Growing Moringa trees in Bondeau

A friend gave me several packs of Moringa seeds to plant here in in Bondeau along with complete directions on planting and caring for the new plants..  The title page of the directions booklet, "Moringa Reader", asks the question, "Moringa-is it really capable of miracles?"  I was so thrilled to receive the seeds and carefully read the Moringa Reader so that I'd be sure and grow healthy trees.  At first, I planted only one packet, then the following week planted another, and then another.  I placed the containers in the garden in an area where the new plants would have both sun and shade.  The garden is fenced in with a "living" fence made of tree branches with bamboo woven throughout for crossbars.  Every day I admire the new plants, checking to see that the gardner had watered them.

The moringa tree is a wonderful gift to people in Bondeau.  The leaves are high in vitamins and can be cooked or eaten raw.  The trees can be kept small and bushy or they can be allowed to grow into tall trees, giving shade, as well as food and medicine.  With such vitamin definciancy in this poor country village, the Moringa surely is an answer to prayer.  I have visions of Moringa trees in every back yard.  I should say, " I HAD visions of Moringa trees in every back yard."  Today on my morning check I saw that a goat had eaten all the small plants in one container and many leaves of the tress in another container.  I am so discouraged! Goats wander into the garden and are quickly chased away by rock-bearing little boys.  I had not seen that the goats were interested in what was growing in the pots.  But now that they have gotten a taste, they are sure to return.  Tonight I will ask the gardener to move the pots up close to the house where I can keep a close watch.  I'll also ask gardener to dig a hole to prepare for planting.  I'll then cover the small trees with a woven "cage" until something more substantial can be made.

In this agricultural community the people are accustomed to having their crops eaten by goats and pigs.  And they just seem to accept it, as they accept so many losses.  It seems so unfair!  People struggle to plant a garden, only to have it destroyed by goats.  Goats and pigs are not restrained and wander freely.  Our area is mostly fenced in but access is gained at the main entrance, which is not gated.

I welcome advice, but please don't write unless you have goats wandering around your back yard!

The New Year in Bondeau, Haiti

Celebration for the New Year continues today.  The children have no school today.  The playground is deserted.  Families are together sharing in the tradition of the New Year.  Festivities began on New Year's Eve with Holy Eucharist service in the church beginning at 10:00PM.  Following the church service was a grand party with music, games, and dancing, which lasted until daybreak.  Many of the children stayed awake all night, as well as the adults.  Not me, I was tucked comfortably in my bed, ear plugs in place.  We at Kay Timoun began New Year's day with the tradional soup joumou.  It's base is pumpkin squash that makes a thick broth.  Add chicken, potatoes, and vegetables and bring in the New Year with a hearty meal, praying that each day in the coming year one will have the sustainence of this meal.  Kay Timoun kids spent the day with their parents, returning at 5:00PM to watch a movie: The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.  After chapel, where Christian shared a short history of January 1 in Haiti, Haiti's day of independence, the kids were quick to get in their beds for a good night's sleep.  Tradition continues today with a main meal of chicken and sauce with rice, and salad made with red beets, potatoes, and carrots garnished with watercress.  The adults will enjoy a drink of home made "Cremas", a sweet creamy liquor.  I'll pass on the Cremas. 
My hope for the New Year is that the people of Bondeau, in fact, all the people of Haiti, receive what they need to sustain life: medical care that they can afford, food to feed their families, and education for every child.  My resolution for the New Year is to do whatever I can so that my hope is realized.