Rich Earth Institute

We took a walk this morning
to meet with some of the women from the Riverside Women’s Group. They wear
purple and black as their signature color to let people know they belong to the
group and they meet every other week.  They support each other in growing greens (kale) and caring for  animals and selling these crops to earn extra
money. They need the money for school fees for their children.

Here at William’s compound is a primary school built in 2010. School fees are 280 shillings per month. That is $3.00/month. The school has 102 students and more than half of them cannot pay this fee. Unfortunately, that means that it is hard to keep the teachers employed here.  With a connection to the nearby teacher training school, it is a school where teachers can practice. Remarkably, when their students pass onto the secondary school, they are performing well.

Last night we ate well: beef and cabbage and Kuon (the hard corn porridge I have been enjoying so much). After the meal I shared the maple sugar candy I brought from Vermont. Konrad from our Rich Earth Institute Board made these candies with his family and brought them for me to take to Kenya along with a few bottles of his maple syrup.  

I wish you could have been with me Konrad, to know how appreciated this gift was. I showed them the photo of Oliver and Tao with their tongues stuck out under the tap at your tree. William and I explained the whole process to them. They really enjoyed it.

I am having so much fun here.  I am learning some Luo.  Although all of the words are different than Setswana- the structure is close enough that I can pick up the sounds. I have started writing down the basics.

In the afternoon about 25 people gathered around this small computer screen to learn about Peecycling. It will be so interesting to see how they complete the nutrient loop here.  The soils are different, the climate is different and because it is hot, people sweat so much and don’t pee very often. But we have brought to them this idea and a request that they experiment with using their urine to fertilize their crops. They are subsistance farmers here and know very very well how nature works.  

Many are out today harvesting the maize. Ezekiel will be on site here to follow up and help everyone communicate about the progress in their fields.