Next stop for our compost trainers from Lamai Serengeti was Ruaha National Park in the South East of Tanzania. Based from our Kigelia Ruaha camp, this was another new addition to the ever-growing Guardian Project family and Nomad Trust capacity building village workshops. The training was held in the village of Tungamalenga and once again the participants were really keen to learn these practices and get involved in the demo compost piles.
Our camp manager Ken helped with translating the sessions.
Participants practiced building a compost pile together after the theoretical part of the training.
All pitched in to make quite a perfect compost pile, really impressing the trainers. In addition to the usual corn and beans, the community is farming rice as a cooperative, something quite new to the trainers. Familiar nods followed discussions of the adverse effects of toxic chemical fertilisers and everyone who attended the demonstration/workshop seemed eager to try a healthy, free alternative.
Rita took time with the group to show them some of their work across africa, and also the results of organic fertiliser, to boost morale and show them the impact it can have without harming the soil and environment.
Many turned up again the 2nd day to review and do, with the trainers just watching and admiring as the village participants successfully put together a model pile.
Rita and Jeff also introduced some simple dry-season container farming ideas as well as drip-irrigation using recycled water bottles that we hope to be able to develop with the villages too. Watch this space!