The Sowers' Hands ~ Hope Seeds Newsletter

“Follow in the footsteps of the farmer, my son, lest you fall out of the garden and die.” Haitian proverb

By Mike Mueller, Executive Director

Several years ago I was in southern Haiti, making an arduous drive across the mountainous roads to the town of Jacmel. As we drove the two lane road, mostly paved, with its twists and switchbacks, I noticed the terraced hillsides in many areas being farmed. Sweet potato, cabbage, carrots, beets, beans, other vegetables - and even some coffee, citrus, and bananas - were all being cultivated by those local farmers. It appeared that no one plot was very large, and not one of these plots was real close to the next, so I realized that the decisions as to what crevice or slope was to be terraced for farming was carefully made, or at least opportunistically chosen, for its soil and/or path. The gardens were a nice sight to behold on those otherwise desolate rocky slopes.

In the next days I was given the opportunity to meet many people who live in a village along that road, in the mountains. They were most definitely subsistence farmers. No craftsmen among them, nor any industry in the village. They survived off what was grown on those terraced hillsides I had passed by the days before. If the crops were good they would load up their donkey and take some to Jacmel to sell at market, using the cash for much needed essentials, along with the few goats and chickens and an occasional cow or pig (which was rare since both of these large animals require grazing ground or corn to survive, as well as large amounts of water… all scarce on the mountains).

During one of the conversations with one of the elder farmers, speaking as head of his household, he shared with me the proverb above: “Follow in the footsteps of the farmer, my son, lest you fall out of the garden and die”. I asked the man to show me his garden. He told me it was a good distance, and I could tell from his eyes that he wondered if this ‘blanc' (white guy) could make the trek. We did, but at a slower and more accommodating pace as a kindness to me – thank you. The path was easy in most areas, but there were some spots where it was quite narrow. And, then there were a few which were ‘scary'… only a goat would be nimble enough to walk there. The farmer motioned that I should put my feet where he did for the sure footing… the voice of experience. As I did I safely made the trek, there and back, coming home with visions of a terraced farm in production of sweet potatoes and beans. Care had been given to build up walls to hold soil in certain spots, using sticks and other stones to reinforce and hold back the soil so erosion would not take away his potential to plant another crop. This is not new technology, very similar to what has been done for thousands of years by many people around the world who live in such rocky and mountainous places. But it was my first experience to see such a farm up close. Man making the best of his situation, managing the environment, producing food to feed his family, and improving the land as well… it all makes such good common sense to me.

It has now been several months since the January 2010 earthquakes rocked the southern regions of Haiti. The epicenter of the quake was between Port au Prince and Jacmel, along or near the same road I had once traveled. I wonder if the terraced farms survived or even exist. I wonder if the farmer and his village I had visited survived or what their conditions might be. And I ask myself “What would I do in such a situation?”

The parable comes back to mind to share its lessons. The time-traveled mountain path had taught the farmer to warn his sons to walk in his steps, places where solid footing would keep you from slipping and falling down the mountainside, perhaps to your death. The parable was based upon a truth – someone at sometime had not walked on sure footing and had slipped and fallen off the farmers field to their death. This parable also carries a history of truth and a promise for the future. Much of Haiti should take its meanings to heart. Learn from the missteps of the past, walk securely on only the solid ground, and build your future garden knowing that regular maintenance and upkeep are essential to assure tomorrows planting.

Further, this parable has a message for all of us… a life lesson, a spiritual lesson. Our Holy Bible is full of examples of persons (many are our Hero's of Faith) who have not always walked on solid ground and did not listen or obey the advice of the First Farmer- God our Father.

Mankind has stumbled over and over, not always choosing sure footing. What are we to learn from the earthquakes in Haiti and the parable? Allow me to share what I have learned from my personal life and my role as Executive Director of Hope Seeds.

• The sure footing along the rough roads should be traveled carefully, meaning for Hope Seeds that our core purpose is to send seed and gardening helps. There are other organizations best suited to help with relief supplies. As much as our heart desires to send every kind of relief and comfort, it detracts us from doing what we are designed to do. Our sure footing is seed and related education, and we shall be careful not to be distracted toward other cries for help. We have thus far sent out over 134,000 packets of seed to Haiti weighing about 400 lbs., and we have shipped over 3000 lbs. of relief supplies donated by congregations and concerned persons. Both were needed, however, we had to spend a large amount of funds to pay for freight (the cost for delivery to Haiti is well over $3.00 per pound) which could have been better used to purchase more seed.

• Following in the footsteps of the farmer reminds us to view the past experience of those who have traveled the same path. For Hope Seeds it reminds us that we should use our experience and knowledge to educate about farming and gardening, very important to the next generation that they might survive. Haiti (finally) is seeing its' missteps in allowing donated food from other nations to be given or sold cheaply over the past decades. Now, former U.S. President Bill Clinton has confessed that as Governor of Arkansas his decision to donate tons of rice to Haiti was extremely harmful to the food security of the fragile nation (as disclosed in recent Congressional testimony and a subsequent interview on ABS News). Donations of this type harmed the agricultural economy and the self-reliance of the Haitian people. They must rebuild, and education is a major factor toward helping the rebuilding and new plantings to succeed. For our part we begin with the children and small villages. Using Bible Garden School curriculum as a base, and inserting seminar materials and lessons, we can help educate the agricultural base of Haiti.

• Lest you fall out of the field and die … Wow! To a flat-lander farmer like me that seems almost comical… but it makes sense after walking those mountain steps following the farmer those years ago. And for me, the parable reminds me to give even more heed to the lessons of previous lives… lives of mistakes and miscues… lives of experience and hope. My father and grandfather taught me their life lessons as I grew, and I have tried to share my life lessons with my children and grandchildren. Further, I shall look more closely at the lessons of my Biblical heroes to see where their missteps have been… how sure footing and following the advice and direction of God might have avoided many problems. Mostly, what it shows me is that when I walk that rocky path, which seems so difficult, and follow the counsel of experience of those before me, as well as the Biblical directions of the "First Gardener", I can have great hope and anticipation for the future. The mountain side does not scare me any longer… but not following the right steps does.

May God allow each of us to see the beauty of his path for our lives, and the purpose for what we are set to accomplish. I thank each of you for your prayers and support for the ministry of Hope Seeds… a ministry which is small in comparison to many other organizations, but powerful in the potential for what is carried in each shipment of seed. Plant a Seed! Feed a Soul!