African Community Project

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.

I am very proud to tell you that theAfrican Community Project has entered into a contract for services with Forestswithout Borders to assist in restoring and maintaining forested lands  and to establish an orchard that produces nutritious fruit and leaves in southern Zambia

Repot From Felix
07 Dec 2009 03:56 pm

The report I got from Felix was very good late last night. The new well at Nkhola Community School is on schedule. Lining the well will start later this week. Felix is also distributing seeds to the communities for the 2009 rainy season which will start anytime.