A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR OUR FAITHFUL PATRONS      ·    ISSUE NO.6

From seeds to food!
...it happens every day.

"I have given you every plant with seeds on the face of the earth and every tree that has fruit with seeds. This will be your food." Genesis 1: 29 (GOD'S WORD)
It happens every day somewhere in the world-people planting seeds. The planting of seeds is so routine and a natural part of our lives-or is it? When was the last time you needed to plant seeds to grow food for yourself? There are some of you reading this newsletter that are farmers, or avid gardeners, and there are those of us who have never planted a seed for the purpose of growing food. However, all of us are aware of what can happen when seeds are planted...food!
Planting the seed is but one step in the process toward food. Soil preparation, crop cultivation, irrigation, pest management, and sweaty labor all lead up to the day of harvest. But without good seed all this will be for naught. It is part of God's great plan that seed would provide food for us. And most of the world's hungry people live in places where seed can provide the food they need. Over 100 nations in our world today are suffering from malnutrition and hunger, and each nation has the God-given resources to grow food for their own population, and more. Why are there hungry people? Man's mismanagement of resources and priorities. But, there are those who do desire to fulfill God's plan for proper food management. In this issue of "The Sowers' Hands", we tell you about some of those people and organizations who are receiving seeds from Hope Seeds, and are empowering people to grow food the way God intended and they are sharing God's plan for salvation with, and through the planted seeds.
I ask for your continued prayers and financial support, thanking you for all you have sent in the past. Together we can Plant a Seed! Feed a Soul!
Mike Mueller, CEO, Hope Seeds

t Haitian men prepare seedling box by sowing seeds evenly in the soil.

Sharing The Precious Hope of Seeds!

El Salvador-Rev. James Taglauer, of First English Mission in New Orleans, once again requested seed to go to Dios es Amor Lutheran in El Salvador, C.A. Seed has been sent for growing tomatoes, peppers, melons, and other nutritious vegetables. This is the third shipment of seed we have sent to these remote and very poor areas of El Salvador. Progress is being made as they rebuild communities still affected by the earthquakes of 2001.
 Kyrgyzstan-Tian Shan Mission Society, of Palm Springs, California, has recently sent a second small shipment of seed to Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. Three years ago we were able to send samples of some tomatoes and peppers to the Dungan people who live in the Tian Shan Mountains. The Christian efforts of this mission society made a lasting impression on the primarily Muslim community. Since the first shipment, Tian Shan Mission Society has steadily worked toward providing aid and support through various methods-the whole time sharing Christ through their efforts.
Peru-Change-A-Life Ministry, managed by Jeff Morgan of Cedartown, Georgia, is working with the very poor in Peru. The efforts he is managing revolve around developing agriculture and education for the Coastal Mixtos Indians in the desert areas of Chinchalta, a 3-hour drive south of Lima. A parcel of land has been dedicated for the building of a model farm Ôresource centerÕ which will also serve the needs of the Ovechua Indians in the mountainous areas and the Ashunakes Indians in the river areas. We are developing a long-range plan with Jeff for a common goal of a sustainable teaching garden which will have a real impact on the lives of many people for generations to come.
Haiti-Messiah Lutheran Church, of Kansas City, Missouri, has sent a 'Bucket of Hope' to Rev. Thomas Bernard in Leogand, Haiti. This Bucket of Hope (pictured below right) contains more than enough seed to plant a small garden several times over, along with some garden tools, gloves, water soluble fertilizer, and an instructional gardening book. The seed will be planted on a parcel of land near the church and school, producing food which can add nutritious vitamins to a school lunch program. For many children in Haiti, this may be their only meal of the day.
Mattituck Presbyterian, of Long Island, N.Y., has once again sponsored a generous shipment of seed to Rev. Ernst Abraham, of Service Chretien d'Haiti, La Gonave, Haiti. The people of La Gonave, which is the island near Port au Prince, are often forgotten by relief agencies. Life on this island is harsh and, by many standards, bare. However, the growing of vegetables is possible, and there have been positive results. We are thrilled once again to send good seed to these hardworking Christians as they try to sustain their families and build their communities.

Varietal Release
Tahitian Butternut & Windsor Cup

Squash is one of the most maligned and frowned-upon vegetables in our world.
As children, many of us turned up our noses when squash was served to us during holiday gatherings, and especially when we were told, "eat it because it's good for you!" There are those of us who have enjoyed this vegetable most of our lives, and didn't even know we were eating it. Squash is used regularly in baby food, not only labeled as 'squash', but as a filler for other vegetable juices, and is the ingredient used predominantly in pumpkin pie. It is also used as a thickener in the making of jams and jellies. The popular tropical pumpkin soup is made from squash. Squash is a great source of Vitamin A and minerals.

Tahitian Butternut (cucurbit moschata)
Squash is now grown in all parts of the world, and is valued as a source of nutrition and calories. There are many varieties which are very useful for the production of food and we have selected two as part of our seed distribution programs. Tahitian Butternut and Windsor Cup are both high in quality and nutrition, easily grown, and are open-pollinated which allow for seed saving.

Tahitian Butternut is an open-pollinated, tropical-type (cucurbit moschata) with a typical butternut shape. It requires a full-growing season (110 days from seeding) if grown here in the U.S. Its interior quality is very good, and is dark orange and sweet with little fiber. This squash makes a very good pie filling, tropical soup stock, and can also be served simply as squash.

Windsor Cup (cucurbit maxima) has great potential for gardeners because of its space saving bush habit and earliness (90 days from seeding). This open-pollinated variety requires less growing space than other buttercup types, yet produces very good quality, short-term storage squash. The interior quality is creamy and sweet with good consistency for baking. It is also similar in type to the Kabocha squash which is popular in Japan.
Windsor Cup (cucurbit maxima)

 

TRIP REPORT March 11-18, 2003

Haiti-Dick Bultemeyer, Hope Seeds' Board of Director's Secretary and Mike Mueller, Hope Seeds' CEO, traveled to Cap Haitien to work in the Hope Outreach Garden during the week of March 11-18. Working with our Haitian brothers and sisters, progress was made in developing trickle- irrigation systems for the garden, setting up a 500-gallon irrigation tank, and building ten plant-growing tables. Great examples of vegetable production and gardening efforts were witnessed and we invite you to visit our Web site to view photos from the trip. See for yourself the impact that planting seeds can have on people as they realize their responsibility for God's creation by caring for the land, and, as a result, receive God's blessing as he fulfills his promises.

 

TRIP REPORT APRIL 8-15, 2003

Nicaragua-During the week of April 8-15, Mike Mueller of Hope Seeds traveled to Managua, Nicaragua, at the invitation of World Relief. The trip was funded by E.C.H.O. (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) of North Ft. Myers, Florida. The purpose of the trip was to assess the needs and potential of agricultural seed programs in different areas of Nicaragua. The country has been severely affected by the oversupply of coffee on the world market (mostly due to overproduction of poor-grade coffee coming from Vietnam and Thailand).

Agriculture is still one of the very best options for developing a better economy for Nicaragua. The volcanic soil in many areas of the country is rich and fertile, and water is plentiful. Farmers are very capable of working hard to improve the situation for their families and communities. World Relief is trying to develop a more reliable and diverse agricultural economy and Hope Seeds is working to improve the access to good vegetable seeds on a consistent basis. We invite you to read more on this trip and view photos by clicking here.


Onion field in Yali, Nicargua

Oh, if Plants
could talk, the stories they could tell.

We have included within a mailing a sample packet of Bitter Herbs from our Day 3 Seeds program. Normally, we would not send seed packets, but this is a special occasion- the launching of this unique and important program.

And, we need your help! We solicit your support in telling others about our work by using these seed packets as a gardening gift, evangelism tool, and/or fund raising activity. It is our intention for these packets to be useful as a form of evangelism and Biblical training. As we progress, these packets will be translated into Spanish and French for use in many areas of the world where seed and evangelism are desperately needed. 

'If Plants Could Talk' is more than just a story, it is a method of sharing the message of Creation (Day 3 Seeds), the message of Scripture, and the garden path which leads to Jesus. We thank you for your continued support, and ask for your prayers that each Day 3 Seed packet will be fruitful toward its purpose.

Day3Seeds packets are available in 12 different vegetable or herb species. To view all of the packets, please click here.

Water the Garden!

A well-watered garden can be a beautiful and productive place! We have all seen such places and perhaps, wish to visit there often, or even reside there forever. We are seeing and hearing of such gardens which Hope Seeds is part of and we praise God for such places and efforts. It is our prayer that God will bless the lives of people who plant seeds, all because of the great love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. WE THANK YOU for your continued support which makes this work possible and may you be encouraged by these words of Scripture:

"The Lord will continually guide you and satisfy you even in sun-baked places. He will strengthen your bones. You will become like a watered garden and like a spring whose water does not stop flowing." Isaiah 58:11 (GODS WORD)

Recently built plant-growing tables located at the Hope Outreach Garden in Cap Hatien, Haiti. Note overhead mist-irrigation for seedlings.