Redland Tropical Gardens Sends “Seeds To Feed Haiti”

By Date posted: December 3, 2010

By Alyna M. Bello....
This organization plants seeds of hope from farmer to farmer.

From left to right Florida City Mayor Otis Wallace, Seeds to Feed Haiti Founder Margie Buster, and Homestead Mayor Steven Bateman gather together for the first shipment of vegetable seeds to Haiti.

On Thursday, September 23, 2010, Redland Tropical Gardens, a non-profit organization, in cooperation with Helena Chemical Company, Haiti Shipping Cargo Services, Alpha Foliage, Inc., Dade County Farm Bureau, Paul & Associates Law Farm, Citrix, South Florida Audubon, Village Planet/One Village Planet, and with the support of government officials, State Representative Dwight Bullard, Florida City Mayor Wallace Otis, and Homestead Mayor Steven C. Bateman came together to begin the three year commitment, “Seeds to Feed Haiti” project, which will deliver a million vegetable seeds annually to different areas within Haiti. The first shipment was sent on Thursday and will be repeated annually until 2012 to ensure time for education, cropping, and success.

In January 2010, Haiti was hit by catastrophic magnitude 7.0 magnitude earthquake. This earthquake devastated the small island nation, killing thousands and leaving millions homeless. This project is being organized to help prevent famine and enable Haiti to establish agricultural sustainability. Former President Bill Clinton, now a United Nations Special Envoy, Haitian Recording Artist Wyclef Jean, and United Nations Secretary Ban Ki-moon, have put in place a “Call to Action” in regards to the current conditions in Haiti. There is an urgency to ensure seeds are sown and cultivated during Haiti’s principal planting season to avert a food crisis.

Mr. Dan Warren, founder of One Village Planet stated, “We should empower the poor people of Haiti by providing them with education and tools they can use to survive in their world. Today we are faced with a crisis in Haiti of unprecedented proportions.”

The “Seeds to Feed Haiti” is a farmer to farmer initiative created by Margie Buster, President of Redland Tropical Gardens and co-owner of Alpha Foliage, Inc., a 250 acre nursery located in the Redlands. Mrs. Buster, stated, “This is probably the most profound project of our organization’s 15-year history.”

Mayor Bateman commented, “I am proud to see local businesses and residents in the South Dade area rallying together to help a community in need rebuild and move forward after such a catastrophe. The great work that Redland Tropical Gardens and its partners are doing will create an invaluable change that will bring an everlasting impact and hope to the Haitian people.

On Thursday, September 23, 2010,
Redland Tropical Gardens, a non-profit
organization, in cooperation with Helena
Chemical Company, Haiti Shipping Cargo
Services, Alpha Foliage, Inc., Dade
County Farm Bureau, Paul & Associates
Law Farm, Citrix, South Florida Audubon,
Village Planet/One Village Planet, and
with the support of government officials,
State Representative Dwight Bullard,
Florida City Mayor Wallace Otis, and
Homestead Mayor Steven C. Bateman
came together to begin the three year commitment,
“Seeds to Feed Haiti” project,
which will deliver a million vegetable
seeds annually to different areas within
Haiti. The first shipment was sent on
Thursday and will be repeated annually
until 2012 to ensure time for education,
cropping, and success.
In January 2010, Haiti was hit by catastrophic
magnitude 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
This earthquake devastated the
small island nation, killing thousands and
leaving millions homeless. This project is
being organized to help prevent famine
and enable Haiti to establish agricultural
sustainability. Former President Bill
Clinton, now a United Nations Special
Envoy, Haitian Recording Artist Wyclef
Jean, and United Nations Secretary Ban
Ki-moon, have put in place a “Call to
Action” in regards to the current conditions
in Haiti. There is an urgency to
ensure seeds are sown and cultivated during
Haiti’s principal planting season to
avert a food crisis.
Mr. Dan Warren, founder of One Village
Planet stated, “We should empower the
poor people of Haiti by providing them
with education and tools they can use to
survive in their world. Today we are faced
with a crisis in Haiti of unprecedented proportions.”
The “Seeds to Feed Haiti” is a farmer to
farmer initiative created by Margie Buster,
President of Redland Tropical Gardens
and co-owner of Alpha Foliage, Inc., a 250
acre nursery located in the Redlands.
Mrs. Buster, stated, “This is probably the
most profound project of our organization’s
15-year history.”
Mayor Bateman commented, “I am
proud to see local businesses and residents
in the South Dade area rallying together to
help a community in need rebuild and
move forward after such a catastrophe.
The great work that Redland Tropical
Gardens and its partners are doing will
create an invaluable change that will bring
an everlasting impact and hope to the
Haitian people.

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