As people were enabling Stephen Fucking Harper (‘scuse my french) to win a majority government back home, we opened a new chapter in our lives as Mzungu farmers. Over the past 3 days, barefeet with mud all over, we prepared the area by removing all the weeds (there were tons) by hand & hoe – first day we cultivated 200 feet of land. It is surprisingly really enjoyable, and we are in good company who are patient and teach us the ways of the land. On the 2nd day, we planted some beans and bananas, and today we prepared more land for transplanting cabbages. Today we prepared more land for transplanting cabbages, and helped maintain the tomato plants (apparently weeds are really attracted to tomatoes). Farming has been wicked so far, and we can already feel our muscles growing! Peter and Moses make it really fun, and aren’t too hard on us – we do around 3 hours a day now, and once we get into the swing of things, we will be up to 5 hours.
One thing I really love about this country is that no one is in a hurry. Peter and Moses stressed that we all take breaks throughout, even if it is just to stretch and take in the scenery. Compare this to the Western capitalist mentality that productivity is everything, then examine how happy Ugandan farmers are at work compared to boring old Western businessmen – you get the idea. Capitalism sucks. But that’s a whole other post.
Everyone here is really appreciative of the work we are doing. On the 5 minute walk to and from our farming site, we get so many well-wishes and thank-yous for the work we are doing. We are contributing to a new system for the village – self sufficiency for the schools, reducing the cost of food for the children, and enabling them to be fed with completely organic and locally produced meals every day. It is really satisfying to see just how much we are doing as we do it – our beans will be coming out of the earth within a few days! It is also great to know that the locals really appreciate our work. To bring in a Haitian proverb – many hands lighten the load. I am really happy with what we are doing, and will continue to do for the next month.
Will keep you updated! I have lots more to write, but not a lot of time. I’ll be getting to a computer this weekend, so I will have more time to spit it all out!
Much love from Uganda xx
wakawakaafrica 