Help Farmers in Puerto Rico Rebuild after Hurricane Maria

As farmers and farm service providers, we are deeply saddened at the images and stories of what farmers in Puerto Rico are experiencing in the wake of Hurricane Maria. 

The New York Times recently reported that the storm destroyed 80% of crops on the island. The time to recover will not be measured in days or weeks, but months and even years: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/24/us/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-agriculture-.html

Efforts are underway by Fondo de Resiliencia Agroecológica (Agroecological Resilience Fund) to collect supplies and monetary donations to help farms rebuild.

Tara Rodríguez Besosa is one of the main organizers behind the effort and is owner of a local-foods restaurant in San Juan that was lost under six feet of water. Besosa says that it’s, “Important to emphasize that Puerto Rico has not had a healthy food system for some time now. Now, we are at a crucial moment of dealing with a complete wipe-out, both within the little local food system we had come to achieve through small and medium sized agroecological farming, but [also] our forests, rainforests, and bodies of water.“

See the stories of some of the people you can help here: http://www.agroecologiapr.org/
(for English subtitles, turn on closed captioning)

For those in the Finger Lakes area of New York, Wellspring Forest Farm in Mecklenburg, NY is serving as a drop off location for tools and supplies you wish to get to the island but are not able to mail yourself. Please contact stevegabrielfarmer@gmail.com for information on how to drop off supplies. If your farm is willing to serve as a drop-off location in New York, please also let Steve know.

Donations requested


- Annual Seeds (much of the annuals we can grow here, they can grow year round)
    Here is a list of requested types: https://fondoderesilienciapuertorico.tumblr.com/materiales
- Water filter systems that don't require electricity (berkey systems, lifestraw, etc)
- Herbal medicines of all sorts (preferably with descriptions of uses)
- Solar chargers
- Solar supplies of any sort
- Small Axes
- Hatchets
- Machetes
- Sharpening stones
- Hand saws
- Timber Hand saws
- Draw knifes
- Hoes
- Shovels
- Irrigation supplies
- Generators
- Chainsaws with extra chains, bar oil, and oil mix.
- Ropes and Cordage
- Shade cloth
- Farming, off-grid, and survival books

Donations can be mailed to:
Fondo de Resiliencia Agroecológica
961 Bergen St, Apt 4B
Brooklyn, NY, 11216

or to Boulder, CO
Fondo de Resiliencia Agroecológica
1942 Broadway Ave, Suite 409
Boulder, CO 80302


Monetary donations can be made online a this link:
https://fondoderesilienciapuertorico.tumblr.com/donate or direct through PayPal to:
email tara@efectosombrilla.org or taritarodriguez@gmail.com

Website:
https://fondoderesilienciapuertorico.tumblr.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/departamentodelacomida/

Contact persons:
Tara Rodríguez Besosa, tara@efectosombrilla.org, 787-447-3090
Daniella Rodríguez Besosa, 787-431-8424