I needed to find for the mix:
- 2 wheelbarrows of sand
- 1 wheelbarrow of manure
- 1 shovel full of clay
- 1 bottle of insecticide powder
As we were gathering men from six village sites, we prepared the ingredients for them to mix on the training day and take home with their nursery sacks. The sand was brought up from the river bed and needed to be sifted. The manure was provided by one of the cow herders - and it needed to be pounded down to powder. I brought out to the work day a construction sized sifter and cement pounding sticks (with metal heads) to pound the manure.
The clay was really difficult to get .... every place that sold sand and clay, they only were willing to sell clay by the truck load. And I only needed 8 shovels worth! I ended up down at the gardens by the river, hoping to get some there as they likely used it in their gardening as well.
I asked the first two gardeners who I met on the road ... they didn't know, but mentioned to ask the guy in the garden beside them. They came along with Megan and I to ask him - he didn't have any, but said to ask the old gardener in the garden plot next over.
So, Megan and I headed over there - being trailed now by three gardeners all willing to help. The old man motioned in the direction of the river ... so we followed him - now we are two plus four gardeners. He was motioning to a garden plot by the river with clay. So, we picked our way through the garbage dump down to the river to inspect the soil and discovered it was clay. Another fifth gardener has now joined us - and he sends his apprentice kid to get a shovel from his garden plot.
The men then shovel clay into the sack I brought with me. The young kid carries it back to my truck - meanwhile all the men have disbursed into their various gardens, and the kid walks off. Megan and I stand by the side of the road looking at the sack of clay and coming to the conclusion that we don't need to pay for the clay!! Gotta love Africa! I have no idea who owns that little plot of land ... but, thanks for the free clay!
The clay was really difficult to get .... every place that sold sand and clay, they only were willing to sell clay by the truck load. And I only needed 8 shovels worth! I ended up down at the gardens by the river, hoping to get some there as they likely used it in their gardening as well.
I asked the first two gardeners who I met on the road ... they didn't know, but mentioned to ask the guy in the garden beside them. They came along with Megan and I to ask him - he didn't have any, but said to ask the old gardener in the garden plot next over.
So, Megan and I headed over there - being trailed now by three gardeners all willing to help. The old man motioned in the direction of the river ... so we followed him - now we are two plus four gardeners. He was motioning to a garden plot by the river with clay. So, we picked our way through the garbage dump down to the river to inspect the soil and discovered it was clay. Another fifth gardener has now joined us - and he sends his apprentice kid to get a shovel from his garden plot.
The men then shovel clay into the sack I brought with me. The young kid carries it back to my truck - meanwhile all the men have disbursed into their various gardens, and the kid walks off. Megan and I stand by the side of the road looking at the sack of clay and coming to the conclusion that we don't need to pay for the clay!! Gotta love Africa! I have no idea who owns that little plot of land ... but, thanks for the free clay!
Getting ready to work!
I've decided - especially in the heat - that if I'm going to ask the guys to do something, I need to show I am willing as well! So, I finally get to use my gardening gloves!! I don't anticipate that they will let me work, or not for very long at least, but I want to get in on the fun as well.
Finding the one spot of shade in the courtyard!
Starting the teaching:
taking role call of those present and demonstrating what needs to be done
Pounding the Manure:
My Samaritan's Purse contact said that in one village, he saw the villagers using the mortars and pestles of the women to pound the manure and then washing them!! Seeing as I am currently teaching the women about prevention of worms - one road to avoid being animals and their poop around the food prep areas .... I didn't really want to model them using their kitchen tools with manure:"hello worms"!! Hence - buying other implements to use.
The men got right to work on pounding the manure, but - it is quickly evident, even for me to see in the pictures, that this is an awkward action for them ... makes sense, the women are the ones who pound with an upper back/arms motion! They'd probably be pretty good at this seeing as this is how they pound their millet to flour. But again, I want to keep the two work ideas separate.
Eventually, the men pulled the wooden sticks off the cement heads and resorted to "whacking" the manure. One guy told me the next week that this is how they crush the tree leaves to powder after harvest for their cows to eat.
Familiar tool - familiar action ..... the work went much faster! The one guy in this video has a pretty nifty wrist flip going on with his stick!
And of course - I need to get in on the action too!
Sand Sifting:
At the end of a few hours - the work was complete and it was a great day! Everyone participated and got right into the work ... laughing and joking with each other all day long!
Stay tuned later for installment Part 3 of the tree planting project!!
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