Happy Travels

The end of term here was very busy and I seem to have developed an allergy to my computer.  Farmer's are not known for their love of technology, some are pretty much techno-phobes.  I'm not sure what the problem is... slow internet, so many other things to do, writers block, but when I look at the computer I say 'achoo' I don't want to go near that thing!

However, we have just spent two weeks in Uganda and Kenya.  So here is a bit of a photo essay of the experience.

Byoona Amarga, Lake Bunyoni, Uganda. solar powered, composting toilets, library, good food,  lake side setting of tranquility!  I would head back there if Uganda visas weren't such a rip off!

 

Hell's Gate National Park, Kenya.  Maybe the only park in East Africa where you don't have to be in a truck while watching animals.  Rent bikes or walk on a DIY safari!

 

Notice Jack meandering quietly beside the African Buffalo- while I booted my way past them...I think I would take a bear over a buffalo any day.  They seem little unpredictable and daft in a dangerous way.  And they give a mean stink eye.

Zebras!  They make crazy alien/dog noises. for real.  Also Hell's gate has some sweet camping on the rocks above all the plains where the animals are grazing.

One of the most inspiring parts of the trip was visiting JB on his farm Balitah Ravens Farm in Butula District, Kenya.  This man is a permaculture evangelist! No really- preacher turned permaculturalist.

JB and part of his family

I was connected to him by Salt Spring's Michael Nichols of Seven Ravens Farm. Both Michael and JB have been doing permaculture work in primary schools in the area. The permaculture projects are to develop food, shade, timber, trees, funds and training for these primary schools.  They are amazing projects.  I plan to write a more in depth blog post on them soon.

Fish pond at Bukati Primary school with a forest around it to create a cooler microclimate.  Rain water is harvested to feed this pond and the fish are harvested to feed the children.

The visit with JB really got a kick in my rear end to bring permaculture to Rwanda.  It's happening in Kenya- why not Rwanda, why not ASYV?  It seems like I will have to work hard to 'sensitize' the farm staff and admin to this idea. (Sensitization is a special East African English word which means to tell someone about an idea or a plan.  Sensitization can be very frustration to someone of North American culture because they ask: 'why do we have to talk about this so much?  can't we just do it?'  But you can't do anything here without sensitization.)

JB and students working on the permaculture project at Buduma Primary School, Kenya

The programmer who planted trees

Needless to say when I got back to ASYV this week I have been working hard at my garden around my house. I was happy to see that the rains in Rwanda over the two weeks we were away made the garden grow very well. This is a little organic garden/permaculture seed that I hope will start spreading around the village.  The farm at ASYV has many directors- but the little garden around the house is basically my domain. I have been planting delicious food, fruit trees (I hope you will enjoy future volunteers), composting, water harvesting, etc.  I have been thinking about how best to insert more of these little projects around the farm... maybe the easiest thing is to start digging swales and making rain water harvesting and contouring an actuality at ASYV.  Since the water system here is unreliable for agriculture it would be perfect.  As some permaculturalists say 'the problem is the solution'.

Giraffe!  They look like they should be walking around with dinosaurs.