Once again our programme was organized with the help of the FNH (Fundacion de la Naturalez y el Hombre). Here are some of the projects/places that we visited.

Fundacion de la Naturalez y el Hombre

We spent a morning at the headquarters of the FNH. This is an NGO that works to improve the environment through cultural, scientific and artistic activities. We were shown the canoe that was used on the trip through the waterways of Central America in 1992 to coincide with Columbus' arriving in the Americas.
The FNH continues to support a range of projects supporting small scale agriculture throughout Cuba.

We had planned to visit the Maqueta (a scale model of the city of Havana) but were unable to enter as they were just about to fumigate the building! Throughout our time in Havana we saw work brigades spraying against dengue fever. There has recently been a outbreak of this but the authorities seem to be taking it very seriously.

Organoponico Gastronomia Playa

This organoponico (which lies very close to the Russian Embassy) was most impressive. The small staff of five seemed delighted to have us as visitors. They were all incredibly knowledgeable about the huge range of vegetables and herbs that they were growing. Some of our group returned later and took gifts of seeds and tools.

Two days with Vilda and Pepe

Vilda and Pepe took us to a primary school on the outskirts of Havana. All the children and staff were absolutely delightful and keen to explain to us what they were trying to do. They have started a school garden with beds made from rocks, roofing tiles, bricks etc. and are growing a range of vegetables, flowers and herbs. The children have learned a lot of skills and seemed very enthusiastic about gardening.
We then went on to the urban farm at Alamar. Those of us who visited this farm last year were amazed by how much progress had been made. They have built a training centre and have doubled their work force. This is obviously a very thriving concern and all the staff seem to be proud of what they have achieved. The whole area is very productive with a wide range of vegetables, fruit, herbs, flowers and ornamental plants. We saw some excellent examples of vermiculture and compost making. The practise crop rotation and companion planting and are virtually self sufficient – very few external inputs are used. A steady stream of local people visit the farm shop. We had our first "work experience" here – filling bags with compost and sowing seeds in modules.
We concluded our day with a trip to the beach.

On the second day Vilda and Pepe told the group about their project. They continue to encourage people to grow and preserve their own food. They do this by organising workshops and courses, appearing on radio and TV, producing tapes and CDs and books. Their project headquarters have many examples of conserved food: dried banana, carrot, yucca, sweet potato etc, also sun-dried herbs (for condiments and medicines), foods perserved in vinega, preservation through sterilisation (eg tomato sauces), fruits (eg papaya) preserved in syrup and citrus juice preserved by the process of pasteurisation.
As part of our day Pepe demonstrated how to make preserved spicy fruit sauce - then we all had a bottle to take home.
An exhausting but inspiring two days!

Pastures & Forage Research Institute (Instituto de Investigaciones de Pastos y Forrajes)

Some of the group subsequently told me that this visit was a real highlight of the trip. We were once again shown around by Fernando Funes (Deputy Director). They are currently working on the following:
-Composting and vermiculture
-Processing of medicinal plants
-Production of bio-fertilisers, pest controls and soil inoculants. Dr Mirtha Lopez showed us "Bio-riz" a commercial product that they have developed as a soil inoculant for soya production.
-Integrated crop/livestock production systems. These were being done on a series of one-hectare plots which we visited. Careful records have been kept showing milk production, crop production, human and animal labour required, fuel expenses etc. Soil fertility is maintained by compost, green manures and mulch.

Once again everyone was charmed by Juan Jose Suarez whose experimental hectare has goats rather than cattle. He clearly loves his goats and gets a high milk yield. Following our last visit we sent out new rubber boots for Juan. He is delighted with them and sent his thanks.
At the end of the day some of the staff joined us and we went to the beach at Santa Fe to swim, sit in the sun, drink rum and watch the sunset.

Organoponico de Flores y Ornamentales Linda Flor (Sancti Spiritus)

This was a really interesting project run by a dynamic lady, Edith, with the help of her eighty year old father and a small staff. They produce fresh flowers and ornamental plants. The flowers, all grown organically, are in great demand as Cubans like fresh flowers for any special occasion, as well as for funerals. The land has been given to the project by the state but they have to fund all developments themselves. At the moment they need an irrigation system. We were all given flowers to take away.

Organoponico at Sancti Spiritus

This was a very large enterprise. They had the usual bed system but had spaced the beds so that oxen could be used to plough them. More bagging of soil here – this is obviously the job they save for brigadistas! Some of us preferred to weed the vegetable beds but it was a very hot afternoon and work was slow. They made us very welcome and we had an excellent lunch in the workers' canteen.

Finca Don Thomas

This was about 20 km from Sancti Spiritus and is a family enterprise run on organic principles. They had the usual wide range of vegetables, herbs and fruit trees. They provided us with an amazing lunch which included a pig which they roasted in a pit. We also had malanga, and yucca which were cooked in large pots on an open fire, salad, cheese, eggs and masses of fresh fruits.
Marcelo demonstrated grafting avocado plants – he seemed to be most proficient at this but he asked if any of our group could show him how they would do it. He said he has a 98% success rate but as he had only learned from a book he would like to watch someone else do it!
Our work was bagging up compost (oh, no, not again!), building two dry stone walls to slow down the torrential summer rain which destroys crops and planting some new fruit trees.

Fernandini's Garden

Once again we were lucky enough to spend some time with Fernandini. His garden is tucked away off the Avenida de Mexico and near to the Brachia de Habana. His finca, based on permaculture principles, is a rambling plot with many challenges including poor soil and a hilly terrain. He enthuses about his work and showed us his huge range of fruit and vegetables: banana, mango, avocado, yucca, malanga, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, maize, beans etc. He is using an old metal tray as a nursery bed for plants.
We worked on weeding, seed planting, building a dry stone wall (to slow down the torrential summer rains and prevent plants from being washed away). One of the tasks he asked us to do was to remove anything that could accumulate water and thus encourage mosquitoes. His daughter had caught dengue fever a few months earlier so he was keen to be as vigilant as possible to eliminate mosquitoes from his garden. We had a super day working there – some of the group said they would have liked to spend more time
there.

Patio Project

We only had a brief visit to Justo's patio in Cerro. He has done lots there since our last visit and has made quite a few changes. It is impressive just how much he has growing in such a small space. His small back yard is shared by a group of families and apart from being filled to overflowing with plants it is also used for drying washing and socialising. The project shows people with no land of any sort how they can still provide some of their own family's food. Cerro is one of the poorest areas in Havana.
The project is currently working with patients in a local hospital and developing a therapeutic gardens in the hospital grounds.

And what else did we do?

We had a very busy schedule with very little free time. We managed to visit some of the historic places in Havana including the Plaza de la Revolucion and the Museum of the Revolution and the Fort for the ceremony of the cannons. We had a day at Soroa and visited the Orchid Garden there. On our way to Sancti Spiritus the group requested a diversion to Santa Clara to see the monument to Che Guevara. Well worth the trip! And when we left Sancti Spiritus we returned to Havana via Trinidad and took the long tortuous journey through the mountains – great scenery but a very long trip!

We met some amazing people – hardworking, enthusiastic and sincere. They continue to achieve some great results in very difficult circumstances. A great experience for everyone who took part.

Brigade Reports
January 2000 by Stephanie Greenwood
January 2001 by Wynne Kelly
January 2002 by Wynne Kelly
Jan/Feb 2003 by Catherine Miller
Jan/Feb 2005 Brigade by Chris Day

Other Reports from Cuba
January 2000 - by Jenny Bussey
Febrary/March 2000 by Mike Weaver
May 2000 by Nicola Duffield