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Newsletter: Autumn 2012

Kajulu Garden

Fish pond surrounded and strengthened by Vetiver grass

REAP continues to improve its garden at Kajulu.  The fish pond, in the lowest water-logged part of the garden, has produced its first harvest! Vetiver grass has been planted all round to help maintain the stability of the structure. Leucaena trees and sweet potato vines have also been planted around the pond to enable a sustainable source of fish food.

The brother of Pastor Simon, who is assisting in promoting Vetiver planting in Kajulu, is active in promoting fish ponds in the area. He has included planting vetiver to reinforce the ponds into his own teaching.

The Artemisia plot is providing plenty of medicine for malaria. REAP is now investigating how best to harvest larger plots to maximize quality.

The permanent displays of trees, natural medicines and traditional medicinal plants are all thriving.

Opening up drainage ditches, use of water and the best ways of developing the land are under consideration.

 

Building Plans

George, Rosalia and Domitilla marking out the rough position for the planned building

REAP plans to erect a demonstration, training and resource centre that is eco-friendly and cost-effective. This would provide a much needed location for teaching seminars and accommodation, whilst having many working examples of REAP’s concepts readily at hand.

Rosalia is checking approval required for a building on peri-urban land. The draft plan can then be finalized as a technical drawing. Septic tank positioning is the chief point of interest to local authorities. For the present time a standard VIP latrine is being erected to facilitate the needs of the builders.

George will supervise the project as he has experience with a number of building projects. Domitilla’s husband is a building foreman and Roger also has experience of building in Sudan.

It would be ideal to have a model example of Domitilla’s teaching on improved rural kitchens on the site. It is proposed that a store/watchman structure, with poles, tin roof and mud walls, would be desirable during the building work and could be adapted later for this purpose.

Care for the Earth

Whilst sharing information with Care for the Earth and others, REAP encourages passing on the ideas they have adopted.

Farmers who started an Artemisia nursery at Care for the Earth centre, using mosquito netting as shade and protection

Prayer Points

  •  Praise God for the continued blessing of the Kijulu garden that clearly demonstrates REAP ideas. Also provision for the building work to proceed.
  •  Thanks for granting Spring Harvest funding for a four day Stewardship Seminar to train twenty key contact people in REAP’s holistic teaching. Please pray that this will be significant in passing on REAP concepts to benefit the poor.
  •  Prayer for sufficient funding to meet REAP’s day to day running expenses and to maintain the team of skilled and enthusiastic workers.