Plantains ... BIG Plantains

A rainy and cold week. Weather patterns are changing. But, things are green. Toques are the headgear of choice for everyone.

Monday one of our neighbours told us that it was time to harvest our plantains. The bunch was hanging over the fence and she was certain that someone else would harvest them if we didn’t. There were quite a few little ones at the bottom of the stem which I would have liked to give chance to grow. However, the top ones were ready and tempting. We planted them last February in a banana circle arrangement. The circle is a three metre diameter circle with six banana plants on the circumference. In the centre of the circle, a heap of organic material is kept one metre high at all times. With rain and sun, this material rapidly composts and the nutrients leach out of the pile to the banana (or papaya – another circle we utilize) roots. As well, the pile keeps the moisture levels much more even and compensates for heavy rains or periods of hot, dry weather. The size of the plantains was about 50% than normal plantains and one was enough to feed one worker at lunch – we sliced them and fried them.

We divided the bunch up among our workers and each went home quite happy. Each had enough for several meals. It is exciting to see some of these plants finally come into production. We have several bunches ripening so can look forward to more great meals. The financial side of this suggests that a family with 50 such circles could earn an income of $200.00 a month – an income level of choice. One acre could hold 80 circles along with 60 permanent vegetable growing beds. The potential is there.

Today Santiago, my yard and project worker, learned how to use a water level to construct a contour line on a neighbouring piece of property. It took a great deal of time to get him comfortable with the method but, eventually, he mastered it and the finished line looks nice. Tomorrow he will get to review his studies by making two more lines. The level is simply two poles with a long piece of hose between them. By using the level of water in the hose, one can determine when both poles are at the same level on a piece of ground.

I have been talking with several people about planting on contour and these three lines will make the conversation much easier to follow. Such a simple technique can make a huge difference in dealing with erosion. If we can incorporate lines of trees on the contour as well, then the steep hillsides which are farmed for maize and beans will be much safer when heavy rains and hurricanes arrive.

One of the exciting developments this week has been that more students are figuring out ways to access computers at home. We had hoped this would happen eventually but it has happened faster than expected. Hurrah. Six students are now studying on two computers in their village. Another three will begin studying next week. This, of course, opens up spaces for more students here at our facility in Santa Cruz. Another seven students will begin studying this weekend and next week. Very exciting to see some of these changes happening so soon in the program.

Elections have some interesting consequences here. The lady in charge of education for our area is a replacement for someone who was supporting a different party (or unknown to the present party). Offices and jurisdictions get rearranged and the effects for the outlying districts are sometimes quite detrimental. Currently adults studying in the system we are working with will have to travel all the way to San Pedro Sula to access information and assistance. The office here in Santa Cruz is being closed. The lady who was working here was told that she can continue working if she can find other groups to pay her salary. Hopefully the city and region will kick in to help keep her here and the office open. Bizarre.

My energy bunny, Edel, found some neat English programs so I have been working hard to get our English units constructed and readied for the students. Usually, students are just given a mark for English without having to do any of the work. Consequently, the material which is designed for students with seven years of English study is well and truly beyond their level. We are designing a course which is at a more appropriate level and which will enable our students to actually study some English and, as well, give us a more ethical means of assigning marks. Sigh. Ethics are such a drag sometimes.

Last night was the Ash Wednesday service. Those who arrived early and on time found the church locked. In fact, the local ‘homeless’ man had already bunked out for the night by the front door. The man with the key ... that all powerful invisible person who controls so much of third world officialdom ... was not to be found. Fifteen minutes into service time a key was found and things were underway. Only 600 or so people waiting. The priest must have noticed my singing as he complimented me in English, “I am happy for you.” Because of Lent, the absence of drums and piano gives room for the voices to be heard. I had bravely turned on the microphone for most of the songs. If I have a microphone (see earlier blogs about first and second string singers) I sometimes cheat and leave it off for songs that I am lost on. As well, there is no compunction on the part of the lead singer to stay with the printed songs. Extra songs that everyone else knows are regularly thrown in to keep me confused.

For lunch today, I made a strawberry preserve type dish served with cream. Rave reviews all around. It is so nice to awe and amaze sometimes. If only my kids could notice.

TTYL
BB