Build victory gardens for 500 Ethiopian households

 I visited the victory gardens demonstration project using clay pots for sub-surface irrigation  in Ethiopia in February. The project is fulfilling its primary objective of training and introducing the technique of clay pots sub-surface irrigation in the dry highlands to enable participants to grow fruit trees and vegetables during the dry season with more than 50% efficiency of water. My initial meeting with the leaders of the community and the rural students confirmed that water is the main livelihood constraints in the village.  

The students have been training as interns in the project and have been doing a wonderful job by filling the clay pots every Saturday and taking care of the plants. The system has enabled the plants to survive during the dry months that begun in September.  The stress of aridity has been visible recently when the harvested water was completely used up. We bought water so that the plants can survive until the next rain fills the water tankers.  

I did two things before I left Boulder to Ethiopia. I bought about 10 pounds of apple fruits so that the kids and the people can taste what the fruit trees they are taking care taste and smell when they produce in the future. The second was to purchase 16 Boulder-Bolder Rub T-Shirts. They cost me only $1 each on sale after the end of the run. I wanted to give them as a thank you present for a job well done (see pictures of the students and apple tasting activities-all the people have never tasted an apple before). Those who tasted the apples loved the taste (saying it is juicy, tender, good flavor) and said that they have seen the future and will continue to work hard to adopt the technology.  

The next step is to use your money to support the students to begin building their own victory gardens using clay pots as watering tool. The students confirmed that they will have their own small garden plots around their homesteading the near future. Since they are already trained, they will be supported to get seedlings and clay pots to water the fruit trees.  

We were informed that one of the trees already produced an apple fruit and that the owner took it to a village wide memorial service to the community what it was. The fruit was passed to everyone with a feedback about its odor, its tenderness and finally it was and tasted. The owner of the fruit finally revealed to the people that it was from the new apple tree. Every one rejoiced as they have never seen or tasted an apple before and it was an indication of the goodies that they will harvest in the future. This will happen with hard work and the generous contribution of good people like.  Your contribution is creating miracles.  Please note that this project NEVER uses your contributions for travel or any other expense other tan its intended purpose of helping the kids. Thank you.