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Ox Drawn Plow Creating Ridges to Plant Potatoes

Ox Drawn Plow Creating Ridges to Plant Potatoes

After the fields have been plowed and disced the next planting of crops can begin. To plant potatoes, ridging needs to be done. Also called “earthing up” it mounds the soil. It can be done with a tractor attachment; however, it is sometimes easier to rent an ox plow. Ridging enables the potato plants to stay upright as they grow and also facilitates keeping weeds and pests which damage the potatoes. After the ridging is complete the women will begin planting.

Chatting About Meeting People at Farm in January

Chatting About Meeting People at Farm in January

When we travel to Zimbabwe we usually have a lot to do. This time I traveled there to meet the non-profit, ‘Print the Love,’ though I also conducted farm business. I stayed in a charming Airbnb with a woman whom I now call my African mother. I always enjoy being in Zim and as usual, the weather was lovely though the rainy season normally lasts from November to March; however, the recent drought resulted in absolutely bright sunny 70-degree weather.

Walking the Freshly Plowed Farm

Walking the Freshly Plowed Farm

The red earth of Zimbabwe is similar to the fecund soil of the American South. Beautiful, rich, great for growing organic crops. Walking the farm between harvests in the freshly plowed fields is a sight to behold. Africa, the Continent, our homeland, our heart.

Maize Harvest Zimbabwe Farm Project

Maize Harvest Zimbabwe Farm Project

After we cleared the land, we hired a farmer to advise us on a high-demand crop that is a food staple. He recommended corn which is relatively easy to grow despite having a long maturation cycle. Of all the crops which have been planted to date, corn has been the most robust and resistant to serious problems such as disease and insect pests. It is easy to grow, and the size of the field in which we plant the corn is expansive. This is necessary since the plant requires a lot of space to grow healthily, and consequently produce a high yield. The project yielded a harvest of 3.5 tons in our first season. The greatest threat to our cornfields is the troops of baboons that live in the area. We use fencing with barbed wire on the top to dissuade them from entering the property because they can strip a field in a single night. A cornmeal-based dietary staple of Zimbabwe is also the national dish, called sadza. Sadza to the Zimbabweans is like rice to the Chinese, or pasta to Italians. (Source: Food in Every Country)

Clean Water Initiative10,000 Liter Water Tanks

Clean Water Initiative10,000 Liter Water Tanks

Gaining access to clean water is at the heart of programs designed to improve the lives of people living in regions of the world in which this is a challenge. Clean water initiatives are funded by private, public, and charitable organizations, because people can survive with little to no food, but will die without water. We implemented a water conservation program as part of our mission, and in adherence to the Zimbabwe Farm Project’s commitment to foster sustainable agriculture. With the repair of the wind-pump, and the rehabilitation of the borehole, farm employees and residents now have consistent access to potable water free of contaminants that transmit diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, etc. The success of our clean water initiative has enabled us to conserve the water resources, thus reducing the stress on the borehole, as well as realizing greater efficiencies in terms of human productivity, and crop yield.

Africa Vertical, Inc.

Africa Vertical is a 501(c) 3 non-profit charitable organization . We empower women using social entrepreneurship and employment initiatives. We implement innovative, sustainable permaculture solutions and organic farming for for food security powered by technology and renewable energy.

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