Category Archives: Uncategorized

Jasinta led the way along a well trodden path through the maize fields of her village. We followed about 25 farmers from the Mpongwe area and Robert and me. I could hear the exclamations before I reached her field: “This … Continue reading →

Yesterday I marched along with my Zambian sisters for ‘equal rights, equal opportunities, progress for all’. It was International Women’s Day, which in Zambia is taken seriously enough to be made a national holiday. I am sure there were far … Continue reading →

We’re becoming evangelists – conservation farming (CF) evangelists. Whenever we talk to farmers we preach CF. The fields we’ve seen this week speak their own message loud and clear – CF pays, both for the land and for the farmer. … Continue reading →

The world is lush green, the cassia trees blooming bright yellow. The power is out. A young girl with a baby on her back begs for money. The side roads are so pothole ridden they’re hard to navigate. Welcome to … Continue reading →

Farmers and parliament in Switzerland have a close relationship, especially on Tuesday mornings. Parliament members looking for healthy snacks just have to walk out the door for a choice of apples, savoury cheeses, sausages and breads fresh from the farm. … Continue reading →

February 8, 2010: Up and down, up and down – my broken arm goes through the physio exercises. With only ten days to departure to Africa, I am motivated to get as much healing and movement back as quickly as … Continue reading →

How many of you, when you shop for coffee or bananas or chocolate look for the Fair Trade label? I must admit, I don’t. I look for my favorite brand of espresso. I’m not alone. The ‘Kirchenbote’, newspaper of the … Continue reading →

At a crop production meeting of the regional Swiss farm cooperative they discussed the use of an African plant as a green manure species. When I did some research on this plant (guizotia) I learned that CIDA (Canadian International Development … Continue reading →

I can see the sun! After 12 grey days I am sun-starved. December/January in the lower mainland of Switzerland is often dreary. That’s when it’s good to take a day off and head for the mountains, usually only an hour … Continue reading →

A list of things I need before we leave for Africa on January 28 – Artemisia tea leaves for malaria prophylaxis for us; Artemisia seed to bring to Zambians so they can grow their own; moringa seed for trees that … Continue reading →