SAKALA proposes a joint crop trial with SOIL Haiti comparing the effectiveness of SOIL Konpos Lakay at four concentration ratios across 8 crops, with parallel hydroponic control trials on selected crops. The research will be conducted by SAKALA franchise youth (ages 16+) at the SAKALA compound in Cité Soleil, with remote analytical support from BARSS LLC and academic oversight from UEH FAMV. All data will be shared with SOIL for product validation and marketing. Co-authorship on any resulting publications.
For each crop, 4 treatments:
3 replicates per treatment = 12 containers per crop.
8 crops × 12 containers = 96 containers total.
| Crop | Kreyol Name | Why Selected | Growth Cycle | Expected Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pourpier (Purslane) | Koupye / Poupye | Edible, nutritious, thrives in poor soil. Crossover with Track B. | 30–45 days | Month 2 |
| Moringa | Benzoliv | SAKALA anchor crop. Tree growth measurement. | First leaves 60 days | Month 3 (leaves) |
| Peppers (piman zwazo) | Piman | Franchise product. High value. Crossover with Track B. | 90–120 days | Month 4–5 |
| Yam | Yanm | Haitian staple. Tuber, needs soil depth. Long cycle. | 6–9 months | Month 6+ |
| Aloe | Lalwa | Medicinal, skincare. Easy tropical grower. | Continuous | Month 3+ |
| Alfalfa | Alfafa | Animal feed + microgreen potential. Nitrogen fixer. | 30–60 days | Month 2 |
| Azolla | Azola | Aquatic fern. Nitrogen fixer. Animal feed protein (25–30%). | Doubles every 3–5 days | Month 1 (continuous) |
| Nèswi | Nèswi | [Local crop — confirm with Dan. Placeholder pending identification.] | TBD | TBD |
For crossover comparison, grow the same crops in hydroponic systems alongside soil containers:
| Crop | Hydroponic System | Nutrient Solution | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pourpier | Kratky (mason jar) | Masterblend 4-18-38 | Direct comparison: SOIL compost vs hydroponic yield |
| Peppers | Drip system (bucket) | Masterblend | Direct comparison |
| Alfalfa | Microgreen tray | Masterblend | Harvest as microgreens (7–14 day cycle) |
| Azolla | DWC float (tray of water) | No nutrients needed (fixes own nitrogen) | Biomass production rate |
| Lettuce (bonus crop) | Kratky + DWC | Masterblend | Benchmark crop (most studied hydroponic crop) |
5 hydroponic crops × 3 replicates = 15 hydroponic units.
Not part of the SOIL proposal directly, but runs on the same site:
| Parameter | Frequency | Tool | Who Collects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germination date | Once (record when seedling emerges) | Visual observation | Youth (Role #8) |
| Plant height (cm) | Weekly | Ruler | Youth |
| Leaf count | Weekly | Count | Youth |
| Stem diameter | Bi-weekly | Calipers or ruler | Youth |
| Visual health rating (1–5) | Weekly | Photo + rating scale chart | Youth |
| Photo documentation | Weekly (same angle, same time of day) | Smartphone | Youth |
| Soil/water pH | Bi-weekly | LaMotte kit or pH strips | Youth (10-min training) |
| Hydroponic EC | Weekly (Track B only) | EC meter (HM Digital COM-80) | Youth (10-min training) |
| Days to first harvest | Once per crop | Calendar | Youth |
| Harvest weight (grams) | At each harvest | Kitchen scale (0.1g) | Youth |
| Post-harvest soil pH | End of trial | LaMotte kit | Youth |
All data entered via KoboToolbox on smartphone (offline-capable). Form designed by BARSS with dropdown menus, number fields, and photo capture. Data syncs to cloud when internet is available. BARSS monitors data quality remotely.
| Task | What It Actually Requires | Trainable in... |
|---|---|---|
| Mix soil ratios | Follow a recipe (3 scoops sand, 1 scoop compost) | 5 minutes |
| Fill containers | Shovel + hands | Already know how |
| Plant seeds | Put seed in hole at correct depth | 5 minutes |
| Water on schedule | Calendar + watering can | Already know how |
| Measure height | Read a ruler | Already know how |
| Count leaves | Count | Already know how |
| Record on KoboToolbox | Tap phone screen, type number | 30-minute training |
| Take standardized photo | Phone camera, same angle marker on ground | 10 minutes |
| Weigh harvest | Put on scale, read number | 5 minutes |
| Mix hydroponic nutrients | Measure grams on scale, pour into water, stir | 20-minute training |
| Test pH | Dip meter in water, read number | 10 minutes |
| Spot problems | "Does this look different from the others?" + photo | Ongoing mentorship |
The youth are trained data collectors running a pre-designed protocol. The scientific rigor comes from the design and analysis, not the collection. This is standard practice in agricultural field research worldwide — trained community members collect data, researchers analyze it.
| Level | Who | Role | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-site daily | SAKALA Youth (Role #8: Nursery/Research) | Daily measurements, watering, photos | Every day |
| On-site supervision | SAKALA Franchise Manager (Role #10) | Ensures protocol followed, resolves issues | Daily check-in |
| On-site scientific | Dr. Mac Archer (BARSS, Haiti-based) | Verify methodology, troubleshoot, quality audit | Bi-weekly site visits |
| Remote analytical | Wesley Bertil (BARSS, Delaware) | Monitor KoboToolbox data, flag anomalies, run statistics | Real-time via dashboard |
| Academic oversight | UEH FAMV (Prof. Neudy Jean-Baptiste, Vice-Dean Research) | Scientific review, student intern placement, co-authorship | Monthly review |
| Partner liaison | SOIL Haiti | Compost supply, technical input on compost application, shared results | Monthly check-in |
| Month | Track A (Soil/Compost) | Track B (Hydroponics) | Milestones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month 0 (April) |
Source containers, prepare sand, order SOIL compost. Label all 96 containers. | Build Kratky stations, source Masterblend nutrients, calibrate pH/EC meters. | Site prep complete. KoboToolbox forms built and tested. |
| Month 1 (May) |
Plant all 8 crops in all 96 containers. Begin weekly measurements. | Plant pourpier, peppers, alfalfa, azolla, lettuce. Begin measurements. | First data collection. Youth trained on protocol. |
| Month 2 (June) |
Pourpier first harvest (T1–T4 comparison). Alfalfa first cut. Azolla biomass doubling tracked. | Pourpier hydro harvest. Alfalfa microgreen harvest (7–14 day cycles). Azolla biomass. | First crossover comparison data: SOIL compost vs hydroponic vs control. |
| Month 3 (July) |
Moringa first leaf harvest. Aloe establishing. Peppers flowering. | Lettuce first harvest. Pepper flowering. | Interim report #1 to SOIL. |
| Month 4 (Aug) |
Pepper first harvest (hot sauce production begins from trial peppers). Second moringa harvest. | Pepper hydro harvest. Comparison data accumulating. | Mid-trial review with SOIL + UEH. |
| Month 5 (Sep) |
Third pourpier cycle. Yam establishing (long cycle). Continuous alfalfa/azolla. | Continuous harvests, data collection. | Preliminary results compiled. |
| Month 6 (Oct) |
Final harvest for fast crops. Yam continues (mark for future). Aloe harvest. | Final harvests. | Final report to SOIL. Data analysis. Publication draft. |
| Item | Qty | Unit Cost | Total | Provided By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Containers (20L buckets) | 96 | $1.50 | $144 | SAKALA |
| Sand | 500 kg | $0.05/kg | $25 | SAKALA |
| SOIL Konpos Lakay compost | 500 kg | TBD | $0–75 | SOIL (requested) |
| Seeds (8 crop varieties) | 8 packs | $2–5 each | $16–40 | SAKALA |
| Moringa seedlings | 12 | $0.25 | $3 | SAKALA nursery |
| Yam seed tubers | 12 | $1.00 | $12 | Local market |
| Aloe pups | 12 | $0.50 | $6 | Local sourcing |
| Azolla starter culture | 1 kg | $5–10 | $5–10 | Source from DR or online |
| Labels / markers | 120 | $0.10 | $12 | SAKALA |
| Ruler + calipers | 3 sets | $5.00 | $15 | SAKALA |
| Kitchen scale (0.1g) | 2 | $8.00 | $16 | SAKALA |
| LaMotte soil test kit | 1 | $75.00 | $75 | SAKALA |
| pH meter (Bluelab pen) | 1 | $90.00 | $90 | SAKALA |
| EC meter (HM Digital) | 1 | $50.00 | $50 | SAKALA |
| Kratky containers (mason jars) | 15 | $1.00 | $15 | SAKALA |
| Masterblend nutrients (2.5 lb kit) | 1 | $25.00 | $25 | SAKALA |
| Microgreen trays | 6 | $2.00 | $12 | SAKALA |
| DWC tray for azolla | 3 | $5.00 | $15 | SAKALA |
| Smartphone (KoboToolbox) | 1 | $40 (or existing) | $0–40 | SAKALA |
| Calibration solutions (pH 4.0, 7.0) | 1 set | $10.00 | $10 | SAKALA |
| Photo reference card (color checker) | 1 | $10.00 | $10 | SAKALA |
| TOTAL (SAKALA cost) | $521–653 | |||
| TOTAL (SOIL contribution: compost) | $0–75 | |||
| GRAND TOTAL | $521–728 | |||
SOIL provides approximately 500 kg of Konpos Lakay (valued at $0–75). In return, SOIL receives:
SAKALA invests approximately $521–653 in materials and provides the site, labor, and coordination. In return:
| Deliverable | Timeline | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Signed MOU (SAKALA × SOIL) | Month 0 | Both parties |
| KoboToolbox data collection forms (tested) | Month 0 | BARSS (Wesley) |
| Youth training on protocol | Month 1, Week 1 | SAKALA + Mac |
| Interim data report #1 | Month 3 | BARSS (Wesley) |
| Mid-trial review meeting | Month 4 | SAKALA + SOIL + UEH |
| Final data analysis | Month 6 | BARSS (Wesley) |
| Final report to SOIL | Month 6 | BARSS + SAKALA |
| Publication draft | Month 7–8 | BARSS + UEH |
| Presentation at SOIL/IDB event (if applicable) | TBD | SAKALA + SOIL |
| Role | Name | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| SAKALA Principal | Daniel Tillias | +1-607-304-1058 |
| BARSS Analytical Lead | Wesley Bertil | wbertil@barssforhaiti.com |
| Haiti Research Partner | Dr. Mac Archer | [Mac's contact] |
| Academic Oversight | Prof. Neudy Jean-Baptiste, UEH FAMV | [UEH contact] |
| SOIL Haiti | [SOIL contact person] | oursoil.org |
This is a $521–728 research program that produces publishable data, validates a commercial compost product, trains 10 franchise youth in agricultural science, and optimizes the growing model for 344 future franchises. The cost is less than a single franchise. The value compounds across every franchise that ever deploys.