Practicing What We Learned — Seeing How It Is Done
Part #4 of my adventure with SANGO-Kenya
You can read the first chapters here: Chapter #1, Chapter #2, Chapter #3 .
I’m starting to get used to our routine of going out to the field from our cushy apartment in Kisumu (Kenya).
First of all, we made sure to boil a large pot of water the night before. So we can have drinking water for the day. We are lucky enough to have running water in the apartment. Only a few people in the area have that luxury. We also have periodic internet and electricity most of the time.
John arrives almost on time. Kenya time is much more flexible than the rigid system we use… But, he makes up for it by wanting something to eat before we leave and telling us a few stories.
Eventually, we are off. We pass by the bustling center, heavy traffic, and endless stalls and by the university with its corruption-free sign.
I read up on Kenya before arriving and learned that it is considered one of the most corrupt countries on the planet. I remember thinking…. how do they measure this? And fantasized about there being a Eurovision-like event where each country sent in a minister from their government and they were bribed on stage…. ranking them by how long it took.
The roads get narrower and less paved and we arrive once again at Jane’s homestead.
The farmers start assembling and Dom gets into explaining what we will be learning today. Basically to put into practice what was only talked about in the earlier session. Use the crops we chose. Which are hardier and more resistant to climate change and plant them in a well-thought-out, logical, and efficient way.
I should be concentrating on the explanations, even though they are in Lou.
Kit is getting a live translation. But I keep being drawn to the kids playing around. There are about a dozen. What strikes me, and is so different from home, is the way they are occupying themselves and entertaining themselves with their own inventiveness and presence.
No screens, no swings, no ballpark, no problem. A stick, a can, funny faces. Their joy is palpable.
It takes them a few minutes to get over the fact that a Muzungu (white guy) is in their midst, but pretty quickly they are back to their games.
The seeds are handed out and a plan is announced. We will walk to a plot of land owned by Jane and will plant the seeds in the way that Dom described.
It is a ten-minute walk to the field and an introduction to the often stunning landscape. This region is strewn with enormous boulders. Building size natural structures amongst which people set up homesteads and fields.
Dom starts describing what the task is. Today we will be learning how to plant Crotalaria. A nutritious and hardy plant.
Using rope and a stick he starts marking the rows where planting will take place. It is a simple system and goes quickly.
He manages to complete half a row and the farmers are just itching to take part in this. They quickly take over. Working as a team. It feels like they are used to working together, though from my understanding they each work on their own farm usually.
I later realized what a tightly knit support group they are for each other.
Once the rows are laid out and the markings made, seeds are planted in the correct distance from one another, at the right depth.
They are taking great pride in their work.
The work is quickly completed by several teams working in parallel. Marking rows, marking planting spots, and planting.
Walking back to the homestead to wrap up the day we pass women doing the yard work, fetching water, cleaning.
I am starting to get an understanding of the disparity facing women here. All property is owned by the man of the house. And, though they are mostly devoutly Christian, they manage to square that circle and accept polygamy. The husband can get rid of his current wife with little consequence, or marry another. Property remains in his hands as do the children. I understand that Kenya is trying to grapple with these customs and modernize. But there is quite a ways to go.
The women manage everything to do with day-to-day existence in the home and around. And that is a lot. Children, food, water, agriculture, livestock.
More and more am I in awe of these women, versus the odds stacked against them, they wake up every morning, get out of bed, and take care of things.
Time to drive back. As usual, I am fascinated by life along the road.
I try to bring up the topic of women’s rights (or lack of) with John, our driver.
John is really well informed, reads international newspapers and speaks wonderful English. He has opinions on national and international politics. On the Chinese involvement and influence in Africa. His opinion about women. “It is as it should be. As it always was”. And that’s that.
One thing that I find curious are signs saying: “This property is not for sale”. I ask John why people place those signs, I’m used to signs saying “This property is for sale”. He explains that a common scam in Kenya is for people to sell property that does not belong to them. So rather than deal with a scammed buyer, people just put up those signs. Sometimes it helps…
Welcome to Kenya…
Next, our chef, Tom demonstrates how to use these new crops in cooking, by preparing a meal for the group. Read Here.
In the meantime… if you want to learn a bit more about SANGO-Kenya. you can check it out here: https://sango-kenya.org/
…and you can see more of my photos here: https://www.rozinphotos.com/
