| City Dump in La Ceiba, Honduras may have new business opportunity Report from Zeke Nichols Heavy metal test at the dump, supply chain test for small business ministry at the dump. The first shipment of 12 pairs of earrings of the Virgin Mary will be on their way to the La Ceiba Atlantida community (know as the dump) in Honduras by China post tonight or early tomorrow morning. The total cost with Shipping to Honduras is $15.16 from China. I do not know if the earrings will arrive in La Ceiba, Atlantida or if there will be any tariffs when they do. The purpose of the order is to test the supply chain using vendors in China to send small retail items to a minister at the dump. Once the supply chain is secure several shipments of small items will be on their way to the dump to begin the small business ministry. The model is to sell the items as cost plus 10% to fund micro loans, educational, capital and start up resources for the businesses that are part of the ministry. Costume jewelry is low cost and my intuition is that items such as non precious and semiprecious metal alloy rings, earrings, broaches and pendants will be in demand. I have located about a dozen suppliers that have said they can ship orders wholesale lots of items priced from $12-$15 USD to Honduras. The retail business model is designed to diversify economic opportunities in the Atlantida community, currently the only known source of sustainable industry in the community are the recycling cooperative and lunch stands serving members of the cooperative. Secondly, we have ordered the heavy metal test kit. I expect it to be on its way to Matthew Keiser a Mennonite minister at the dump at the beginning of next month. The kit will test for the presence of manganese, nickel, copper, mercury, cadmium, cobalt, lead and zinc. We were warned by Echo farms to test the soil for the presence of heavy metals before attempting to plant any food crops as some food crops are known to spread contamination to humans. If the soil is contaminated the alternative plan is to plant ornamental plants in place of food crops that can be cut, rooted, and sold as live plants or cut flowers to raise the income in the community. I have been told that roses do grow in Honduras. May God Bless, Ezekiel Nichols |