Help a remarkable Cu8an family keep their restaurant, garden, and veganic mission alive
Aristides Rodriguez Smith is not just a restaurant owner. He is a farmer, a teacher, a healer, and a living example of what is possible when deep respect for nature, food, and community come together.
You may have seen Aristides in Episode 1.10 of the BBC series Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventures, filmed in Baracoa, Cu8a. His small vegan restaurant—featured between minutes 3 and 10—captured hearts around the world, not only for its beautiful food, but for the extraordinary story behind it.
A restaurant built from resilience
After a devastating hurricane destroyed his home and others in his community, Aristides rebuilt his restaurant by hand, using salvaged materials from the wreckage. Almost everything served there is grown by Aristides and his family in their vegan organic garden, right beside the restaurant.
We know of no other restaurant in the world that can truly say it is:
- Built by its owner from hurricane ruins
- Powered by knowledge passed down through generations
- Supplied almost entirely by its own garden
This is not a business driven by profit—it is a labour of love.
A lifetime of plant wisdom and health
In Aristides’ own words:
“From my country, Cu8a, where the word ‘vegan’ is almost unheard of and the word ‘vegetarian’ is associated with malnutrition, I am grateful to my ancestors for having taught me the properties and good use of plants… I am a descendant of slaves, brought up with discipline and respect for the environment.”
Aristides’ family history is extraordinary:
- His grandfather lived to 116 years old
- His father is still alive at 102
- Aristides himself is 70, with no history of serious illness
Through generations, his family has used plants for nutrition, prevention, and healing. Today, Aristides applies this knowledge in his vegan cooking, using fruits, leaves, flowers, and medicinal plants to support immunity and health—particularly vital in Cu8a, where access to medicines is increasingly limited.
Giving back, even in crisis
Despite severe economic hardship, Aristides continues to:
- Give free vegan, and gluten free meals to children under 10
- Provide food to pregnant women
- Offer free classes on plant-based nutrition and cultivation
Tourism in Baracoa has almost disappeared, prices have increased dramatically, and shortages affect nearly every aspect of daily life. Yet Aristides continues to serve his community with generosity and dignity.
Why solar power is urgently needed
Cu8a is currently experiencing near-daily power cuts. For Aristides, this means:
- Inability to keep the restaurant open reliably
- Food spoilage
- Interrupted teaching and community meals
Ironically, in a place blessed with abundant sunshine, access to reliable electricity is one of the greatest obstacles to continuing his work.
Solar power is the solution.
A properly installed solar system will:
- Provide a continuous energy supply
- Allow the restaurant to remain open full time
- Protect food and equipment
- Enable Aristides to continue feeding and teaching his community
Our fundraising goal
We are raising £4,500 to purchase:
- A complete solar power system with 12 bifacial panels
- A 12 kw Inverter and 15kw battery
- Professional installation by a solar company in Cu8a
With Cu8a’s abundant sunlight, this system should be sufficient to keep the restaurant operating independently of the unreliable grid.
Additional urgent needs
If funds allow, Aristides also needs:
- Water storage containers for safe drinking water
- A new irrigation pump (the previous one was destroyed by lightning)
Any additional funds raised will go directly toward these essentials.
Looking to the future
The Vegan Organic Network will provide Aristides with educational materials on healthy eating and growing. His restaurant will serve not only as a place where people can access healthy, affordable meals, but also as a space for learning and community education.
Baracoa is home to around 82,000 people, most living in poverty. Until recently, tourism provided a vital source of income, but this has almost vanished.
Why your support matters
By supporting this vegan organic project, you are:
- Helping secure food, education, and health for a vulnerable community
- Supporting a sustainable, plant-based organic model rooted in tradition and science
- Standing in solidarity with a people facing immense economic pressure
- Helping one family inspire and educate many others in Cu8a and beyond
Aristides is on a mission to improve health, restore dignity, and teach younger generations how to live well in harmony with nature—despite extraordinary adversity.
Please donate today
We believe Aristides Rodriguez Smith and his family deserve our full support. With your help, solar power can keep his restaurant, garden, and mission alive.
Please donate now and be part of something truly inspiring.
Thank you for your generosity and solidarity. 🌱☀️