WYNNE FARM ECOLOGICAL RESERVE - KENSCOFF, HAITI
We All Have the Power to Heal the Earth!
The Wynne Farm was founded in 1956 by Victor Ainsley Wynne, a civil engineer with degrees from Harvard and MIT. He noticed the ongoing misuse of the land and the inevitable threats of erosion and deforestation in Haiti, and proceeded to purchase various plots of land from local landowners. Thus, he created the Wynne Farm, which he terraced with a crew of forty men. There, he propagated indigenous species to conserve Haiti’s rich biodiversity, and introduced various fruits, vegetables and trees from numerous parts of the world. Victor Wynne emphasized the need for soil conservation, composting and reforestation, and experimented with agricultural techniques such as terracing.
Since 1994, Wynne Farm has been dedicated to environmental education, the promotion of sustainable development, and the healing of planet earth.
PROJECTS
The Wynne Farm, in the mountains of Kenscoff above Port-au-Prince, has provided essential support to the Global Institute For Transformation (GIFT) smart sweet potato farming efforts.
Founder Jane Wynne has long been advancing smallholder farming. She helped GIFT secure slips and tools for planting and advises program participants on how to plant and grow the crops. She is also working with a half dozen villagers to introduce sweet potato farming to the community.
Wynne Farm, Kenscoff was engaged to lead a Global Institute for Transformation (GIFT) four-site pilot effort along with representatives from University of Fondwa, Association of Peasants of Fondwa and the Sisters of St. Anthony of Fondwa.
SWEET POTATO SMART FARMING
Wynne Farm took an active lead in helping to manage the overall project across multiple sites in collaboration with the University of Fondwa School of Agronomy. Jane Wynne has also been a leader in working to integrate these farming practices into the community.
FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM
Wynne Farm supports the Small Shareholders Farming Alliance and provides critical training and soil-testing resources to farmers in the extended community.
PROJECT LEADERS
JANE WYNNE
Founder of Wynne Farm
MICHARD BOUJOUR
Project Manager and Lead Agronomist