Juan Carlos- A Farm in His Backyard

Juan Carlos came to Miami in 1995, after 11 months in horrible conditions in Guantanamo and a lifetime of oppression from the Cuban Regime. Juan Carlos was assisted by IRC and began his new life in Miami.  Years later, after a visit from Juan to the IRC Miami office to help his newly arrived brother, we learn of Juan Carlos's new hobby.  Juan Carlos had begun to harvest a fish called Tilapia in his backyard.  He learned of others who farmed fish in other countries and wanted to try it with the hopes of selling them one day.  He had to experiment and learn from trial and error but after only 6 months Juan Carlos has 10,000 Tilapias in tanks the size of swimming pools.

Some of the Tilapia Juan Carlos has farmed.

The IRC in Miami is hoping to launch the New Roots Initiative and Community Garden in the New Year. The IRC hopes to support people like Juan Carlos and his Tilapia farm with the help of the New Roots project. 


Photo by: Mallory Llanes/ The IRC in Miami