Preparing the Demonstration Garden

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

From Kimberly Drake while in the fields of Malawi.

A group from Summit Church on a mission trip with COTN (Children of the Nations) joined me today at the Malawi Central Region demonstration garden to help Africa Windmill Project staff prepare the garden and irrigation areas.  

A couple of Africa Windmill Project staff members, Blessings and Chewaszi, gave us a tour of the garden.   It is .88 acres and they have several varieties of crops, irrigation, mulch and planting techniques planned for training the local farmers and ngo's (other non-profits).

Africa Windmill Project continues to encourage familiar crops such as corn, beans, ground nuts and squash, but also incorporates many other types of vegetables as well.  They have the seedling nursery started and have begun transplanting into the beds.

Some of the surrounding village farmers were there watching and asking questions, they are beginning to prepare to harvest from the rains and begin their composting for their next plantings. 

Wallace and Custom, two other staff members, were working hard to till the bed areas.  Erin was raking the trenches to remove the grass and clearing channels so the stagnant water could travel down hill.  Ryan was leveling ground and slashing grass.  Josh was removing stumps and roots and clearing areas for more beds.  Carlos dug and cleared an irrigation canal.  John was mixing sand and cement for the reservoir and Christopher was working with the peddle pump.  There were many others helping to lay brick, wheelbarrow sand, move, stack and lay bricks.  It was incredible seeing this come to life.  The trainings will begin in three weeks and there is much to be done.

Tionanna Mawa is See you Tomorrow in Chichewa.  We will be back again with a new group from the United States.  Also this week we will be talking with the Africa Windmill Project staff, learning about them and will begin to share their stories with you.

Usekio Wabeno (good night).