Families are returning to thier homes
The Kipkorir family headed back to their home at the Harvest Grove Community Center on February 10, 2008. Most of the people in the Uasin Gishu District of Kenya were displaced during the violence that broke out after the election on December 27. Many of the homes in the area were burned or damaged during the political unrest. |
David's family's dairy cow and calf were taken along with some personal items. Most of the vegetables and tomatoes that were growing on the farm were eaten by animals. The passion fruit were disturbed but are doing well. David is setting more poles along the fence to build a stronger protection for the crops from animals.
The weather has changed and the first rains have arrived, ending the dry season. The morning hours get hot sun, then in the afternoon the weather changes to heavy clouds and it rains a little bit. Most of the farmers are cultivating the heavy clay soil and preparing their farms for planting.
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Purity ties the passion fruit vines up with more twine. |
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A New Year of Planting
David Kipkoror and his family have cultivated the farm and it is ready for planting. David would like to implement crop rotation and plant potatoes this year to improve the soil. He also plans to plant the traditional sukuma wiki, some cabbage, spinach and african traditional vegetables in the demonstration plots where community members planted last year. There is still enough manure left from last season to fertilize these crops.
The cost of one bag of potatoes is $40 US. Ten bags will cover one acre. The expected production will be 35 to 50 bags if David and his family plant the whole acre. The cost to plant a first and second cultivation of vegetables in the half-acre of demonstration plots will be $80 US. |
| One acre of the land has been cultivated by a tractor in preparation for planting. |
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| David has collected seeds from previous crops |
David prepares vegetable beds before sowing seeds |
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| Vanessa, Winnie, Faith and Mercy, David and Purity's children pitch in and work the field after school. |
A neighbor, Patrice helps to prepare the vegetable bed. |
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Following is an exerpt of an email (dated 2-16-08) from David Kipkorir that gives an account of a few of the recent events at the Harvest Grove Community Center.
Hello rafiki (friend),
Greetings in Jesus' name. It is my great pleasure to write to you. I hope you are getting my reports well. We are fine and we have moved back to our home. Peace here has been restored while we pray to God to take care of ourselves. The children have gone back to schools in some places. We believe and trust that God has mercy in protecting us and our nation. We also thank you friends for your continuous prayers and the support you have provided to us during this time. God Bless you abundantly.
Now we have full assurance from the government that they will take care of the people and their properties. We hope that things will be okay soon.
Goodbye. God bless the work of your hands. Pass my greetings to your family members and the Church.
Your friend David.
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About Electricity
God is blessing us greatly.The government plans to bring electricity to the rural area where we live. A transformer has been installed near the compound. This transformer will serve a circumference of 600 meters.
To achieve access to the power lines, we need to pay a registration fee of 3000 KSH ($45 US Dollar). Then we need 35000 KSH ($500 US Dollar) to run the power lines to our property. The nearby secondary school and other community members have paid their payments and are building their access lines.
About the Water Project
Through the municipal council of Eldoret, the government is making water available to the our district.
Community member were required to participate by digging a three-foot trench to accommodate a 10 meter pipe along the main road. Vincent and David dug this ditch last year.
There is a registration fee 17500 KSH ($287.233 US Dollar) and it will be necessary to purchase pipes to connect to the main pipeline.
It is of great importance to get all these resources at hand since their existence will promote the growth of our project. David wants to assure you at this time that we have enough security for our project.
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Powerlines in the vicinity of the Harvest Grove Project
The cement cover marks the spot where Harvest Grove Community Center will connect to the main water pipeline. |
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Close-up of drip irrigation system used to water plants. |
Mr. Paul in greenhouse with twine staked for tomatoes. |
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Interior view of greenhouse ready for new crop.
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Exterior of greenhouse made of polyurethane sheeting. |
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Agnes and Vincent Say Goodbye
Kosgei Agness became a member of the Harvest Grove Community Center and volunteered to teach small plot farming in May 2006. Agness has found a job at a school and so she will no longer be assisting with training at the farm. We appreciate her work and will miss her.
In January 2007, Vincent Kibor Mutai joined the Harvest Grove team as our second trainer. Vincent has also left to continue with his education at the University. There are two new people, Leonard and Lillian who have shown interest in helping with agricultural training. David will tell us more as he meets and gets to know the new volunteers. |
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This style of greenhouse has a rounded roof and uses poles instead of planks of wood. This greenhouse is planted with sukuma wiki, a leafy green that is very popular in Kenya. Mr. Paul's third greenhouse has green peppers growing in it. |
