Rebuilding Haiti must start from the ground up, with agricultural education

Vetiver Grass for Erosion Control: Step 1

The best plant known and used around the world to stop erosion is called Vetiver.

It not only holds soil on mountainsides but it creates it own terraces by collecting leaves, debris and eroded soil from above it!

With out vetiver it is impossible to hold compost on these mountainsides and there is no reason to teach them the value of composting.

Like a baby we can't take a 2nd or 3rd step without taking this 1st step!

Step 1) Stop Erosion; using vetiver the hedge that stops erosion.It will make it's own compost and builds it's own terrace. Bamboo can also be used in steep gullies but when land levels vetiver should be planted to hole back remaining silt.

Benefits:

Holds moisture on the hillsides
Holds nutrients in the humus from running off your land
Water will sink into ground to replenish the wells
(Vetiveria Zizanoides) click here

It not only holds the soil on their land but holds soil moisture, it fertilizes the plants around it, holds water to raise water tables for well water and even wards off many bugs that eat would eat them!

Click here to read all about Vetiver and it's uses!"

Click here to see many picture gallories of it 's uses!"

Click the arrow below to watch this video

(Vetiveria Zizanoides)

Vetiver International Site, (full of resources, Click Here)

TVN_French manual v1opt.pdf

Hedge against erosion book (English)

Hedge against erosion book (French)

Click here to see quick way to start planting rows

French connection to Vetiver International for our brothers and sisters, Click Here

You could call it a miracle grass and it is available in Haiti. Its roots grow to 3 meters long and it can hold back landslides. The best part is if you just plant it on level horizontal rows of the hillsides and it will make its own terraces.

It is also forage for livestock and can be used in baskets, hats and thatch for roofs.

Watch a video on growing Vetiver in Ethiopia; Click Here!

Click Here: to see how to preserve Coral Reefs

We want to space our vetiver maximum of 15cm (about a hand width between stems)

4 meters vertically between rows

A few pictures of our seminar and demonstration mission to seven chapel areas around Gris Gris Haiti in January 2009