By Jason Laday
jladay@sjnewsco.com
BRIDGETON: Bridgeton resident Belford Blackman is growing and selling tomatoes for a cause, attempting to help persecuted Buddhists in Tibet.
A practicing Tibetan Buddhist himself since 1981, Blackman plans to send all of the proceeds of the operation to the Dalai Lama, with a note recommending that the money be put towards helping Tibetan refugee women and children.
“It’s very important people know what’s going on in the world,” said Blackman. “I’m doing something to help people who I see are suffering.”
According to Blackman, the Chinese government has been attempting to conquer the people of Tibet, and the Buddhists there are not allowed to practice their religion. Men are taken from the temples and put in prison and tortured.
This situation, says Blackman, creates a refugee population of Tibetan children and their mothers, with no one to take care of them. According to Blackman, many escape to Northern India, but some sort of relief is needed.
To organize that relief, Blackman started Nepal Tomato, named after the Tibetan refugees who flee to Nepal, bringing precious tomato seeds. He has planted 1,350 tomato plants in the yard of his house, and has made arrangements with local markets in the Bridgeton area to sell his tomatoes.
Blackman will also use some tomatoes to make gazpacho, which will be served at a local seafood restaurant. In addition, the tomatoes will be sold in front of Blackman’s house, All of the proceeds will go directly to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan refugees.
Also, Blackman has been making the rounds visiting local religious leaders in area, including Catholics, Protestants and Jews, getting support for the charity.
The tomatoes will be ready for the market in about 10 to 14 days, according to Blackman, but the plants are coming along well.
“They’re getting gigantic, and I’m going to continue growing them until the season ends,” he said.
Blackman plans to make the project a seasonal, yearly endeavor, citing the importance of the cause.
“They need help over there,” said Blackman. “Hopefully this will provide some of the relief they need.”
