Category Archives: Uncategorized

Tourists and bureaucrats hurry across the line of cobble stones set in the concrete square outside the Berlin parliament buildings. On their way to the next meeting or sightseeing tour, they cross it as if it was the most natural … Continue reading →

Already, after four days here Africa seems very far away, like a ‘wrinkle in time’ (title of Madeleine L’Engel’s children’s book). I’m used to wearing sweaters again and warming up my cherry pit bag in the microwave to take to … Continue reading →

During high school I was a member of the Future Farmers Club. But the only thing I clearly remember is the fishing trip with them. I caught my first fish – a huge rainbow trout. But of agriculture itself I … Continue reading →

A year ago we gave L a loan to buy a treadle sewing machine and start a tailoring business. Today she repaid half the loan, as agreed. I’m so proud of her – she’s had a tough year, but she … Continue reading →

The ‘board room’ under the spreading branches of a huge indigenous tree seems a fitting place to discuss carbon credits for planting trees and forests. Nick O’Connor operates Rainland Timbers, a medium sized sawmill enterprise about 15 kilometers outside Kitwe, … Continue reading →

The rough brick walls vibrate with the buzz of voices; dark heads close together as they discuss the exercise – a budget for a business using 500,000 kwacha ($110). Seeing the excitement of these Mpongwe village people as they learn … Continue reading →

I’m surprised at the feeling of coming home. I didn’t realize I missed it – the sight of big wide fields spreading over gentle hills and valleys. We’ve spent the last two months working with small scale farmers here in … Continue reading →

I slept with the heaviness of Susan’s AIDS sentence on me. I was so happy to hear that she finally agreed to go for testing; now she’ll have access to the ARV drugs that will save her life. But hearing … Continue reading →

“There’s no hunger in our people anymore since we started the farming projects with the churches,” Pastor Jessy tells us. I can’t quite comprehend that – the plots are too small to feed any amount of people. He explains: as … Continue reading →

“Poverty is not what you have; it is what you make of what you have.” Robert and I joined about 25 others – Zambian farmers, teachers, community development workers – last week at Masaiti Farm Training Center learning the practical … Continue reading →