This is my first blog for 2010; comprises different information from different occasions, I can’t wait to share with you all. I hope that you will enjoy reading it. My story begins with a family of two birds building a nest between the wall and roofing timber of my house, at the same time there is tree planting activities going on. Tree seeds are germinating with a help from being inoculated with mycorrhiza (Root fungus) trees are growing quickly because the fungi is helping trees resist drought, ants are beginning to live on the small trees, then tree frog (Chiromantis rufescens) birds are starting to multiply and runs out of space then those who don’t have space are start living on branches of trees near the house. One day I tried with my children to count them they were more than thirty! And there are visitors who come for a short time then leave e.g. Chameleons (Chamaeleo chamaeleon), Cotton strainers (Dysdercus decussatus) bats and lizards.
Mycorrhizal training at Canon Andrea Mwaka School
On 22nd February 2010 Amy Auguston, Gideon Massaka and I went To Canon Andrea Mwaka School (CAMS) for a meeting with teachers of the school to discuss and find out the possibility of working with them. Canon Andrea Mwaka school is a primary and secondary school that belongs to the Anglican diocese of central Tanganyika (D.C.T). During the meeting CAMS staff told us that they are interest in our work and are willing to work with us. On 29th January 2010 we started mycorrhizal training we managed to finish the theory session, dug the hole but didn’t manage to find acacia tree and finish establish the trap pot. We agreed to continue on the next Friday. On 5th February 2010 Gideon and I went to CAMS to finish training and establish trap pot. Other things we discussed included the possibility of building institutional stove for the school, and crop trials if we can manage. For the stove they asked us to do cost estimation then give them the actual costs then they will decide whether they can afford or not. They are also interested in doing field visit with their students in some of the villages where STT is working. They suggested two village visits the first to be on 5th of March 2010, the second to be in between May/June.
On 22nd February 2010 Amy Auguston, Gideon Massaka and I went To Canon Andrea Mwaka School (CAMS) for a meeting with teachers of the school to discuss and find out the possibility of working with them. Canon Andrea Mwaka school is a primary and secondary school that belongs to the Anglican diocese of central Tanganyika (D.C.T). During the meeting CAMS staff told us that they are interest in our work and are willing to work with us. On 29th January 2010 we started mycorrhizal training we managed to finish the theory session, dug the hole but didn’t manage to find acacia tree and finish establish the trap pot. We agreed to continue on the next Friday. On 5th February 2010 Gideon and I went to CAMS to finish training and establish trap pot. Other things we discussed included the possibility of building institutional stove for the school, and crop trials if we can manage. For the stove they asked us to do cost estimation then give them the actual costs then they will decide whether they can afford or not. They are also interested in doing field visit with their students in some of the villages where STT is working. They suggested two village visits the first to be on 5th of March 2010, the second to be in between May/June.
Mycorrhiza crop trials in Manhumbulu
This year we are planting bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) some of them with mycorrhiza and some without, and some maize with mycorrhiza and some without mycorrhiza the reason for doing this is to find out if mycorrhiza can help to improve crops resistance to drought and help farmers to be sure to harvest when rains are not sufficient. Obed Lameck is looking after the plot and the last time I visited he had planted the peppers and was waiting for rains to plant maize. The seedlings looks okay and I have prepared forms to help Obed to record every activities involved during the growing and harvest.
STT Landcruiser
We have sold the Green machine and we have been busy trying to find a better vehicle suitable for our village visits, in doing this we were getting advice from Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Mechanics in Dodoma, after searching for some time we thought it is not possible to find in Dodoma then we decided that may be one of us (Gideon) have to go to Dares salaam. But when Gideon was preparing to go to Dar, through our network of friend were told that there is a car for sale that seams suitable for our work. Then we called the owner to bring it to the office, after we saw it arranged to take it to MAF for checking, the results showed it was not in bad condition. Considering the costs we will have to incur if we go to Dar, we thought there is no need to go to. We started the process to buy it; we have completed paying the owner now what we need is to finish signing paper work but the car is already in our office. It is Land cruiser GX 4X4 (that looks like our first Land cruiser Prado).
Obtaning Nanenane plot On 30th January 2010 we were reallocated at another plot at nane nane. After getting the plot we were instructed by Tanzania agricultural society organisation to make sure we go Capital Development Authority (CDA) to get drawings of the building and start building immediately. STT need to think the type of simple building; calculate costing decide if we can afford and when to start the work.
