Sustainable Harvest International
You may have noticed that our community currently supports Sustainable Harvest International.
A donation can be made direct through the Network for Good widget located on the right inside of this blog. So far we have managed to raise $320. A little while back we received a letter from SHI informing us how the donation has contributed to help farmers in Central America. They also included a letter from 57 years old Celestino Suarez from Nicaragua. I would like to share it with you:
” I am from the community El Coloradito. I am 57 years old with five years living in the community and four years working with Sustainable Harvest. The most important work with Sustainable Harvest has been the teaching of simple growing techniques which are affordable and without contaminants. I also recognize that they have supported us with infrastructure and seeds of different vegetables that we’ve never had before.
I used to know almost nothing about the work that is carried out by the Sustainable Harvest fiels trainers. Now I have learned in many training workshops about the preparation of the soil and the fields. I have diversified my farm, and they have even helped me to plant, because the local field trainers have worked next to me.
In my new fields I have more than an acre of coconuts and cocao, 60 palm heart trees, 300 banana plants, and cinnamon, black pepper, cloves, annatto and other spices. I have learned to take care of my soil and I have planted green fertilizer and a cover of velvet beans. At present I have almost 4 acres planted with this covering bean.
Also I would like to state that I no longer have to cut a lot of wood for firewood, because I have a bio-digester that has served me well, chiefly my wife who has cooked over an open fire during all her life.
One of the most important things that I have learned is to cultivate organically, as before I had never done it. I believe that with these techniques I am taking care of the health of my family and economy.
To close I would like to give thanks to the members of the board of directors of SHI, to its founder Florence and to the personnel of Nicaragua, as they are the ones that are always with us in country.”







