Nutrition and Garden Training - Part 4

GAMES TIME!!

To reinforce the training ... we played interactive games with the ladies throughout the two day training period!

"come on down to the 'usefulness' is right!!"

Game 1:

The first day ... we placed down four mats.  One mat contained a variety of food that we had purchased in the market.  

There were three empty mats - save for their "memory tool":

• mortar and pestle ... "untired body"
• field hoe ... strength
• medicine boxes ... health

The ladies then needed to - one by one - pick up a food item from the first mat and place it onto a mat with a memory tool ... matching the food item to its usefulness!

Game 2:

The next day, we switched it up and started the morning with another game for review.  Again, we place all the food on one mat - and then divided the ladies into groups on the three mats of food "usefulness".  They each had a platter and needed to go to the mat of food and choose the items which they thought matched their usefulness and return to their mats!  We then discussed their choices.

"come on down to the price is right!!"

Game 3:

To finish off the training ... we played "the price is right"!!  Megan and I spread the food out on one met again.  We split the ladies into groups - and then welcomed them to "our market".  As the price of food changes throughout the year and by season ... each group of ladies was given money based on what they had said they spend in each season.  Their goal was to use that money to purchase food for the week - keeping in mind the diet diversity needed for their families.  

Those who were buying food in the cold season did not buy starch staples - as they had food in their granary and could spend their funds on vegetables.  While those who were buying food in the rainy season had to purchase their starch staples as their granary was now empty - and they had less money to spend as prices in the market tend to increase and/or sky-rocket during the lean season!

Part of the training was to know and assess the market pricing ... to know that the price of food increases in the rainy season when they no longer have their millet ... is to perhaps plan their food accordingly.  We discussed how they could leave their harvest to eat until the rainy season - so that when the food is more expensive, they do not need to purchase their staple and only the sauce ingredients.  Also during this season, they have less income as their cows are not producing milk.  This would mean that they purchase their millet or corn immediately following the harvest, even though they have food in their granary, as the cost of millet and sauce ingredients is at its lowest point!  Their money will stretch further when the prices are low and leave them less to buy when eating from their granary when the price is high!

It's a Bug's Life!!!

So ... rainy season has begun in Niger.  It actually seemed to come early as the rains started early May!  It seems to have tapered off, or rather - the third month of rains that come every 3-4 days has not yet started.  But with rainy season in Niger comes a plethora of little creepy crawlies.

By far, my favourite is what I call the "red velvet bug"

Though, the Fulani call it "child of the rain" ... these bugs live deep in the ground and come up during the rainy season - I started seeing these little guys around mid-May!  They are cute ... and they do feel like velvet to pet them!

However, when I was out another day - I saw this interesting guy ... who also, according to the Fulani,  is called "child of the rain"!  

Sensing a theme??  It appears that all bugs, no matter how many and nor variety of insect, which come during the rains are all classified as "children of the rain"!


And, I've seen a few other little crawlies lately:

These worms (?) interestingly - from my height and the speed of their movement, I thought was one worm with a black joint in the middle and whose body moved disjointedly from the front to the back on either side of the black joint!!!

It wasn't until I saw the photo and zoomed in that I saw it was two separate worms that must have been following each other precisely in a game of tag!!

Last, but not least, just before the rains began, I saw this spider.  I hate spiders!  But, I had to capture a photo of said big guy.  

okay ... okay ... that is with my zoom!  But really, his detail is stunning ... and honestly, any spider in my opinion is "big"!

Plus, he kinda blends in with his environment - again, honestly ... kinda scary in my opinion!  I wouldn't have seen him except that as I exited my truck he went scurrying away to find new shelter as my tires had disturbed his last hiding place!  And yes - I am standing as far back as I can - with my camera on zoom and my hand extended - just to get a picture "this close-up"!!

The Fulani of this courtyard came to see what was of interest to me on the ground ... and they were treated to my "spider squeal/dance" as the spider decided to high tail it back from whence it came - and unfortunately, I was between it and said location!

Side note ... but, speaking of fears: this day, my Fulani friends learned that I am also scared of heights!  When inspecting a well, I stood back to take pictures ... and then crawled to the edge to peek over!!  


Our conversation went something like this:

Village Rep:  You don't like "deep"?

Me:  No, I don't like what is deep.  (or perhaps, it is a fear of falling??)

Village Rep:  Really??!?!?  You are scared of "high"?

Me:  Yes.  Much much.

Village Rep:  But, you are not scared of your truck?

Me:  No.

Village Rep:  Really??!?  You are not scared at all to enter your truck and drive around?

Me:  Nope, not even a little.

Village Rep: Kay!!  (*expression of shock!)

He was duly impressed of my lack of fear to drive my truck - while also duly amused that I was scared of heights!   

To each their own!