Celebrating The Life of “The Cover Crop Master” And Leader In The Farmer-To-Farmer Movement To Rebuild Food Sovereignty
With both sadness and gratitude, the community of Deslandes recently celebrated the life of Dieuseul St. Jean, a remarkable farmer and leader who passed away on February 7.
This sudden, unexpected loss shocked not only the Deslandes community but also PIP and our partners. After a few weeks of reflection, we are reminded of how truly blessed we are to have had Dieuseul in our lives, grateful to have had the opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him on the front lines of the movement to rebuild food sovereignty.
If you are not familiar with his inspirational story, I encourage you to read on.
Dieuseul was one of the creators of the original Konbit Vanyan Kapab Agroecology Project over a decade ago. He led the Konbit Divot farm, one of three initial cooperative innovation farms that launched the project.
An early and influential Agroecology Educator, Dieuseul also facilitated workshops and provided technical assistance in the field for farmers eager to follow his lead in transitioning to agroecology through the Konbit Vanyan Kapab Farmer-to-Farmer Agroecology for Food Sovereignty Initiative (FAFSI).
He taught about the importance of cover crops and trees in agroecology systems. Quiet, yet passionate, he led by example and others followed. With an infectious grin, Dieuseul was known to say to farmers: “My friend, to grow more food you have to create a good home for the soil people.”
The highest compliment, fellow Agroecology Educators called him “Mèt Kouvèti Vejetal” (Kreyol for “Cover Crop Master”). Dieuseul communicated in a way that was easy to understand: “Just like us,” Dieuseul would say, “the soil people need water, food, and shade. When you create a beautiful garden, this brings joy to the soil people – and we all will live and be happy.”
The knowledge and passion shared by Dieuseul, and those he inspired, has led to greater access to healthy, traditional foods and increased income for farm families. In fact, farmers who have transitioned to agroecology have spearheaded food relief efforts across Haiti in response to severe hunger driven by multiple crises in recent years.
Dieuseul was exactly the kind of leader the movement needed.
One of the most creative, hard-working, and respected farmers in Deslandes, Dieuseul was a quiet, humble leader, who cared deeply about agroecology, community, and environment. The success of the Konbit Divot Farm is acknowledged as the impetus for FAFSI.
Located on one of the main paths to the Artibonite River, the Konbit Divot Farm was a daily landmark for residents of Deslandes and surrounding communities. As passersby witnessed the success of this demonstration farm, they began asking how they, too, could receive assistance in transforming their farms to adopt agroecology practices.
This demand led to creation of the farmer-to-farmer initiative (FAFSI) which Dieuseul helped design. For those of you reading this who have been to Deslandes, the Konbit Divot Farm was likely the first farm you visited. And, if you were lucky, you would have met – and remembered — Dieuseul!
In 2018, Dieuseul participated in a presentation at a USAID Innovation in Agriculture Education conference. We were all a bit nervous as the room was packed with representatives of government agencies, universities, and development NGOs. When it was time, though, Dieuseul — along with Yvrose Edouarsaint and Anslo Faustin — grabbed the mic and presented like seasoned pros, receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience. We were proud, but not at all surprised at the confidence and skill of Dieuseul and team.
A father, husband, and leader, Dieuseul St. Jean was the heart and soul of the movement to rebuild food sovereignty through FAFSI. He helped us understand our interconnectedness with all life — even some of the smallest beings on earth. He helped to revitalize Haitian traditions of caring, sharing, and working together in rural communities across Haiti.
He became and will remain the symbol of the movement’s creation, early struggles, perseverance, and success.
I echo what many others have surely felt when I say that I am sad and that I will deeply miss you, Dieuseul, and all that you accomplished, and everything you stood for. May we honor him by carrying on this work and developing future leaders to advance the movement born of the heart and soul of farmers like Dieuseul.
Rest in peace.
Michael Neumann
Executive Director, Partners in Progress
