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Re: Cancelation of Haiti Project

Mark,

I just returned from a trip and am receiving your email today. I am very sorry to hear that your project did not work out. I know you always have the highest intentions possible when offering your help to others. I don't know why others don't take advantages of great opportunities when presented to them--it baffles me. You are a true comrade in our endeavors to promote sustainable ways of living. Keep your head up my friend and stay on your positive direction.

Your friend, Trevor

On Sun, Jul 3, 2011 at 11:57 AM, mark phillips <mrppy1@gmail.com> wrote:

Cancelation of Haiti Project

It is with a great deal of sadness that I must announce the cancellation of the project to build a straw bale home on the Jane Wynne Ecological Reserve above Kenscoff, Haiti.

 

I have come to this point reluctantly but I am certain this is the best decision I can make at this time.

 

I have been trying unsuccessfully for over 2 months to communicate with Jane via e-mail or phone regarding this project.  She is well aware of this yet has never followed through with promises to contact me.

 

I am completely and utterly unable to understand why Jane has acted in this manner and can offer no explanation for why this has occurred.

 

The $1000 I raised from 8 donors will be returned.

 

I still hope at some point to return to Haiti and build more straw bale structures but at this moment I don't know in what form that hope might manifest itself.

 

To all who supported this project, with money and ideas and encouragement and offers of help and to all of the others I've met along the way, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I hope we can continue the relationships formed by working on other projects together.

 

For the time being I have changed my focus to finding a more permanent living situation for myself.  This will initially take the form of exploring land opportunities in northern California where I hope to find an opportunity to pursue my passion for creating safe, small, simple, sustainable shelters.

 

 

 

cheers,

 

 

mark phillips

Cancelation of Haiti Project

Cancelation of Haiti Project

It is with a great deal of sadness that I must announce the cancellation of the project to build a straw bale home on the Jane Wynne Ecological Reserve above Kenscoff, Haiti.

 

I have come to this point reluctantly but I am certain this is the best decision I can make at this time.

 

I have been trying unsuccessfully for over 2 months to communicate with Jane via e-mail or phone regarding this project.  She is well aware of this yet has never followed through with promises to contact me.

 

I am completely and utterly unable to understand why Jane has acted in this manner and can offer no explanation for why this has occurred.

 

The $1000 I raised from 8 donors will be returned.

 

I still hope at some point to return to Haiti and build more straw bale structures but at this moment I don't know in what form that hope might manifest itself.

 

To all who supported this project, with money and ideas and encouragement and offers of help and to all of the others I've met along the way, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I hope we can continue the relationships formed by working on other projects together.

 

For the time being I have changed my focus to finding a more permanent living situation for myself.  This will initially take the form of exploring land opportunities in northern California where I hope to find an opportunity to pursue my passion for creating safe, small, simple, sustainable shelters.

 

 

 

cheers,

 

 

mark phillips

this is not a travel log

ladies and gentlemen,

as you've all heard by now, osama bin laden (obl) was killed by us special forces in abbottabad, pakistan.

he was shot in the head and buried at sea.

videos and photographs are promised at some later date.  perhaps some dna.  so far we've only a narrative from our standard sources (government, media, "experts").

you may recall that my work in pakistan was just north of abbottabad.  i'm familiar with the military base there.  or at least as familiar as one can get driving around the premises, looking at the guards and passing on.  i remember a sign along the highway outside the base that said, "Be a Proud Pakistani".  i had asked surkhab if he'd take my picture under that sign but we never got around to it.  it was a pretty busy highway and, given the neighborhood, maybe not the best place to get out and take pictures.

i'm sure my friend ryan, in particular, can just see my taking a picture outside of this military compound triggering a gun battle between the pakistani army, al quaeda, us special forces and maybe even the taliban.

i'd get gunned down, shot 486 times like i was someone important and not some schlepp that was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

returning to "reality"... 

if the reports about the whereabouts of obl are true, and i have no reason to believe they are, i was within 1/2 mile of him on several occasions last year.

i do have some thoughts on all of this but they are deeply intertwined with other threads of wisdom i've garnered over the years.

so, i issue this official, code red warning:

what you are about to read is not a travel log.

if that's what you're looking for, come back another day.

the following comments are uncensored and might upset some.

for those who wish to continue, scroll down to read the rest of this post.

OK  let the lying begin (er...continue)!!

i draw your attention to the center ring of our circus where you'll see the new "we-got-em" dance and hear the new mega-hit song, "oh boy o-sa-ma's dead" sung to the music of "ding-dong the witch is dead."  there'll be jugglers and clowns and sights to amaze!

don't take your eyes off of your tv set for a moment or you may miss the programming you are obliged to undergo.

oh my, oh my.  so many lies where does one start.

here's one possibility.  this is page 46 from the final NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) report on WTC Building 7.  never heard of building 7?  google it and watch a 47 story steel high rise building collapse completely in less than 7 seconds.  then ask yourself how it is possible that such an event could occur in broad daylight in new york city and most people, even those who live in new york city, still don't know anything about it.  i point this out to folks who say our government can't keep a secret.  Once you've seen wtc 7 come down you'll understand why the government wants to keep this all hush-hush.

anyway, there is something very special in this page.  a number, to be specific.  32.196.

(note, if you're reading this on my blog go to my flickr account and see "Nist Graph of WTC 7"       http://www.flickr.com/photos/52559215@N07/ )

The Wynne Farm Ecological Reserve

The Wynne Farm Ecological Reserve

 

The Wynne Farm Ecological Reserve is situated in Viard, a 45 minute hike from the small town of Kenscoff, Haiti. The Wynne Farm has been in existence for over 50 years. It was founded in 1956 by Victor A. Wynne, a civil engineer with degrees from Harvard and MIT. He noticed the ongoing misuse of the land and the inevitable threats of erosion and deforestation in the country. He then purchased various plots of land from local landowners and created the Wynne Farm which he terraced with a crew of 40 men. There, he propagated indigenous species to conserve Haiti's rich biodiversity and introduced various fruits, vegetables and trees from numerous parts of the world to show what the country's rich land is capable of bringing forth. Victor Wynne also emphasized the need for soil conservation, composting, reforestation, and experimented with agricultural techniques such as terracing.

Since 1994, the farm has been dedicated to environmental education so as to promote sustainable development and the healing of planet earth.

 

(from http://wynnefarm.org/about-us/history/)

 

 

 

Jane Wynne, Victor's daughter, worked along side her father.  There she learned about the terracing techniques that were brought over from Peru.  She learned about the 10 varieties of bamboo that were brought from around the world.  She learned as her father made the transition from chemical fertilizers to organic farming methods in the late 1970's and 1980's.  And she learned to love the land as her father did.

 

Jane is now the caretaker of the 30 acre farm as well as a 3 acre piece of heaven she now calls home in the town of Kenscoff, 4000 feet above Port Au Prince and 2000 feet below the farm, or ecological reserve as it is now known.

 

Jane has worked tirelessly to preserve and improve this land, at times fighting unscrupulous people who have tried to illegally take or develop it.  One group was made up of drug lords who liked the view from her ridge so much that they wanted to build homes and live there.  When they started to build a road Jane laid her body down in front of a bulldozer to stop them.  The road was never built.

 

The reserve faces lesser threats on a daily basis.  It is not unusual for people to stray from the public path that goes through the reserve and steal resources or commit acts of vandalism.  This can range from stealing produce to the cutting of full-grown trees.

 

The solution to the vandalism is to have several folks live on the farm full time.  This "presence" should reduce vandalism to a tolerable level.  With the vandals at bay, more land can be put into service, generating more food of a wider variety.  Dozens of local men and women will be employed to grow, process, transport and sell the produce.

 

Jane works with a foundation that organizes a summer camp for 1,200 children.  They already teach sports, music, dancing, yoga, environmental education, crafts, knowledge of medicinal plants and recycling.  The farm is often the classroom for these kids.  The increase in farm productivity will greatly increase the opportunity for these kids to learn the art of organic farming in a hands-on environment.

 

As the farm becomes more vibrant and relevant a cycle begins that integrates the success of the reserve with the well being of the community, spawning deeper connections with the soil and with each other.

 

Currently there is a standard masonry building that can house at least one person as well as an earth bag building that is used as the on-site classroom.  Soon a good friend of Jane's will be living there full time which will be the first step in securing the property.

 

I believe the next step is to build at least 1, and preferably 2, straw bale homes so that more local families can live and work on the reserve.  It is our hope and belief that adding this many full time residents will solve the vandalism problem.

 

And then the vision for an ecological reserve can begin to bloom into its full potential.

 

It gets quite cold at 6000 feet so these straw bale homes will be passively heated by the sun.  Solar thermal will be used to heat water.  A small solar panel and battery could provide for the modest electrical needs (lights, cell phone, computer, internet).

 

Liberal use will be made of the bamboo that grows on the property.  Structural bamboo for the trusses will be brought in from elsewhere in Haiti.  The homes will be designed for earthquake and hurricane resistance by architects, engineers and builders who are familiar with these building methods.

 

We will offer workshops during the construction of these homes.  In exchange for a day's work, folks will receive training on how a building can be made largely from straw and earth.  They'll also receive a fabulous organic lunch from produce grown on the farm.  Along with the Haitians we hire for the construction, these people can teach others the techniques they learn.

 

$25,000 is needed to build straw-bale houses on the reserve to make this vision a reality:

 

 

1)            Since the land is already owned and many plans and infrastructure are already in place, a relatively small amount of money could produce an enormous return.

 

2)            Donors will be kept abreast of the progress via periodic reports by e-mail and on my blog.  Pictures and video will also be posted.

 

3)            Donors who want to be more involved can discuss the project and suggest changes and/or improvements.

 

4)            I will pay all administrative costs so donors get the satisfaction of knowing that 100% of their donations will go directly for construction costs (material and labor).  I will take no salary and will pay my own travel expenses.

 

5)            Jane has been a powerful force for environmentalism in Haiti for many years.  She has formed many important alliances with many capable individuals.  It would be difficult to overstate how helpful her connections will be.

 

6)            Jane wants all donors to know that they are more than welcome to come and visit on the land after the buildings are complete.  She loves meeting new people.

 

 

 

Those who wish to support this project can send checks directly to:

 

Mark Phillips

14566 Toleman Rd., Atascadero, Ca., 93422

805 461-0490 (home)

805 835-2921 (cell)

mrppy1@gmail.com

 

 

Donors who would like to make a tax-deductible contribution can do so through:

 

Builders Without Borders

http://www.builderswithoutborders.org/

 

So that funds can be properly directed, please mention "The Wynne Farm Ecological Reserve" on the memo line of your check or in a note if paying by credit card or PayPal.  (be aware that PayPal takes 3% to process your donation)

 

BWB also takes a small percentage to cover administrative costs but they are a good organization and deserve our support.

 

 

Your support is deeply appreciated.

 

 

Cheers,

 

mark phillips

This Is Haiti

TIH

 

Among the guys working on the straw bale house, as well as the rest of the crew at GrassRoots United, we have a saying we use a lot.  TIH.  We use this whenever something goes extraordinarily wrong, or when something that should have been very simple turns into a major endeavor.  "This Is Haiti" explains much of the why when these situations arise.

 

Today we had Alex, our driver, go to Petion Ville, about 45 min. south of PAP, where he was to pick up some bamboo for us to use for an interior wall.  We'd bought bamboo from this source before so it should have been a relatively simple task.  Alex was to pick up a few bundles of bamboo and then a quart of black latex paint.  He got off to a late start doing some personal business and around noon he called me to say that he was having trouble finding the place.  A few phone calls and about an hour later and I finally hooked him up with Marty in Ca. who got him straightened out.  But once he got there they told him that they no longer sell the small diameter bamboo we needed.  So I told him to forget the bamboo for today and bring us the paint.  He called later to tell me he had the paint but had another flat tire (he's had several over the past few weeks) and would have to get it fixed before he could bring us the paint.  Around quitting time he finally showed up at GRU with the paint.  But it was oil based and useless for our needs.  Still we needed to pay him for his time, probably $40 or so which is a small fortune during the waning days of this project and its budget.

 

All we could say was TIH.

 

I've mentioned before that things can change suddenly in Haiti.  Another example of this occurred when we went to experience carnival up near Petion Ville.  Every Sunday for several weeks prior to fat Tuesday there are celebrations all over Haiti (and many other parts of the world).  Folks dress up in costume, sometimes drag, and march or dance through the streets.  When we went there was a huge crowd of, who knows, 10,000?  We were all jammed together into some sort of organic mass with music blaring form a huge Digicel (the local cell phone co.) float that was (slowly) chasing us down the crowded street.  I was amazed at the mass of humanity and how much one has to let go in order to avoid freaking out over it all.  I delighted over my ability to take part in and enjoy the scene.

 

Samuel and Jean Louis, our local Haitian workers who by now are also our good friends, shepherded us along.  We had to be careful to avoid getting separated as it would be virtually impossible to find each other if we did (though some of us did have cell phones).

 

All was going swimmingly when I noticed that Andy was kneeling on the ground.  I tried to find out from Sarah what was going on over the thunderous background noise.  The first thing I heard was that his wallet had been stolen.  This was something I had thought might happen in such a crowd and I would have voiced my concerns to the others as a warning if I had a voice large enough to be heard over the roar.  But having his wallet stolen did not explain why he was kneeling on the ground.  At first I thought perhaps the guy had slugged him in the stomach to get the wallet or maybe Andy was just very distraught over the loss.  Then he started to throw up.  I asked Sarah what THAT was all about and she just shrugged her shoulders and said she didn't know.

 

We finally put it together that Andy was sick and it was all quite unrelated to his wallet.

 

Given the preponderance of Cholera in Haiti (Marty had already come down with it and I may have just barely escaped an episode myself) we all realized that we needed to get Andy back to our base at GRU at a minimum, and perhaps to a clinic.  But getting a "tap-tap" in this chaotic scene was not going to be easy.  Fortunately Samuel stepped up to the plate and got er done.  It was probably only 30 min. or so before we were on our way back "home".

 

Once there it seemed that Cholera was not too likely because Andy was not experiencing diarrhea which is one of the major symptoms.  So he decided to stay the night at GRU.  In the morning he was still having trouble keeping anything down, but diarrhea was still absent.  He recovered that day and returned to work the next.  Some Haitian bug got him or maybe it was a mild (easy for me to say) case of food poisoning (but we all ate the same food and nobody else got sick).

 

I'm sure we'll never know.  TIH.