January is gone! The crops will be well on their way and weeding will start to slow done. I have been told the crops will be good. That is if the weather cooperates. They still need rains; not too much, but we will never know with all this climate change until the crops are safely in the storerooms. I am almost finished my ‘how to book’ and will be booking my flight to Zambia for the first part of March. I will spend much time in Lusaka doing business with the government and a week long workshop with all the facilitators and staff of ACP from all over Zambia.
Browsing Posts published in January, 2010
I have just received some great photos taken by Ryan at the project during his visit just recently. Take a look I will be adding them a few at a time. Thanks Ryan!
The rainy season is well on its way. Crops are in and growing. Erosion from the violent rains this time of year are in control. Roads and paths are now waterways, rivers and streams are running muddy and eating away banks that are exposed because of overcutting and total removal of any vegetation along their banks. The goodness from the soil is working its way to the Indian Ocean via the Zambezi River. The answer? Trees; lots of them. Along every waterway. Along exposed hillsides overcut for field extensions, charcoal and timber. Planting trees to be used for firebreaks, wind breaks, firewood, charcoal, hoe and axe handles, house timbers, fences, timber export and the list goes on and on. One more time, the answer? Trees! That is where seeds come into play. It takes a lot of planning and logistics to get those seeds into the ground. Seeds delivered to village nurseries and communities. Pine seeds from Petauke to Kasama, African mahogany from Livingstone to Petauke. Seeds to our demonstration plantation outside Lusaka. Seeds to Rwanda for a project there.
Let us not forget the education side of things. People must be educated on why these problems exist and what can be done about them.
January is moving right along and so are we. Unfortunately our star volunteer, Ryan, has now returned to the USA to go back to school. Let’s hope he can return later on this year. I know the people will miss him along with me at this end. Hopefully we can get our program up and running for more volunteers to be active on site in Zambia.
I have sent pencils and pens with my friend John to his project in Rwanda where there is a chance we will be coaching a team of volunteers to start planting trees. Good luck John!
I have just about got my ‘how to’ booklet finished for our facilitators to read and add their input and regional names for trees etc.
