Volume 21
January 2010
 Research For Curative Plants Continues in Kapsaret
Looking for medicinal plants

Purity and her mother trekked through hills near the Harvest Grove Community Center in search of plants that have historically been used for medicinal purposes. Neighbor Lenard collected samples of many plants that have been traditionally used for such ailments as diarrhea, cough, the grips, heartburn, stomach pain, cuts and wounds, skin disorders and even an herb that helps barren women get pregnant.

...developing a book for the community center library

David has requested information from many of the grandparent generation in the Kapsaret area. We plan to document the plants, the traditional uses and their methods of use. We will print an illustrated booklet for the community center library and many of the plants will be grown at the community center with signage to identify them. This effort is to bring the knowledge of the elders to the younger generation.

Neighbor Lenard joined the herbal trek with his machete to assist digging up plant samples to replant at the Harvest Grove Center. Lenard is digging up a an olive tree (the Kalenjin name is Emtit).
Lenard holds up a sample of a fig plant and a cross section of its root for photo documentation. This plant called Tebeswet in Kalenjin. It is useful in treating in the following parts of the human body,
Neighbor Lenard joined the herbal trek with his machete to assist digging up plant samples to replant at the Harvest Grove Center. In this photo, Lenard is digging up an olive tree (called Emtit in Kalenjin).

Lenard holds a sample of a fig plant (called Tebeswet in Kalenjin) along with a cross section of its root for documentation. Fig leaves are burned into an ash and licked to treat tonsils, chest problems and coughs. The root is mixed with Tithonia leaves to treat East Coast fever in animals.
Aloe
Purity and her mother taste a species of Aloe that is often applied to skin infections.
machete
plant and root
Mercy and Annika help explore in a large patch a aloe. Purity's mother shows tree used to treat heartburn.
machete
plant and root
This small yellow fruit is called Sodom's Apple (Solanum incanum) fruit. The roots are chewed and the juice is swallowed for treating heartburn. The leaves can be boiled and applied to swollen feet as an ointment. Juice from the fruit is used on wounds and also to treat pink-eye.
Lenard and Purity listen to Purity's mother talk about how to process a plant called stinking needle. The plant can be mixed with Sodom's apple fruit and used to treat breathing problems in babies. It is also mixed with sheep oil to treat cobweb infection, a parasitic mold that can infect crops.
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Planting Season at Harvest Grove: Fruit Trees
The new year rings in with plans to plant more fruit trees. We have purchased eight banana trees with plans to buy 15 more, plus the following fruit trees: orange, lemon, papaya, avocado, and mango. The Harvest Grove team hopes to get them in the ground while there is still some rain. A Kenyan agricultural officer came to visit the Harvest Grove Farm last week and he recommended different varieties. Once purchased, the agricultural department will deliver the trees to the farm at their expense and then they will return after two months to see how the plants are growing. If any trees have died, the agricultural officer will have them replaced.

Banana trees ready to plant
Planting bananas
Neighbor brings banana trees with a wheelbarrow. Eight banana trees were planted at Harvest Grove.
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Greenhouse Tomatoes
Mooo
Watering tomatoes in greenhouse.
David's family cow has a baby calf. The family shares the milk with calf.
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Recap of 2009

First Quarter 2009

  • Ground cleared of maize and murram collected to prepare for building of community center lecture hall.

Second Quarter 2009

  • Building of lecture hall begins. Well is dug another 25 feet deeper to accommodate the building process. Roof material is stored in neighboring homes as we wait for opportunity to purchase 3000 more bricks to finish the walls.
  • Harvest Grove Board members travel to Nairobi to complete registration of non-profit status. The local government urged us to elevate our CBO (community-based organization) status to NGO.
  • A member of Cornerstone purchased a new cow for David's family to replace the cow that was lost during the violence outbreak last year.
  • Brian Kiplagat is born. This is David's first baby boy. David has five girls.

Third Quarter 2009

  • We raised money for the building through our annual fundraiser sponsored by the Hafif Family Foundation Concert Under the Stars. The final balance of the funds needed for 3000 more bricks was donated in December 2009.

Fourth Quarter 2009

  • A greenhouse was donated to the Harvest Grove Community Center
  • Magdeline, a student from the Empowering Lives International agricultural program, served her attachment (internship) for three months as an assistant to the Harvest Grove Farm.
  • Jayne Hayes, co-founder of Harvest Grove visited the Harvest Grove Community. Jayne met with neighbors and church members during her two-week stay with David's family.
  • Basic jewelry-making workshops were held at the community center site in between rains.
  • Photos taken by Jayne Hayes of her trip to Kenya were on display in November and December at the Village Bookshop in uptown Glendora. If you missed the photo show, you can view the photo gallery online.
  • Funds were sent to purchase more fruit trees.

The plans we have for 2010:

  • Finish the community center lecture hall. We finally have all the funds needed to purchase the remainder of the bricks. Thanks to you who have donated these funds. You know who you are.
  • Continue to research local plant uses for Harvest Grove library.The oldest grandmother in the community, Bot Chebwogen and a neighbour Amos are interested in assisting with the research.
  • Plant more fruit trees along the fence and drive. David is planting more banana trees. We will be purchasing new fruit trees this year. The rainy season has been generous and the wells are full.
  • Sell more Concert Under the Stars tickets. Once again, Harvest Grove will be selling tickets to the annual Concert Under the Stars event in the Hills of Laverne. The Hafif Family Foundation sponsors the events and 100% of all proceeds from ticket sales go directly to the non-profit organizations. There are only going to be three concerts this year so save one of the following Saturday nights: July 24, July 31, and August 7 2010.

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Please make checks payable to Cornerstone Bible Church. Be sure to write Harvest Grove Project in the memo and you can designate whether you want the funds to be for the lecture building or for the short-term mission trip travel fees in June 2009. Mail your tax deductible donations to the following address:
Cornerstone Bible Church
HG Fund
400 N. Glendora Ave.
Glendora, CA 91741

Or call Jayne at 626-643-0331 and she will pick up donations.
Thank you and bless you for your interest in the Harvest Grove Project.
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“The place that God calls us is that place where the world's deep hunger and our deep desire meet.”
—- paraphrased in Captivating, by John and Stasi Eldredge, original quote from Frederick Buechner

United States
Kenya
Jayne Hayes
Harvest Grove Project
605 East I Street
Ontario, CA 91764

David Kipkorir
Harvest Grove Community Center
P.O. Box 991
Eldoret, Kenya

Email: jayneGAV@gmail.com Email: davidkipkorir@yahoo.com
Phone: 626-643-0331 Phone: 011 254 720 698 774
(note: call after 8pm PST)

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Harvest Grove Self Help Group is the name of the Community-based organization in Kenya.
Harvest Grove Project is the name of the support group in California, United States.
© 2006 Harvest Grove Project, All Rights Reserved

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I learned how to milk a cow
P. S. “I learned how to milk a cow in Kenya last summer (2009).”