Friday, July 15, 2016

Growing Onions in Haiti


Growing Onions in the Tropics
 
There are two main types of onions, based on the daylight hours required for bulbs to form. Short-day varieties start forming a bulb when days are about 13 hours of sunlight; long-day varieties don't form a bulb until days are 14-16 hours long. For both types, bulb growth is slowed or stopped during hot, freezing or dry weather. Near the equator, where days are 12-13 hours long throughout the year, long-day onions will never form a bulb; and in Canada, where days are 14-20 hours long during the growing season, short-day onions will not be successful.  The seeds you find in the southern United States will be short day varieties.  Seeds in Haiti are questionable since well-meaning missionaries carry in all sorts of seed, many which will not grow in the tropics.  Short day onions tend to be milder in taste but will not store as long as the long day variety.  The Vidalia onion is a short day variety.
 Short day onions almost always must be started from seed.  Seed should be started in December/January and then transplanted in February/ March to the garden. I have found that planting the seeds in trays or beds inside the shade house to be equally successful.  If you use a tray, don’t use an insert just fill with planting soil and sow the seeds in the tray.  Scatter the seed and cover them with about ¼ “of soil and water liberally.   After the plants reach 3 to 4 inches in height, they can be transplanted to beds either in the shade house or outside beds. Extreme hot temperatures and drought will prevent good heads forming.  The beds should be loose soil and the onions plants should be set about 4 inches apart, onions don’t like close company.  Don’t keep the beds damp but water a couple of times per week.  If for some reason the heads do not develop or are small, don’t worry, green onions also taste great. 
 If you can get onion sets, which are long day onions, into Haiti they make wonderful green onions in a very short period.   They will not make large heads but as green onions they are a wonderful addition to Haitian cooking. 
 Hours of day light for Port au Prince will reach 13 hours about May 15, reach a peak of 13 hours and 15 minutes June 20 and decline again to 13 hours at the end of July.
 







Monday, July 11, 2016

Good Shepherd Ministries Quatzeltenango, Guatemala

 
 
 
Ron Lusk and Ben Frey completed a second greenhouse for Grossman's Good Shepherd Ministries in March 2016.  The original greenhouse has been producing food for the past 4 years and the pictures below show that it is still in use.  The location is 8,000 feet up in the mountains so a greenhouse rather than a shade house is needed.  The conditions were chilly and windy with a little rain mixed in.  In addition the PVC is slightly smaller in diameter so the ends had to be constructed of wood rather than PVC.  
 
 
 
 
 













News from the Baker's in Atrel, Haiti

 
We are always excited and encouraged to hear from missions or individuals using one of our shade houses.  This note and picture are from the Baker family.
From Deborah Baker
Thought you might enjoy seeing how great the shade house is growing. We have had great success with the shade house. Beets, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, green peppers and zucchini have all done well. So, well that we have been able to share vegetables with others. Many people stop and look at the garden and are amazed that these vegetables are able to grow here.  We are excited to see how this interest in growing vegetables will develop. Thanks again for blessing us with this shade house.
 
 
 
 

Mission Statement

Mission Statement MISSION STATEMENT OF SFP As Christ’s ministers we dedicate ourselves to the Word of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. We further dedicate ourselves to set a Godly example to those we serve through a Christian lifestyle, bear witness of what Christ has done in our lives, and share the Gospel message with the lost. We pledge ourselves to respect the work of other ministries, to lift them up in prayer, and to work with them for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. We further pledge to be good stewards of the monies with which we are entrusted and to hold ourselves accountable to God and to those who contribute to this ministry. We seek no glory other than that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and God the Father. Sustainable Food Production, SFP, is a Christian based organization dedicated to helping people help themselves by growing better gardens and healthier livestock. We are a small group of believers representing several church denominations and operating as a part of Global Compassion Ministries. Our goal is to introduce improved gardening techniques, provide quality seed, and improve goat and chicken production in order to strengthen families and promote food production independence. Our work includes but is not be limited to: Soil and water conservation Soil improvement Building plant beds for intensive gardening Building both large and family size shade type green houses Experimenting with new crops and improved varieties of current crops Animal husbandryIsaiah 58:10If you extend you soul to the hungryAnd satisfy the afflicted soul.Then your light shall dawn in darkness,And your darkness shall be as the noonday.