Hike to the cave

Boa hiding near the cave.

Saturday morning bird guide Louiders led my ecology students and me on a 5-hour hike to the cave Vout Santi that I blogged about here.  Along the way we saw many birds, a working sugar cane mill, people cutting trees, and charcoal being made.  Here are some pictures.

Cutting sugar cane for a snack.

Cattle turning the sugar cane mill.

On the way to the cave.

Haiti ecotours by Louiders

If you are in Haiti's Central Plateau and would like to go on an ecotour, contact Louiders Alfred (509-3881-2985).  He works in Bohoc and Caiman along National Route 3 between Pignon and Hinche.  His specialty is birding and he knows most of the birds by sound.  He can also take you hiking or to caves, and to cultural activities such as the Bohoc market, a casava mill, a sugar cane mill, or to see how coffee is grown and processed.   

Louiders speaks English.  I trained him in 2009 when he didn't know much English.  Now he knows English and even helps me teach ecology in schools.  Contact him if you would like a program at your school or community group (in Creole or French) about Haiti birds and bats.   In Haiti call him at 509-3881-2985.  Or contact me by email and I will pass the message along naturesphoto at hotmail.com.

Day 1 – Apparent Project and Art Fair

This continues my 3-day road trip post.  On Saturday Day 1 we went to Papillon Enterprises, the boutique of the Apparent Project which strives to prevent orphanages by teaching job skills to its employees who create jewelry and art.  Thus the employees have income and don’t need to put their kids in orphanages which are big business in Haiti (even I was encouraged to start one as a business venture).  Many ‘orphans’ are really kids whose parents were desperate enough that they gave them to strangers at an ‘orphanage’ to be cared for.  There are even people who go around collecting kids for these orphanages, where the kids essentially work as slaves and may be sold to other people, while the person running it collects all the donated money.  I know this from a friend who reunites these kids with their families.

Workers at the Apparent Project make their own beads out of Haitian clay.  It is a refreshing change from all the rolled bead projects that have become popular (which they also make).  Last year here in Les Cayes I met a woman selling jewelry she had made through this program.  It was nice to see that the store and woman who runs the business actually exist!  (I’ll have to do another post on all the foundations that I’ve been asked to support!).

We then spent the afternoon at the art fair at the Parc Historique de la Canne a Sucre (Sugar Cane Museum).  It cost 300 gds (~$7US) to get in, and the ticket came with a free pop, 50gds in digicel minutes, and 150gds to use at any booth.  

There were the typical metal art, ash(?) sculpture, and food/syrupy alcohol product booths.  But new to me were the handcrafted fashion products.  The Apparent Project had a booth there.  Others included variations of beaded purses and sandals, scarves and dresses, and crocheted dresses, sandals, and bathing suits.  The clothing was quite expensive, >$100US for some items.

Our best find was a paper mache barn owl which Rhoda bought for me!  I will use it in teaching and fill it with candy so kids have a good association with owls (which most people seem to associate with demons).

We ended our outing with a trip to the grocery store which deserves its own post, as I live in Les Cayes which seems to have slim pickings compared to the Port grocery stores.  Stay tuned for Day 2 at  the beach!

Look for the pink gate to go to the Apparent Project boutique.

Beads made and sold at the Apparent Project boutique.

Entrance to art fair was across from the US Embassy.

Too much metal art - if anyone who runs the art fair reads this, contact me for suggestions!

Fashion booths

Pressing sugar cane for fresh juice.

Apparent Project gifts.  A new bag that isn't so long it hits the moto wheels!

The Price of Sugar movie

The Price of Sugar
April 13 • 7pm • Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS

Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.
A discussion following will focus on the U.S.’s roll in global trade, as well as alternative economies like Fair Trade, and local resources for these kinds of products.

In the Dominican Republic, a tropical island-nation, tourists flock to pristine beaches unaware that a few miles away thousands of dispossessed Haitians have toiled under armed-guard on plantations harvesting sugarcane, much of which ends up in U.S. kitchens. They work grueling hours and frequently lack decent housing, clean water, electricity, education or healthcare. "The Price of Sugar" follows Father Christopher Hartley, a charismatic Spanish priest, as he organizes some of this hemisphere's poorest people to fight for their basic human rights. This film raises key questions about where the products we consume originate and at what human cost they are produced. For more information and to see the film's trailer go to ThePriceofSugar.com.

Central Plateau Birding and ecotours

If you would like to book an ecotour while visiting the Pignon and Hinche areas, call guide Louiders at 509-3881-2985 (current Nov. 2016) or email me (Debbie) at naturesphoto@hotmail.com and I will contact Louiders (in the photo). Contact me two weeks in advance to allow ample time for getting in contact with the guide (internet and electricity can be unstable in Haiti!). Until the internet is more common and accessible, this blog serves as the website for Louiders, and will be updated as needed.

The Central Plateau: Haiti’s Central Plateau lies between two mountain ranges, the Massif du Nord (600-1100 m, 2000-3600 ft high) and the Montagnes Noires (600 m high). Though it has become largely deforested, this region provides visitors many opportunities to enjoy Haiti’s bird life and culture.

Bird Tour: Over 230 bird species live on the island of Hispaniola, including 31 that are endemic (found no where else in the world). This bird tour gives you an opportunity to see many of these species while following the footpaths that bisect the region. Your guide will have one set of binoculars for your group to share, plus a bird book. Click here for birds you may see.

Cultural Tour: Sugar cane and coffee were once major exports of Haiti, and still provide a living for people in this region. On this tour you will learn about the sugar cane industry, from stalk to finished products. You might also get to visit a working press if one is in use during your tour. Coffee is the number two world commodity after oil. You will learn how coffee is grown, harvested, and turned in to the brew loved by many. You will also be able to purchase coffee directly from the roasters.

Rates: Foreigners - $20US per person for a 2-hour tour, $40US per person for a 4-hour tour. Reduced rates for groups and nationals are available. Tours are in English or Creole. Louiders will shape the tour to your needs! Specify whether you would like a private tour or don’t mind being with other visitors, or if you are a serious birder. --Tips are appreciated!--

There is a guest house next to the Pignon airstrip. Louiders will arrange to meet you in front of the university UCCC in Caiman (near Rt3) or at HAFF on Rt3 in Bohoc, and can arrange a ride for you if necessary.

What to bring: Sunscreen, sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes, binoculars if you have them, snacks if you need them, camera, water.

Tour etiquette: Your guide will let you know if you can take pictures of cultural activities. Ask permission before taking pictures of individuals. Respect private property, including livestock and dogs. Respect wildlife and be aware of how your activities affect plants and animals. Be conscientious about eating in public. Many people can afford only one meal a day.

Developed in 2009, this program promotes: Educational opportunities for Haitians and visitors, Sources of income for guides and cultural demonstrators, Development of business skills, Appreciation of our reliance on a healthy environment.

Tour ideas

I'll keep track of ideas for tours here. Please comment if you have additional ideas!

Coffee - Haitian coffee is really unique - it is roasted then roasted again in a sugar cane molasses. Show visitors the entire process, from fruit to final product: coffee trees, harvesting, fruit (let them taste it), how beans are extracted, roasted, and ground. Sell them the final ground coffee. Or even the roasted beans - Americans often grind their own coffee.

Banana and plantain fields or plantations - Explain how these are cultivated and how to tell the plants apart. Are they eaten locally or transported across the country, or exported?

Coconuts - hack open a coconut for a visitor to drink and eat.

Sugar cane - Point out the sugar cane fields and presses. If anyone is pressing cane, take them to see it and ask the workers if pictures can be taken. Explain the entire pressing process and how the juice is processed into rum. Are there industrial plants that produce granulated sugar? Explain why or why not. Perhaps visitors should give the press people a dollar or two per group. Also show visitors the equipment left over from colonial days. Explain how the molasses residue is made and sown up in leaves (see the picture of this with the roasted coffee). Cut a piece of cane and show visitors how to eat it.