International Clayballs for Peace Meeting in Haiti
“Seeds after the earthquake”
An international gathering event for solidarity and peace
From October 26th to November 5th 2010
Please circulate this information to anyone else you feel may be interested!!
After the earthquake that severely damaged Haiti in January 2010, we have the opportunity of acting in a concrete way to show solidarity with our Haitian sisters and brothers. We firmly believe that the real richness we can bring is in the improvement of the fertility of the soil, creating biodiversity and providing an ecosystem that will raise the amount of water in the environment as well as creating a food forest for the people to enjoy. Haiti suffers from extremely arid conditions. As a result, food production is low and the country is forced to import approximately 70% of its food. After the recent disaster Haitian people are even more dependent on foreign aid and imports.
From the 26thOctober to the 5th of November 2010 people from different parts of the world together with local people from Haiti will meet at the international ecovillage community of Sadhana Forest Haiti (www.sadhanaforesthaiti.org) in Anse a Pitre, Haiti to learn how to make different types of seed-clayballs and throw them together on the land. We will all contribute to the recreation of an indigenous forest that will bring life and fertility as well as human solidarity and we will live together as a big community.
The event including all activities, workshops, communal vegan meals and filtered water will be completely free.
Please bring your own tent!
“May there be many more forests to grow people”
Workshops and activities:
Reforestation:
We will learn how to recreate an indigenous forest that will give local people the opportunity to live in an harmonious and productive ecosystem that will improve their living conditions.
In our project in India we have planted more than 20,500 Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest plants of 150 different indigenous species, and we are constantly mulching and caring for them.
Survival rate on average is between 80% – 90%. Survival rate does not fall below 70% even on the most degraded soil.
Natural farming and seed clay-balls:
Masanobu Fukuoka, the philosopher-farmer that developed the method of natural farming and the seed clay balls, devoted his life to serve nature, creating a method of agriculture that proposes to work with nature rather than against it. He travelled the world with the mission of stopping the desertification process by throwing clay seed balls in deforested areas in order to bring them back to life. He is the author of “The One-Straw Revolution” amongst other titles. He passed away at the age of 95 on August 16, 2008. We feel lucky and honoured to continue his work in serving nature for the sake of the entire world.
Permaculture:
There will be a two day Permaculture Workshop in wich we will learn what Permaculture is about.
If you are working toward a sustainable future for yourself and the planet, and want practical tools and applicable methodologies, then this workshop is for you!
Permaculture is a framework for creating resilient communities that uses ecological principles to integrate food and energy production, structures, and people. Its aim is the creation of sustainable human settlements that are harmoniously woven into the environment and that have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems.
Day one:- Defining permaculture ethics and principles, and introducing the design process.
Day two: – will include additional design tools and hands on activity.
In addition we will be living and learning in and amongst Permaculture design.
Organic gardening:
Learn a variety of skills to create organic gardens integrated with water conservation techniques, which can be applied to large or small scale farming in a variety of environments.. We will also learn how to create a small highly productive urban balcony garden for city inhabitants.
Water conservation skills:
The conservation and the harvesting of water are fundamental for creating a healthy system for plants and animals and to prevent desertification and erosion. Without water there is no life. You will have the opportunity to learn valuable water conservation techniques.
If you are interested in participating in our clayball event, please read all the information below very carefully. Before arriving, please RSVP if possibe and print a copy of the information to take with you!!!
We are fully committed to accept everyone that wishes to volunteer here and warmly welcome all that wish to participate in the upcoming clayball event.
Sadhana Forest is a 100% vegan environment, so we ask volunteers not to bring or eat any non-vegan food in the forest. A vegan is a person who avoids the use of any animal products for nourishment or for any other purpose. Vegans do not eat meat, fish, eggs, dairy (milk) products, honey, or any other animal products. Our primary motivation to be vegans is to reduce animal suffering.
We expect volunteers not to use cigarettes, drugs and alcohol during their entire stay at Sadhana Forest Haiti, whether inside or outside of Sadhana Forest.
Sadhana forest Haiti is a non-smoking community.
The address of Sadhana Forest Haiti is:
Ecole Amsai
Kay Mer
Lasaline,
Anse-a-Pitre
Haiti
We feel safe in our area and medical facilities are available nearby.
The easiest way to reach Sadhana Forest Haiti is to fly to Santo Domingo (Capital of the Dominican Republic).
From Santo Domingo take a take a bus to Pedernales in the South West corner of the country and from there we will meet you to cross the border to Haiti together. We are located just 1 kilometer from the Dominican Republic border. Please call us from Pedernales, so that we can meet you. It would also help us if you ask the driver to tell you one hour before you arrive and try to call us then.
The buses should leave Santo Domingo at about these times 8am, 10:30am, 12pm, 3pm. The first bus will get you to Sadhana Forest Haiti on the same day. If you take the later ones you will have to sleep the night in Pedernales. Get to the station early (an hour or so) and expect a ride that may last up to 7 hours with one stop for food. If you get off for food make sure to be on the bus before the driver or he may leave without you. The bus costs 350 Pesos (equivalent to about 10 US Dollars) and they take only cash pesos and not any foreign currency. If you are coming from the airport do not forget to exchange money before the immigration.
To get to the bus station in Santo Domingo take a taxi from the airport to “Calle Duarte”. A taxi from the airport will cost $40. The bus station is a street which all the buses are parked on in a row. Ask taxi driver to drop you off at Pedernales bus. Pedernales is the last stop so you will not miss it.
These are the numbers to reach us:
001-809-787-2233
001-809-752-2233
If you don’t arrive to Pedernales before 16:00 please stay the night in Pedernales and come to join us on the next day.The first bus leaving Santo Domingo will get you here on time.
In Pedernales you could stay at:
Hostal Doña Chava
5 Calle Segunda
Barrio Alcoa
Pedernales,
Dominican Republic
Phone: 809-524-0332
Email:hostalchava@hotmail.com
If you are staying in Santo Domingo before coming to Haiti, only exchange a little money at the airport and the rest in the city because in the city you will get better rates. There is access to money in Pedernales so if you have to get more money in the future, you can. Also, do not worry about exchanging for Haitian money (gourds) when you come. We’ll help you do that later if needed.
If you arrive to Santo Domingo after the last bus has left or wish to rest from the flight in Santo Domingo you could take a taxi to:
Hotel Freeman
Calle Isabel La Catolica 155
Zona Colonial
Santo Domingo
Phone: 1-809-688-4263, 954 636 2089, Mobile: 809 519 4865
Email: freemanhotel@yahoo.com
The cost is $30 a night and it is a nice place. It is in a safe area and almost as cheap as you can get for the convenience and safety. You get your own room, a/c if you like. In the same neighborhood there is a slightly cheaper place which is dormitory style:
There isn’t a central source of electricity in the community so please bring your own solar powered or hand cranked stuff.
The updated list of supplies that you must have are:
WATERPROOF TENT
Passport
Photocopy of passport.
Valid Travel Medical Insurance
Photocopy of Valid Travel Medical Insurance
Photocopy of air tickets
Small rope
Sleeping bag and/or sheet
Mattress for sleeping (if you want to use one).
Medical First Aid kit (bandages, disinfectants for wounds, and rehydration
salts). These cannot be purchased in Haiti!!!!
Any special medication that you take regularly or may need in emergency.
Torch/ Lantern Wind up or solar
Cutlery & Crockery
Cash in $US
Appropriate clothing
Hat
Rain equipments (rain coat, etc…)
Natural Mosquito repellant
100% Biodegradable toiletries
Water bottle (please no plastic)
Optional supplies:
Swimming suit
Small solar panel & charger for personal items (< $US 30)
Natural Sun cream
Sanitary items (Moon Cup)
Small back bag
Strong adhesive tape (Duct Tape)
Cell phone (bring a hand crank charger with it)
Pocket knife
Notebook, pen/pencil
Spare glasses/ contact lenses
Padlock
If you have any other questions please feel free to write to us at aviram@auroville.org.in or phone us at the numbers listed above.
Our phone numbers are:
.
001-809-787-2233
001-809-752-2233
Please circulate this information to anyone else you feel may be interested in participating at our Intenational Clay Seed Balling Event October 26th to November 5th 2010.
We look forward to welcoming you to Sadhana Forest Haiti soon!!!
Warmly,
Aviram and Yorit Rozin
