte, Haiti.

As a result of their hard work, quality effort, and employment longevity, each employee received a special one month wage bonus. Needless to say, when informed of their bonus, the roof almost collapsed.

By the way, a wee bit of coffee remains for sale by Clive Coffee, the Portland roasting company who has generously agreed to donate 100% of the proceeds (excepting out-of-pocket expenses) to EcoCafé Haiti. When you purchase the coffee remember that your purchase is for a good cause. As important, it is a great coffee. To purchase your coffee before it sells out, go to http://www.clivecoffee.com/category/ecocafe_haiti.html

Forthcoming coffee harvest

As with the States, the Haitian weather has been unpredictable. Over the last six months, normally considered the dry or “starvation” season, the northernmost parts of Haiti received unexpected and early rains in February. Although the rain prompted the coffee plants to bloom early and abundantly, a good portion of the crop was lost to flower drop (rainfall knocking the flowers off the plants). Although disheartening, the early rains provided and earlier than planned harvest. During my trip, we received the first batch of cherry coffee—6 weeks earlier than usual.

Conversely, just prior to my arrival a second and rare flowering occurred, flowering that will produce fruit in December. As a result of these two conflicting anomalies, it is difficult to say how bountiful this season’s coffee crop will be. I suspect that the yield will be low, but the season will elongate by as much as two months.

In December, Dan Kuhn, our Hawaiian agronomist, and I “stumped” some of the coffee plants to demonstrate to the Haitians the benefit of pruning, foregoing one year’s crop in return for a four or five fold increase the following year. Impressively, those plants doubled in size since December.  Now, if only our Haitian coffee farmers will take notice and follow suit—that is one of the keys to improving crop yield.

Lastly, we composted and fertilized some of the pruned

plants and left the others without any supplemental nutrition. The composted/fertilized plants were at least 50% larger than those that were left alone, thus showing us the need to find a way to get some organic fertilizer into Ranquitte over the next six months—perhaps as much as 10 tons.

Accomplishments: Incorporation and new website

Despite the loss of governmental offices, governmental employees, and the delay that could have resulted, we were able to receive official incorporation in Haiti two months ago. The company’s official name is EcoCafé Haiti, S.A. Although it takes less than 3 weeks to incorporate in the U.S.A., the Haitian incorporation process can take two or more years. We were able to accomplish this process in less than 14 months. Perhaps, the Haitians were sympathetic to our cause after the earthquake…

In anticipation of the need to market the forthcoming coffee crop, we have launched a new commercial website, www.ecocafehaiti.com. The website is intended for the benefit of roaster customers who will purchase our green coffee. Thanks to the generosity and volunteer support of Philis McLennan, the website has rich graphics and an organic appeal. Philis was able to put together the website on her weekends and after-work hours. When you have a moment, feel free to browse the site and its message.

Needs going forward  

There are two things that you can do to support our efforts, continue to provide donations to cover our operating expenses in Haiti for the remainder of the year, and purchase our roasted coffee from Clive Coffee in Portland (web address stated above). To provide a tax-deductible donation, send a check to:

Christian Flights, International
Attn: Susan Arnold, Treasurer
580 Roy Arnold Blvd.
Danville, Kentucky USA 40422

(Write “EcoCafé Haiti” in the memo section of your check to ensure that your donation goes to EcoCafé Haiti)

Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and blessings. Without you, this program would not have gotten off the ground, and certainly would not have achieved milestone after milestone—in this case the milestone of having survived for five years.

Blessings,

Tom Durant

541-683-1778

tldco3@msn.com

www.ecocafehaiti.com