The Bees, The Bees!

Agriculture is the most important economic activity for Haitians.  Despite the fact that the majority of the country is rocky and mountainous, and a good portion receives very little rainfall, you will find farms nearly everywhere.  Of course, not all crops can be grown everywhere.  Rice and sugar-cane are farmed in the low, flood-prone areas.  Carrots, potatoes, cabbage, lettuce, yams and other tubers are grown in the high elevations.  Guinea corn and cassava are grown on the rocky and dry plains.  Peanuts and beans are grown in well-watered plateaus.  Everywhere you can find mango, avocado, coconut, citrus and other trees as well.  What almost all these crops require, however, is pollination.  There are a handful of Haitian farmers and entrepreneurs who keep bees.  The husband of Hannah's fourth grade teacher is one of these!  We got to check out some of his hives (and the several hundred thousand bees that live in them) this June.  He hopes to make a little money selling his honey, which, we can say is really, absolutely fantabulous.  His dream, however, is to teach Haitian farmers how to keep bees to pollinate their fruit trees and other crops.  The honey was worth the visit despite the fact that Zach got stung on the nose (he thought it was too hot to wear the protective suit that our kids wore).  Please let us know if you are interested in purchasing any of this honey and we would be glad to put you in contact with our friend!