Community Garden Compost

More community work updates.
Wow...things seem to be happening so quickly the last few weeks.

I have fantastic news for our community garden/demonstration garden project. Originally, when Rachel and I were talking about starting the garden project, we did a little research into what other ngos in the area are doing to get some ideas about what works and what doesn't. We found a really good organization called ACE Africa working nearby. They do work in HIV/Aids support as well as organic agriculture. We visited a demonstration garden of theirs and discussed their programs. After this...we planted our own community garden.

Now...the garden is growing well and I will hopefully be eating watermelon before I leave. We are now working on developing the structure of the gardening program, things like how to expand, how to gain interest, how the harvest sharing should work and how the records should be kept. Juli and Sabrina arranged to go back to ACE Africa to talk with them about our project. They went into town with Anerico and had a fantastic meeting with them! In fact, they agreed to come to our village and do a two day seminar on organic agriculture on July 4th and 5th.

AHHHH I won't even be here then! But I'm really excited for it. Juli and Sabrina as well as our new Canadian volunteer Maria will be here to run things.

In the meantime, we have been busy making an organic compost pile to use in the garden.
First step... prepare the location. The big stick is for Anerico to check the temperature in the middle of our pile as it decomposes.

Next step....collect dry material for the base of our pile.


After this... we put a layer of cow dung down. Thanks to SabJulStay's mom we had lots!


Then, we collected green material and mixed with ash to add to our pile. Anerico kept telling us to make it bigger and bigger....that guy certainly has big plans for our projects!

Lastly...the pile is covered with soil and left for a month.
A month from now we turn the soil, then leave for two more months....then use on our garden.

How is the technique Mom? Does it look okay? I think you know a lot more about gardening than me, but you'll be happy to know I'm learning....and working in the garden. pretty funny eh?