Spring Permaculture Travels in Haiti

Classes in Masimba and Kebirigo.

 Hi all,

The past two weeks have been Very Busy! We were monitoring our 8 educators in training as they, in groups of four taught two classes in two towns. One class was in Masimba, while another was going in Kebirigo. Both classes moved along with a beautiful Kenyan twist, as the educators created the classes with Kenyan flavor. They studied before each days classes, to be sure of who was teaching what when. One group taught in a tagged-team fashion while the other took turns presenting the valuable information Permaculture offers.

   It was really a pleasure to watch the enthusiasm and sincerity the trainees brought to the classroom. It made us all very Proud when we watched our first educators in training hand out the Permaculture Design Certificates to their students. They were SO Happy! And SO were We! The students learned so much and were so excited about what they were learning, they shared with friends and neighbors and the class began to grow, adding new students to the course. 






I had a few meetings with the University of Kisii, who is thinking of doing some research projects with our Permaculture farmers. They asked me to present a lecture introducing permaculture to their students and staff. The presentation was well received and the students expressed a strong desire to hold a Permaculture Design class (PDC) with in the next year or so. 

 The Grand Graduation took place on Oct 31st. We blew up balloons, rented more chairs, drank sodas, and ate madazi (a kind of homemade donut or fry bread) Happy faces were plentiful and joy filled the air! Joannah, Alison, Victor and I, were all happy with tears. We just took such Joy from hearing the testimonials of the students as they shared what they had learned. This work is really rewarding.

 After the graduation, we found out that Alison's grandmother had fallen ill and she decided to head back to the states. Please send a little love her way. Victor and I will be traveling tomorrow (saturday) to Eshinkonga, north of Kisumu, were we have a continuing PDC class. We will partner with our newly graduated educators to finish that class and then leave for home. I hope to email one more journal before we leave Kenya. Wish us Luck!

 Blessings,
Cathy

 

Return to Kisii, Kenya

Classmates reunite!

Here we are World Food Day!

 We are back in the region of Kisii, and gathered together our graduated students from the 1st class in Masimba to share some new practices, But we learned from the local chief it happened to be World Food Day and we all decided to postpone the class till later in the month and go to the demonstration class the government puts on to celebrate the day! A change of plans happen often here, and you learn to flex. :)  Turned out to be a good class. They were
showing organic practices using compost, green manure, plant disease control, dairy cow health, and planting technics. We all enjoyed.

The next day we had a review with the 8 students in teacher training. Another educator from Nairobi, Johanna, joined us and 1/2 of the group left in the evening for Kebirigo (another village) as each group resumed classes in Masimba and Kebirigo. The first day went Very well! Amazing how a Permaculture class can bond folks.  We will finish the week with classes and visits t the farms! It is a Beautiful region and I will send more photos as time passes.

Until then, Love to you all!
Blessings!
Cathy

Mindful Generations Back in Kenya

 

About a year ago while doing work in Kenya, we were asked to visit a very remote part of Africa to introduce our classes to the Maasai. We at Mindful Generations teach sustainable farm practices to grass root Farmers (mostly in developing countries) The Maasai are one of the only tribes to escape colonialism and keep their vibrant culture alive. We began to plan an introduction class for the Maasai with the organization Walking with the Maasai, who are the folks that invited us. Long story short, They are an amazing organization. One of their directors has lived with the Maasai since 2001, and we are very honored to be asked to share what we know with this tribe. A tribe that has been traditionally grazers, since the beginning. We held an introduction class and the Maasai said they wanted us to come back and teach! LUCKY US!  I Always So enjoy the farmers we meet, wherever we teach and this is a very unique situation. I am So Grateful for the opportunity to work with a Historically Incredible tribe that live on miles and miles of Virgin soil. Thank you Angels!

What I can tell you about the Land. It is fertile! The FIRST MAASAI FARMER started to turn the VIRGIN SOIL only 10 years ago!! They can grow all year, because their eco system is still in place. It is a Beautiful area, about 6000 ft and about 3 hours off the GPS. They have elephants, lions, cheetahs, water buffalo, zebras, bushbucks, elands, and so many more animals. A poor Maasai has 50 or less grazing animals (cow, sheep, goats) a rich Maasai has from 100-1000!! The streams are clean and beautiful. The one we visited had a Hot Spring feeding it. Maasai are a communal people and decisions are made by elders with input from the community. Food is communal Everyone is greeted when walking past each other. There a Very few vehicles. The Maasai walk everywhere, for miles and miles. Their are aprox. 7000 of them and only approx 30 have ever been to a town. There are no cell phones (no reception yet.) These are the most pleasant people we have met. We spent 3 days in the beautiful camp, Walking with the Maasai, with wild animals all around us. We didn't see too many of them, but we heard them at night. A highlight was when we were leaving the Maasai, an African wild dog crossed the road just in front of us! This is one of the most endangered species in all of Africa and VERY few people have seen them. He/she was injured and stopped to look at us and I got a quick photo. This trip was very humbling and so eye-opening. I can not find words to justify the experience. I hope a few photos will help.  Cathy