Friday, July 17, 2009

Planting 2010

The season got off to a slower start this year, but by now it has established itself enough that people are well into rainy season work. Peanuts are sprouting again, along with delicate fields of tiny corn and millet like blades of grass. The farmers I gave seed to are slowly sowing it; the other day one man seeded his corn, and another his beans. No sorghum has been planted yet, and there are many more kilos of beans waiting, but there is time. This year I'm working with farmers in three villages, so I'll be doing more coming and going, which will be nice. Plus there's the Bookmobile to wrap up before I go! Hopefully we'll do another run in a week or two, now that a little funding has come in.
Now that it's rainy season, the horses are especially skinny, since they are working extra-hard and are out of good peanut fodder. The mares especially, since they are often nursing a foal as well as pulling a plow. Soon the grass will grow, though, and they'll have fresh greens to eat. But the birds are coming back! I remember how beautiful and various were all the birds of rainy season last year, and this time around it is the same. There are so many colors and species of birds! From tiny, bright finches; to iridescent starling-like birds; to shocking blue; to white and black striped birds with curved red beaks; to large brown-and-black ones, boldly colored. There are also butterflies. They like my flower bush the best, and congregate there in all their fluttering beauty. In the evening, crickets and toads compete to dominate the night noise. In the puddles in the road are minute wiggling tadpoles waiting to join the song in a few weeks.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Dad & Becca's Visit, plus rain

Dad and Becca waiting for a charette in Nioro, before heading to the village.


It's a much slower rainy season this year. Hopefully it will pick up soon, because the little baby corn and peanuts are thirsty! But Yallah is in charge of all that. I have been rushing around Senegal with Dad and Becca. We had a lot of fun, though it was a whirlwind! A couple good days in the village, where I extended all my seed. Focus this year on beans, with some corn and rice as well, and I am working with my village, as well as a nearby one where we hope to place a Volunteer soon, and a very progressive farmer in Nioro. Afterwards, we spent a good day at Keur Bamboung enjoying the beauty of the mangroves. As a nice surprise, the hotel invited a fantastic drumming-and-dance troupe there on our last night. They were amazing! Then a nice dinner in Dakar, drinks and some live music. A quick visit to Senegal, but a fun one. Now I am trying to do some more Bookmobile preparation and then head back to the village! I do miss them, not to mention that the agriculture work season is finally picking up. Now, too, many people from my stage are heading home in mere weeks. I'll be finished in three months...it's strange to think about. But there is plenty to be done before then.