We Are Selling Our First Vegetables

Our first Cucumbers...
IDE CEPIRS Model Farm Co Op leader Dennis Ulloa...
Thanks to IDE International...

CEPIRS - Production Centers of Sustainable Rural Innovation...


Beautiful Cucumbers...


Red Onions...


Co Op team...
Our Red Onions...



Selling Red Onions at local market...


Local buyers at our Center of Operations...
Buying our Red Onions...


Co Op team...
IDE 25 Drip Irrigation System...
55 gallon tank - 208 liters...
Green Pepper...
Cabbage...
Red Onion...
Pera Tomato...


IDE 100 Drip Irrigation System...
223 liter water tank
Cabbage...


IDE 200 Drip Irrigation System...
730 liter water tank...
Pera Tomato...
Green Pepper...
Cabbage...


IDE 500 Drip Irrigation System...
1928 liter water tank...
Pera Tomato...
Cabbage...
Green Pepper...
The water tanks we co-designed with IDE Central America Director - Urs Heierli - and a local grain silo maker...
We use these tanks to gravity feed irrigation sytems...
This is possible by the unique IDE design that needs only low pressure to irrigate...


IDE Low Pressure Sprinklers...
I like this system...
Corn Crop...


IDE 3/4 manzana Drip Irrigation System...
Our second plot of Green Peppers...
We continue to plant adiitional Green Pepper - Cucumber - Red Onion - Garlic - and Raddish here...


Co Op team...
Our Green Pepper...
Pera tomato...

Good to see you again amigos...
Yes...
It has been a while...
I have not been able to shake off a old case of Malaria...

Our Co Op team has been working hard at our IDE CEPIRS Model Farm...
We began as a grass roots group with no Drip Irrigation...
Or vegetable growing experience...
We are much wiser today...
Life is good...

IDE International has been great with us...
We truly thank IDE Honduran director Lic. Carlos Urmeneta...
Our work together will change the lives of thousands of Hondurans...

The Catacamas Agricultural University - UNA - is working hard with us...
A great experience...
We are discussing how to start up a Farmers Market in Catacamas...
This will allow us to unite all producers in our area...
And allow new producers to join us...
We give special thanks to UNA director Dr. Marlon Escoto...
UNA Ing. Juan Chavarria...
UNA Ing. Andres Paz...
UNA Ing. Mario Rivera...
UNA Ing. Eleazor Turcios...
UNA Ing. Carlos Amador...
UNA Ing. Roberto Rubi...
UNA head Chef Jesus Pedro Chavez...
UNA fellow American Nate Lehmkuhl...
These great men are crucial to our IDE CEPIRS Model Farm...
We thank the students of UNA for using our IDE CEPIRS Model Farm as a classroom for their Agricultural studies...
Two future UNA Agricultural Engineers will do their thesis work at our farm...


Left - Co Op members...
Center - Urs Heierli - IDE Central America Director...
Right of Don Urs - UNA Ramon Leon Canaca...
Biege shirt - UNA Nate Lehmkhl
To Nates' left - IDE Honduran Director - Lic. Carlos Urmeneta..
End - Honduran Agricultural Engineer - Saul Escobar...


A local Egg Plant producer Celso Flores - has been a major asset to our IDE CEPIRS Model Farm...
Celso will be working with UNA to train Agricutural students in the field...

The Honduran Agricultural Engineer who brought the IDE Project to our community...
Ing. Walter Salgado...
Was fired from GTZ...
Unbelievable...
You are our man Ing. Salgado...

One word of advice to those NGO directors who like the sound of their own voice...
Your job is to do all that is possible to help your Honduran people...
Not surround yourself with yes men...
Protect the Campesino man...
The Campesino man will protect you...

Syngenta has come on board...
We truly thank Ing Julio Galvez...
Ing Dalila Raudales...
Ing Fernando Funez...
They are assisting us with three manzanas (4.8 acres) of IDE Drip Irrigation Systems...
Three manzanas of corn...
Technical advice...
We are discussing the idea of growing Oriental Vegetables...

I thank the Great Spirit...
I thank my beautiful wife and children - what incredible patience you have with me my dear wife...
I thank my family in the United States...
Yes Mom - I followed my dreams - I miss you - you left us too soon...
Dad - you showed me how to be a adventurer...
Brother - tell Hollywood what we are doing...
Sister - I need your help...
I thank my Honduran inlaws...
I thank Cerepa in Catacamas...
Robert...
Doris..
Dr. Armanda...
The Northlake Church of Christ in Decatur, Georgia...
Mike...
Stuart...
Mark...
Alan...
All of you in different ways helped build our farm...
Note - The above mentioned are not sponsors of our Honduran farm project...


IDE 1 manzana Drip Irrigation System...
Double Drip Tape...
Installing first manzana of IDE Drip Irrigation with Syngenta...
In background you can see another IDE 3/4 manzana Drip Irrigation System...
We have our first Green Peppers planted there...
This IDE Drip Irrigation System is gravity fed by 2500 liter water tank...


Students from UNA assisting with the installation of the 1 manzana IDE Drip Irrigation System...
We have endured growing pains with our partners...
All part of a dream to do someting that has never been done before in Honduras...
We will succeed together...
We have to succeed...
So much is at stake...

Three members of our Co Op group have left...
Rigo joined our team...
There are now five of us...

Co Op team...
Dennis - 32 years old - Rigo - 18 years old - Jose - 18 years old and Jovanny - 19 years old...
They are working hard for our project to succeed...
I am very proud of what these young men have achieved...
They are not on the streets of Honduras at night...
They are now Honduran vegetable producers...
"Free to live a `Honduran Dream´ - `Sueño Hondureño´"...
We have named ourselves - Empressa Productores de Sosa...

In our community of Aldea La Sosa, Catacamas, Olancho, Honduras...
35 families are waiting for IDE Drip Irrigation Systems donated by GTZ...
Soon these Honduran Campesinos will be providing a better diet for their families...
While at the same time - generating income...

We walk the talk...


Our first check for sales of Green Peppers...
Not a large sum...
But it is a beginning...
Remember...
We went from a former cow pasture...
To selling vegetables...
Now we need to teach our neigbors how to do the same...

IDE creates income opportunities for poor rural households...
All pictures current since May 5.2010...


UPDATE May 17.2010

Syngenta did not follow through with their promise to assist our farm...
After we prepared 3 manazanas (4.8 acres) of land...
This is typical business as usual in Honduras...
Your loss Syngenta...
We do not need you...
You need us...
Word of advice Syngenta...
Do not tell Campesinos to plant your corn with no irrigation system in place...

Best sales of vegetables to date today - 3,000 Lempiras - one buyer...
IDE Drip Irrigation Systems can change Honduras...


Selling our Green Peppers...

We must begin a Farmers Market here in Catacamas...
Local vendors want us to sell cheap - they sell high...
UNA has offered to develope a Farmers Market on university grounds...

We need a new supplier of vegetable seeds...
The seeds we are offered are not sufficient for our CEPIRS...

We want to be a Organic Vegetable Farm...
There is no Organic Farming expertise in our area...
Note: UNA has begun a Organic Farming pilot project...

We are uniting the true masters of vegetable farming in our area...
It has been heart warming to meet such talented people...
Whose country has abandoned them...

Rainy season has begun...
We will still use IDE Drip Irrigation Systems...


UPDATE Friday May 21.2010

Wednesday we sold - 4,800 Lempiras - of vegetables - two buyers...
We thank local legend vegetable producer Don Esteban Sandoval for helping us with our sales...


Local buyer bagging our Green Peppers...


Don Esteban Sandoval in his cowboy hat...
Talking with Dennis about how to better raise Red Onions...
A man dedicated to helping his fellow man...

We will be making changes at our Vegetable Farm this week...


UPDATE Monday May 25.2010

Today we sold 3,200 Lempiras of vegetables...


Getting our Green Peppers ready for sale...


Selling our Cucumbers...

To not waste your time reading negative news...
I will say only this...
Due to recent events by those who claim to want to help Campesinos...
We lost three more Co Op members Saturday...
That is six since February...

Two former Co Op members are heading to USA...
They say there will never be a Honduran Dream in Honduras...
They say Campesinos are only used to employ NGO employees...

We will reorganize..
We have our resources to develop our vegetable projects...
Our farm will continue to use drip irrigation to grow vegetables...
We will begin construction on our first greenhouse soon...
We believe using greenhouse´s to raise vegetables is the future in Honduras...


UPDATE Tuesday May 26.2010

Today we sold 2,050.00 lempiras of vegetables...

Word of advice to those who think they will dangle Agricultural Aid in front of our Campesinos...
Making them jump through hoops to appease your ego...
You will not be welcome at our farm...

Our farms goal...
Is to protect Honduran Campesinos...
To give safe sanctuary to allow the Honduran Campesino to learn Drip Irrigation techniques...
Learn how to grow vegetables on raised beds...
To learn how to grow vegetables in a greenhouse...
It will not be business as usual at our farm...
We do not promote Sustainable Famine Projects...

Another Drip Irrigation group is flooding the Catacamas market with their produce lol...
We are goimg to open a Farmers Market in our community...
We do not have to sell our produce at the Catacamas market place...


UPDATE Wednesday May 26.2010

I met with UNA Ing. Juan Chavarria...
And UNA Ing. Andres Paz...
They have promised their full support for our Honduran Campesino Drip Irrigation Project...
We want UNA students to have a place to learn field experience...

We are getting ready to begin a new nursery for 5,000 Green Pepper seedlings...
Our initial trial work is complete...
We are satisfied with our results...
Our sales of our produce speaks for itself...
Now we will plant for production to generate sales to support our farm...

Good news - One of our Co Op members - Jose - has returned...

You can reach me at - patucawarrior@gmail.com...

Have a great day...

-

Someone told me I am still the arrogant rebel in Honduras...
Perhaps a rebel with a Honduran cause...
This site irritates a few...
Well good...
If you exploit Honduran Campesinos...
I will make you famous here...

-

For the Gringo nearby who continues to give false Intel to Washington about my Honduran work...
I have had your number for many years...
You are a traitor to the Honduran people as well...
Obviously your defamation has done nothing to stop me...
Saludos to my amigos in New York...

Have a great weekend my friends...


UPDATE June 1.2010

We have showed the world at this website...
Honduran Campesinos can turn a cow pasture into a vegetable patch...
And sell their produce...
There is no reason for your favorite Honduran NGO to keep asking you for dinero...
Tell them to plant something and sell it...
There is abandoned farmland around us as far as the eye can see...
Tell your Honduran NGO to start growing veggies for sale in greenhouse´s...
Small groups can work each greenhouse...
Today a church group told me how they raise all church capital through activities...
On Saturdays they sell 1000 Tamales at 10 lempiras each - every Saturday...
NGO´s need to organize the same Honduran people they claim to help...
And through activities and Agricultural projects - raise their own funding...
Pigs at this time sell for a high price - cattle prices crashed...
There is no need for a country that has so much fertile farmland available...
To beg for money...

Everything we have raised on our farm since 2006...
We have been able to sell - everything...
Do not let your NGO tell you what I say about raising farm products for sale...
Is not possible...
It is possible...
_

Do to recent events...
The three Honduran NGO´s mentioned at the beginning of this post have not fulfilled their promises made to our Campesinos...
Continue to misinform their head office about our Honduran Campeisno work...
Yet the NGO directors continue to earn to top money - all expenses paid...

This is how most NGO´s operate...
The NGO visits your community...
Makes a list of your Campesino group needs...
Make promises...
Return to their office...
Solicitate funding in the name of your community...
Obtain funding...
Divert funding to their personal agenda...
You never see the NGO again...

Or as what just occured with us...
The NGO director asks me to set up side businesses around our Campesino project...
¨Lets make money Tomas¨ they say...
I always say no way...
Soon afterwards I am defamed as the bad guy to work with...
Aid to my Campesinos stops...

Same thing happened to our Post Mitch Hurricane Mith Rio Patuca Project...
The director who diverted our funding...
Defamed our work...
So he could build his personal empire...
Allowed his number two man - a family man - to empregnate one of the young girls who cooked for us...
The child still lives on the Rio Patuca...
Father never returned...
The director is still in business today...
All in the name of a well known church...
Amen...

Agricultural aid must reach the Honduran Campesinos directly...
No middle man...

-

Today I met with UNA director Dr. Marlon Escoto...
I gave him a complete update of our farm progress...
And issues...
We discussed many ideas that can help Honduran Campesinos...
Dr. Escoto said UNA was behind us...
Viva Olancho!

-

The recent Tropical Storm Agatha caused minimum damage to Catacamas...
Those affected live or farm in high risk areas prone to flooding...

-

UPDATE June 2.2010

A narco boy roundup was staged today by the Honduran military and police here in Catacamas...
American military have been in the area recently...
Seems someone is taking back their turf...
The anti drug boys have been in Catacamas since January 2010...
Sleeping in cheap hotels...
Partying with the boys...
And everyone fell for the sting...

Many have tried to tie me to the Honduran narco world...
To stop my work in Honduras...
Well...
While the narco boys were going down...
I was selling cucumbers...
I told the local Gringo Intel boy...
And those who took down Mel Zelaya...
Their misinformation about me - was useless...

Since I am not in jail...
Shows you...
There are still those who do things the old fashioned way...
We work hard for what we have...
We have ethics...
We have dignity...
We protect our family name...

A monkey can be trained to stand on a street corner and sell drugs...
A man fights to better his world...
The Great Spirit protects us...

-

This has been a good thread...
A lot of truth regarding our Honduran work has been told...


You can reach me at - patucawarrior@gmail.com...

-

UPDATE Friday November 12.2010

A decision has been made together with our Honduran Campesino associates...
All IDE International drip irrigation equipment has been removed from our farm...
We are looking at irrigation systems developed in Nicaragua...


Thursday June 23.2011

We are not planting veggies at this time...
We have replaced vegetable beds with our Yellow Corn and Frijol crop...
We need Yellow Corn to make our concentrate for our pigs...
Frijol beans are at 20 and 22 Lempiras per pound today...
For this reason we contunie to plant Frijol bean for sale...

· · ·

Review Of Last Seventeen Months

January 12.2010
· IDE - Honduran Campesino Drip Irrigation Project


January 20.2010
· The Honduran Campesino Dream Begins


January 27.2010
· Answer To Imposed Honduran Poverty - Action


May 5.2010
· We Are Selling Our First Vegetables


June 15.2010
· We Need Buyers For Our Honduran Produce


Friday November 12.2010
A decision has been made together with our Honduran Campesino associates...
All IDE International drip irrigation equipment has been removed from our farm...
We are looking at irrigation systems developed in Nicaragua...


November 12.2010
· Family First


November 14.2010
We have initiated our Pig Project...
· Family Farm Project


December 24.2010
· Aldea Sosa Roadside Farmers Market


January 19.2011
· We Continue To Plant Frijol Beans


January 26.2011
· We Continue To Sell Our Farm Products


February 2.2011
· Frijol 40 Rosado - Frijol Cuarentano Rosado


March 24.2011
· My 24 Year Old Dream For Honduras - Swadeshi


June 28.2011
Pig project update...
· Failure Is Not An Option


August 29.2011
· Corn Warriors

September 4.2011
· Pig Warriors