On the day that I was supposed to meet the Bishop, I woke up sick. Until Monday, I enjoyed good energy and health. This week something went awry with my intestinal system. Mostly it was just a churning sensation but this morning it was worse. I also felt dizzy and occasionally feverish. However, this was the day to pay a visit to Bishop Isaac Amari of the Catholic Diocese of Moshi. It took an hour of driving to arrive at his office. Driving with Brother Charles means that we are always either rapidly accelerating, passing someone, or slamming on the brakes. The major roads are paved but they are filled with speed bumps because otherwise no one will observe safe speeds. By the time we arrived, I was also motion sick. We signed in and waited an hour for our turn.
Bishop Amani, is a peaceful and insightful man and we had an enjoyable conversation. He asked about my family and about my work in his diocese. He understood what I had learned, what needed to be done, and how difficult it was to achieve. His remark was that it sounded like the research that I had done needed to be given to farmers to use. This has been my dilemma for the entire project. I mostly concluded that it is impossible for an outsider to come for a few weeks and make significant changes in farming methods. This week, I have focused on compiling information and ideas and sending them to people who might spend time reading and thinking about it. So far on this trip, I have worked with an extension agent, a beginning farmer in the Maasai land, St. James seminary (high school), Kilacha friary, St. Amedeus where I am staying and now the Bishop's farm. At our meeting, the Bishop reminded Brother Charles that he was supposed to take me to his farm. It belongs to the Diocese but it is called the Bishop's farm. So in spite of my sickness, our next stop was Uru farm.
At Uru farm they grow coffee and avocados - my specialty! The farm is operated by several brothers from the same congregation that I visited, Kilacha. They wanted me to test 5 different areas and somehow I was able to complete the walk. At the beginning and end of these visits, the guests are expected to sit down in the house for drinks, food, and relaxation. Fortunately, I was able to convince them that I really was sick and needed to get home. I am also down to my final day here and now I have to test an additional 5 soil samples and write a report for the brothers at Uru. Brother Charles has air conditioning in his vehicle but people prefer hot wind to the A/C. He likes to blow A/C on our feet with the windows open. Thankfully I fell asleep in spite of the rapid acceleration and deceleration.
I'm compiling my final reports tonight and sending email attachments to priests and brothers at 4 different farms. All of them have farm experience and they participate at various levels in the farmwork. Almost everyone in this area grew up on a small farm. Several of them will attempt trials and they will share information. I think they will continue to communicate with me by email.
The Bishop shared one significant piece of information with me. He said that in the past, farmers were taught to plant a crop called marejea with their corn and it was used to improve the soil. They were given free seed and it was a common practice. It figures that I would learn this on my last day here. The funny thing was that last night a priest told me about the same crop and said that it is still used as a cover crop in the large sugar plantations (owned and operated by a company from South Africa). The knowledge that this was once practiced reminds me that farming is a slow process of learning and of passing on wisdom to each generation. There are no shortcuts. Farmers must be attentive, patient, careful, and virtuous. Success is measured in generations and this process can be interrupted at any time. What a great task! I can't wait to get back to my farm.
Bishop Amani, is a peaceful and insightful man and we had an enjoyable conversation. He asked about my family and about my work in his diocese. He understood what I had learned, what needed to be done, and how difficult it was to achieve. His remark was that it sounded like the research that I had done needed to be given to farmers to use. This has been my dilemma for the entire project. I mostly concluded that it is impossible for an outsider to come for a few weeks and make significant changes in farming methods. This week, I have focused on compiling information and ideas and sending them to people who might spend time reading and thinking about it. So far on this trip, I have worked with an extension agent, a beginning farmer in the Maasai land, St. James seminary (high school), Kilacha friary, St. Amedeus where I am staying and now the Bishop's farm. At our meeting, the Bishop reminded Brother Charles that he was supposed to take me to his farm. It belongs to the Diocese but it is called the Bishop's farm. So in spite of my sickness, our next stop was Uru farm.
At Uru farm they grow coffee and avocados - my specialty! The farm is operated by several brothers from the same congregation that I visited, Kilacha. They wanted me to test 5 different areas and somehow I was able to complete the walk. At the beginning and end of these visits, the guests are expected to sit down in the house for drinks, food, and relaxation. Fortunately, I was able to convince them that I really was sick and needed to get home. I am also down to my final day here and now I have to test an additional 5 soil samples and write a report for the brothers at Uru. Brother Charles has air conditioning in his vehicle but people prefer hot wind to the A/C. He likes to blow A/C on our feet with the windows open. Thankfully I fell asleep in spite of the rapid acceleration and deceleration.
I'm compiling my final reports tonight and sending email attachments to priests and brothers at 4 different farms. All of them have farm experience and they participate at various levels in the farmwork. Almost everyone in this area grew up on a small farm. Several of them will attempt trials and they will share information. I think they will continue to communicate with me by email.
The Bishop shared one significant piece of information with me. He said that in the past, farmers were taught to plant a crop called marejea with their corn and it was used to improve the soil. They were given free seed and it was a common practice. It figures that I would learn this on my last day here. The funny thing was that last night a priest told me about the same crop and said that it is still used as a cover crop in the large sugar plantations (owned and operated by a company from South Africa). The knowledge that this was once practiced reminds me that farming is a slow process of learning and of passing on wisdom to each generation. There are no shortcuts. Farmers must be attentive, patient, careful, and virtuous. Success is measured in generations and this process can be interrupted at any time. What a great task! I can't wait to get back to my farm.
Reuben DeMaster
Willow Haven Farm
www.WillowHavenFarmPA@live.com
"The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings."?? - Masanobu Fukuoka
Willow Haven Farm
www.WillowHavenFarmPA@live.com
"The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings."?? - Masanobu Fukuoka
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