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Sustainability in the Developing WorldDeveloping CountriesDeveloping countries are highly susceptible to changes in climate, and face numerous challenges ranging from food and water security to agricultural sustainability. In addition, the mentally and physically challenged, the elderly and the poverty stricken residing in the developing world are the least capable of adapting to environmental, economic or social change.

JamaicaTo address these issues, Mustard Seed Communities, a non-profit based in Jamaica, and Penn State University are partnering to develop a self sustaining community in St Ann, Jamaica. The village will serve as a center to educate, train and demonstrate the use of appropriate technologies, sustainable practices, and relevant business models for developing nations. This sustainable village, named Jacob’s Ladder, will house 500 mentally and physically disabled Jamaican youth. The village will include renewable energy options, rain water catchment systems, sustainable agricultural practices, permaculture principles, and appropriate housing solutions. These components are designed to promote economical, ecological, and social sustainability. By exploring practical solutions which address the core problems facing individuals and communities living in developing countries, Jacob’s Ladder will become an educational and training facility on both a local and international level.

Jacob’s LadderA S U S TA I N A B L E C O M M U N I T Y F O R D I S A B L E D I N D I V I D U A L S O F J A M A I C A

Problem Statement

Document Index

Problem Statement Page 1

Mustard Seed Communities Overview Page 2-3

Jacob’s Ladder Overview Page 4-5

Demonstration Village Overview Page 6

Current Research Initiatives Page 7

Proposed Research Components Page 8-9

Get Involved Page 10

Ocho RiosJacob’s Ladder

Kingston

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Jacob’s Ladder is located in Moneague, Jamaica in the parish of St. Ann. It is approximately 15

miles south of Ocho Rios, a popular tourist location, and 40 miles northwest from the

capital, Kingston

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T H E M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T O F M U S TA R D S E E D C O M M U N I T I E S

Inspired by the healing and caring Ministry of Jesus Christ, we aim through the positive interaction of Caring, Sharing, and Training, to uplift the most vulnerable members of society, especially handicapped and abandoned children, and marginalized communities. We are committed to the fostering of homes and communities which will lead us all to loving service and mutual respect and which will bring us joy, hope, and dignity.

About Mustard Seed CommunitiesMustard Seed Communities (MSC) is a non-profit, community development organization that was started in 1978 in Kingston, Jamaica by Father Gregory Ramkisson, a Roman Catholic clergyman. The objective was to enrich and empower the spiritually, psychologically, and financially poor living in urban communities. MSC assists them in

leaving the cycles of frustration and hopelessness which dominate their lives, through strategies that revolve around the concepts of Caring, Sharing, and Training.

There are now eighteen Caring Apostolates of MSC, established or under construction. These are located in various parishes in Jamaica, as well as in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Zimbabwe. These Apostolates care for abandoned, disabled children, homeless pregnant teenagers, and young adults and babies afflicted with HIV/AIDS.

MSC also maintains several income generating businesses that provide entrepreneurial training and skills development. A few of these businesses include:• Greeting-card manufacturing• A bakery• ROOTS FM, a community radio station• Two half-acre ponds that cycle 10,000 fresh-water fish twice

annually• A 1,200 eggs-per-day chicken farm• Thrift shops for used clothing, books, and children’s toys• Sheep rearing• An ornamental plant nursery• Missionary training• Research on childhood disabilities in partnership with the

University of Technology, Jamaica

Meeting a Pressing NeedMustard Seed Communities today faces two pressing problems which are also shared by other children’s homes in Jamaica that care for disabled children.

1. As an institution with children’s homes, it is not permitted by law to care for children over eighteen years of age. As the organization grows, and as its abandoned and physically and mentally disabled children reach this threshold age, an alternative solution must be found to continue to care for them. There are no facilities, government or otherwise, in Jamaica that are prepared to take care of these individuals. It is within this context that Jacob’s Ladder was conceived.

2. The second problem is financial in nature. Mustard Seed Communities operates on very limited financial resources. The implication of this for Jacob’s Ladder is that the proposed facility must be wholly, or at least substantially, financially self-sustaining.

The Plan for Jacob’s LadderLocationIn 2004 Mustard Seed Communities acquired 102 acres of mined-out bauxite land on a 99-year lease from the bauxite company Windalco, on behalf of the Government of Jamaica. The property is located in the area of Haddon, approximately two miles north of the town of Moneague and approximately one mile off the Moneague-Ocho Rios main road.

Nature of the ProjectMSC is constructing on this property a children’s home for mentally and physically disabled young adults. Called Jacob’s Ladder, the complex will house some 500 severely physically and mentally disabled young persons over 18 years of age, drawn from MSC and other children’s

homes in Jamaica. MSC staff will also live on the property.

Some of the children who will be tranferred to Jacob’s Ladder are currently housed at Jerusalem! Village, which is situated within one of MSC’s properties. Others will come from National Children’s Home, Best Care Lodge, and other children’s homes in Jamaica.

Research ComponentsMustard Seed Communities

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The Jacob’s Ladder facility will be the only one in all of Jamaica for physically and mentally disabled persons over 18 years of age.

Project GoalTo create on mined-out bauxite land a self-sustaining community that will include a sizable population of disabled children over 18 years of age.

Project Objectives1. To provide accommodation for 500 disabled children.2. To provide accommodation for MSC staff who will care for

the disabled residents and the facilities on the compound.3. To establish an agricultural system for in-house food needs

and for income generation through sale of the produce on the domestic market.

Living ArrangementsThe living arrangements at Jerusalem! Village consist of a complex of cottages and the emphasis here is on the fostering of semi-independent living among the children. The residents, most of whom are ambulatory, clean the cottages, do their own laundry, and help in the kitchen at the Jerusalem! facility. It is intended that this semi-independent style of living will continue at the Jacob’s Ladder facility.

Training and EducationMSC places great emphasis on the training and education of all its disabled children. From an economic point of view, this leads to (among those who are ambulatory) the development of productive individuals who can engage in the economic activities at the homes. From a psychological point of view, this involvement in economic activity enhances the young people’s self-esteem, thereby improving the quality of their lives.

The current residents of Jerusalem! Village receive training and education in several forms: they perform chores on the farm located onsite, help in construction activities at the home, and receive schooling at the onsite school. These types of training and education will continue at the Jacob’s Ladder facility.

Income GenerationThe project will also feature several income generating ventures, which will provide:

• A source of food for the home• A source on monetary income for the facility• A form of occupational therapy for the more able bodied

residents who will be engaged as workers in the various ventures

Development ImplicationsSkills and EmploymentIn addition to employing and training some of the more able-bodied young persons from the home itself, an important component of the project involves the participation of residents in the surrounding communities and in productive activities on the compound.

The training and empowerment of these residents, especially the young of working age, in the planned economic ventures will impart skills which they can use to generate economic activity in the surrounding rural areas.

At present, many of these unemployed young people migrate to the major urban areas of Jamaica seeking economic opportunities, a move which only further strains the services of these centers and exacerbates the problems of overcrowding, crime, violence, prostitution, and other social issues.

Conservation and SustainabilityThe primary goal of the project is to create a self-sustaining community on mined-out bauxite land. This involves not only economic sustainability via the income-generating ventures that are planned, but also environmental sustainability. The latter will be achieved by the careful choice of agricultural practices to enhance environmental conservation.

Business and Community PartnershipsMSC has succeeded in forging a collaborative partnership with Walkerswood Caribbean Foods Ltd. (WCFL), a major food production company based in Jamaica. WCFL has agreed to purchase all the peppers produced from the planned commercial farm. Determination of the crops to be cultivated on the farm will take place in collaboration with WCFL.

Safe and Healthy ChildrenThe purpose of the project is the creation of a safe and healthy environment for disabled young persons from MSC and other children’s homes in Jamaica.

Research Components

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Research ComponentsJacob’s Ladder OverviewThe goal of Jacob’s Ladder is to design and construct a community for 500+ disabled residents above the age of 18 years old in central Jamaica. Due to the nature of such a large project, special consideration must be made to ensure that Jacob’s Ladder will be economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable in the future.

Jacob’s Ladder will require significant quantities of food and water for the residents and may have a high demand for energy. Alternative technologies are being investigating to reduce this cost, and agricultural projects are being developed to provide much of the food needed for the community. A portion of the crops can also be sold for additional income.

Jacob’s Ladder is situated on an abandoned bauxite mine which means special attention must be made to ensure that the soils are capable of large-scale agricultural production. Environment-friendly technologies and methodologies are being investigated for future development.

Because the community will consist of residents with a wide range of disabilities, the overall design of the site must sufficiently meet the needs of multiple kinds and levels of disabilities.

The necessary resources on site must be capable of sustaining the caring process in the future.

Economic Sustainability

Ecological Sustainability

Social Sustainability

Current ConditionsAs of October 2008, there are 32 residents on site and 7 caretakers which alternate shifts at the site. There are 20 cottages built on site and the frame of a chapel and administration building. Small-scale agricultural plots are being prepared on site for cooking purposes. Jamaican Public Services recently provided the site with electricity and piped water attached to the main system. Numerous service groups have traveled to the site to provide assistance. One of these groups constructed two outdoor pavilions to be used for the residents during the day. Plans are underway to begin construction of 3 more cottages on site and to finish the chapel and administration building.

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LegendExisting Homes and StructuresProposed Homes and Structures

Future Agricultural DevelopmentCompassion / Ecotourism Retreat CenterDemonstration Village

Main Entrance to Jacob’s LadderOutdoor PavilionsLibrary and Sensory GardenWater Catchment for Residential UseHurricane Shelter / Recreation CenterLiving Wastewater FilterRear Entrance to Jacob’s Ladder

Intimate CommunitiesOne of the most important design elements of Jacob’s Ladder site layout was to ensure that the cottage layout fostered intimate communities among the residents, unlike the traditional institutionalized feeling that many caring facilities feel like. To achieve this goal, numerous cul-de-sacs were created on site, as depicted by the blue circle zones in the image above. The homes are arranged to promote personal spaces and community building, while still retaining accessibility.

Site LayoutThe plan below shows the future layout of Jacob’s Ladder and illustrates the relationship between residential homes, research facilities, agricultural production, and tourist sections. The dark blue section represents the area in which Penn State will focustheir efforts at implementing sustainable solutions for the site.

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Jacob’s Ladder is a large initiative, with multiple challenges and numerous projects. To create a manageable starting point for the future sustainable development of the site, Penn State University will focus on the implementation of a 15 acre plot of land which will serve as the Demonstration Village. This area will be used to attract future investors and site visitors to help draw attention to Jacob’s Ladder and the research projects being undertaken on site. The Demonstration Village will consist of numerous small-scale projects which can then be implemented on the larger site once proven successful. These projects are categorized below and arranged in the diagram of the Demonstration Village to the right. For more detail about these projects, refer to the Proposed Research Components section.

Sustainable Agriculture

Renewable Energy

Water

Alternative Housing

Research ComponentsDemonstration Village

Crops and Soil

• Permaculture• Intercropping• Hillside Farming

• In-vessel Composting• High Tunnel ResearchLivestock

• Mobile Chicken Coops• Rotational Grazing Pens

• Solar • Wind• Biodiesel

• Rainwater Harvesting• Glazing (alternative lining materials)

• Living Wastewater Filters

• Shipping Container Construction• Hurricane Proof Design

Legend

Water CatchmentHigh Tunnels / GreenhousesLiving Wastewater FilterAlternative Housing (Hurricane design,Permaculture (Intercropping, hillside farming)Mobile Chicken CoopsIndigenous Wildlife CorridorRotational Grazing PensComposting FacilitiesBiodiesel Processing PlantVegetable Oil Holding Containers

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Solar-Powered Golf Cart Charger & Shipping Container ConstructionLead Researchers - Spud Marshall and Eric SauderPenn State University

To create a link between the residential portion of Jacob’s Ladder and the Demonstration Village, an Information Library will be built at the center of the site. This library will serve as the access point for guests and investors coming to learn more about the Demonstration Village. The library will contain informational material about the numerous projects situated in the Demonstration Village and will give visitors a birds-eye-view of the projects from an observation deck. Key design components of the library include a green roof for insulation, passive lighting and cooling principles, and the use of shipping containers as the building material.

The library will also provide sensory stimulation for the children by serving as the central point for residents to come read and interact with developmental tools. Surrounding the library will be a sensory garden which will expand the sensory

stimulation and provide unique stations targeted for specific disabilities. Construction of the sensory garden will be an activity that service groups visiting the site will be able to participate in by building small portions of the trail during their stay at Jacob’s Ladder.

The library will also house a solar and wind powered golf cart charging station. By using alternative energy to charge the golf cart, the site will not need to pay for transportation costs to take the caretakers back and forth to their home communities.

Current Research Initiatives

Nutrient MappingLead Researchers - Dr. Neil Brown and Dr. Doug MillerPenn State University

This project will develop a soil and land management plan for the Demonstration Village as the beginning point for developing a long-term plan for small-scale, sustainable farm development. These results will provide an introduction for extension personnel and local producers, interested in agricultural development on marginal and reclaimed lands. The goal is to establish baseline soil productivity information for the process of planning small-scale sustainable agriculture programs. This research will apply traditional soil survey and land evaluation approaches to develop a baseline soil and land management plan for the former bauxite mine site. A team of students from Penn State is planning a trip to Jacob’s Ladder for 7 days during November of 2008 to perform the basic soil surveying operations. This data will then be compiled with existing geospatial resources to help develop the complete nutrient mapping system.

Youth Development in AgricultureLead Researchers - Dr. Nicole Webster and Dr. Neil BrownPenn State University

The specific objectives of this initial project are to assess the current attitudes, challenges, and knowledge of youth and the farming communities with respect to agricultural careers, advancements in agriculture, and their future in the agricultural industry. This information will then be used to develop educational and extension materials that highlight opportunities and challenges of working with youth and agriculture in the Caribbean.

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Proposed Research Components Water Catchment Research (1)

The water catch design will investigate new materials for lining the catchment surface with the goal of eliminating the need for concrete (an expensive, commonly used material). In combination with a solar-powered pump, the water will be piped to various portions of the Demonstration Village for irrigation purposes. Water catches increase production yields by harnessing water for dry seasons.

High Tunnel Research (2)

High tunnels, similar to greenhouses, are used in tropical regions to control the environment by regulating rainfall and monitoring integrated pest management. Two 30’x100’ high tunnels will be built on site research the effect that high tunnels have on crop yield in Jamaica. An integrated water catchment will be built for the high tunnels to supply the water for irrigation.

Alternative Housing (3/4)

To monitor the various pilot projects, an office building will be constructed which will demonstrate hurricane resistant building techniques. The roof will harness the building’s water needs and a living filter will be used to treat the wastewater generated from the office.

Permaculture Design (5)

Permaculture attempts to identify the various components of an overall agricultural system and observe how the multiple components interact. For the Demonstration Village fruit trees, cover crops, and root crops will all be planted together in a polyculture manner. This will allow the various plants to benefit from one another when properly planned and maintained.

Mobile Chicken Coops (6)

To reclaim the soil, mobile chicken coops will move across the site based upon a fixed rotation pattern. The chickens will help maintain the vegetative growth on site and provide natural fertilizer for the soil. A portable fence will surround and move along with the chicken coop. These chicken coops can be manually moved or attached to a tractor which will eventually be powered by biodiesel.

Indigenous Nature Corridor (7)

A separate parcel of land will be sectioned off and left as the natural habitat to observe the difference before and after implementation of the Demonstration Village. This plot of land will also attract the indigenous wildlife of the area.

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Rotational Grazing Pens (8)

Portable electric fences for goat and sheep will be moved around the site in a rotational grazing pattern to help reclaim the soil. These pens will also be located closer to the cottages on site to enhance sensory stimulation for the residents.

Composting Facility (9)

In collaboration with hotels in Ocho Rios, hotel kitchen waste will be collected and transported to Jacob’s Ladder. Here it will be used in small-scale composting operations in which the output can be used to reclaim the soil. The system will involve manually rolling drums of organic waste material down a concrete chute.

Biodiesel Plant (10/11)

Cooking oil will also be obtained from the hotels in Ocho Rios which will then be used in a small-scale biodiesel processing plant. This biodiesel can then be used to fuel an on-site truck which can transport caretakers back and forth to their communities. The biodiesel truck will also serve as an advertising medium for Jacob’s Ladder.

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Student InvolvementTo implement these proposed research components, the Penn State Jacob’s Ladder Development Team is working in conjunction with PSU professor Tom Colledge to create student design teams. Working with students from Engineering Design 492: Projects in Community Service Engineering, numerous interdisciplinary student design teams will work on developing solutions to the projects listed above. The first design projects will begin in the Spring of 2009 with the goal of developing working solutions by the end of the semester. Students will then have the opportunity to travel to Jamaica to build the systems on site.

In addition to students from engineering design classes, Penn State clubs are getting involved with the project. The Penn State Biodiesel Research Group is working alongside site developers for the 2008-2009 school year to design an appropriate biofuels processing plant for Jacob’s Ladder. This project will serve as a real-life design application for the students in the group.

In March of 2008, a group of Penn State students traveled to the site to begin work on a few initial projects. For one week, three students conducted detailed surveying of the residential portion of the site, dew collection pilot experiments, and overall site layout designing. Results from this trip have aided in further planning for the site and lead to the ultimate design of the proposed research components.

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Do you have an expertise or experience that would contribute to this project?

From the projects listed on these pages, to whatever ideas you may have that you think would benefit the project, let us know!

Here’s how to contact us...

Get Involved...

Penn State University

Mustard Seed Communities

Jamaica Bauxite Institute

Christiana Potato Growers

Walkerswood

University of Technology

Food for the Poor

Catholic University of America

Rural Agricultural Development Agency

Partnering Organizations and Businesses

D R . N E I L B R O W NResearch Associateneb141@psu.edu

S P U D M A R S H A L LSenior Mechanical Engineersfm5007@psu.edu

E R I C S A U D E RSenior Mechanical Engineerems5054@psu.edu

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