Fields of Green
Aug 27th, 2009 by kelley johnson
In less than three months, the Batwa families have made Matara their home. In less than three months they have built homes, constructed the bulk of 15 latrines, relocated their families and forged friendships with their neighbors. But what I found most amazing when I was in Matara this week, is the sheer volume of agricultural work the Batwa have done in under three months. The hard work and progress astounded me and left me with an incessant smile as we moved across the land, up and down the hill and around the property line.
Above you can see the strata of progress. The soil in the foreground is the land just prepared for potatoes seeds. It is on a hillside, and the land was recently softened by a nocturnal rain, making it ready for clearing. They also dug an irrigation channel to keep the water coming to the crop. Down in the valley you can see the crops that have been planted and are already showing hints of green. More potatoes and some cabbage. Across the valley, on the far off hillside, you can see that they are in the final stages of clearing the land and making it ready for more potatoes! But this picture does not tell the full story… there are crops all around the base of the hills. Carrots, cabbage, corn and… so many potatoes!
Claude (our agricultural engineer) took Claude on a tour of the land, showcasing all the work.
He was eager to show us the spot where the cabbage seedlings were incubated, gently cared for until they are ready to transplant in the fields.
Meanwhile the women are preparing the field for the cabbage, all working side by side. They are as cheerful and they are colorful, and you can hear their laughter fill the valley as they wielded the hoes and moved the dirt.
They have already accomplished so much…
Carrots are growing here… we hope this will be another cash crop to benefit the community.
Today the men are bringing in more supplies for the construction of the latrines.
So much progress, and so many fields of green! So many reasons to applaud our Batwa families and their efforts thus far.
oh my gosh, that picture with the women working….I just closed my eyes and imagined what that must have sounded like, their laughter as they work…made me cry this morning….This is amazing! Thank you so much for the update!
So awesome! Those Batwa women are the strongest, hardest-working women I know!
I cry as I see beauty of the people and the land and the excitment they must feel. Thank you Lord Jesus, for allowing me to be a small part and to the results. God is good!!!
What beautiful pictures! So exciting to see what has already been done, and to imagine the future of Matara! Thanks for keeping us updated, Kelley!
The land looks incredible!!!! Looking at the women working, I swear I can hear them singing!
I love looking back at this! The picture of all the women working is so great! They seem so strong and diligent – what beautiful ladies!