Annual Art Shows

The time of year for art projects to be checked off the list of school activities. The staff have found some neat ideas and are helping the students create some nice projects (tacky ... but that is the whole point isn't it?).

Here is another view of what we are about.

Leaf Cooking Classes in Belin

Chepe's wife, Paula, has been diagnosed with early onset diabetes. We talked about it a couple of weeks ago and agreed to go to her house to show her how to cook green leaves in different ways. She and Chepe organized a number of neighbouring women to come as well. We had 12 women of various ages. Yeni, Maricella and I cooked up 6 different types of leaves, made green, Moringa powder tortillas, made peanut butter and peanut butter/banana milkshakes. All of the recipes were well received. Phew.

Adding Moringa Powder to Masa for Tortillas

Making Green Tortillas

Taste testing Moringa powder

Rocket Stove ... roasting peanuts for peanut butter

Yeni showing the various leaves

Parade

Sunday was Independence Day in Honduras. In honour of that day scores of towns and cities held parades ... some starting on Saturday. Sunday morning was the time for all of the private (non-public in our case) schools to march through town. We were to be in place by 7 a.m. for a 7.30 start. By 8.45 we were underway.

 

First leg ... still looking fresh

Stalled again - the church in the background

Last leg - 20 metres to go

Acknowledging the flag by the reviewing stand

Almost done - Phew

As each school passed the review stand, they were heralded by a pair of 'play-by-play' announcers who took their job very seriously. A few of the schools thought that this was the time they were to put on 20 minute performances. Thus, for the rest of us, the parade consisted of standing, sliding forward 50 metres, standing and so forth. It only took four hours for us to traverse the 9 blocks to the review stand. These are Santa Cruz blocks which are about 1/3 the size of a Canadian city block.

I should have had a hat. Today I look a bit like a semaphore.

The good news though was that almost 200 students showed up to march so we were the largest contingent. As well, because we took so long, many people who were waiting for other schools or just watching got to see our school for the first time.

This morning, the staff were looking through some of the pictures. My turn will come in a little bit and I will let you see a few as well.

TTYL

BB

Children's Day

Yesterday we celebrated children's day at the school. Lots of students and lots of children ... a number of our students are young mothers or, in one case, a brother who must care for his younger sibling while his mother works.

Pinata destruction time. 

Yeni and her daughter Ady. Serve the cake please ... don't eat it.

Not everyone enjoyed every activity.

Someone has to say no to those sometimes. Don't envy them.

Staff filling the pinatas ... we really do have a happy workplace.

More Crochet Stuff

Yeni organized students to bring the things they are making to get a picture. Here are four of the students who have learned crocheting. There are others as well. Ardythe gave the staff some needles in January and they have progressed amazingly well. She brought down some pattern books this week and is also going to teach them some nifty things like parachutes and so forth.

Some of the students' work

Four of the girls and their work

The students are learning a skill. Check. They are, also, learning to use spare time to advantage. Check, check. They are finding out that they can find ways to earn money themselves. Check. As well, they are discovering (probably in an oblique sort of way) that when you are making money you are not spending it. Check.

Ardythe shows the staff some pattern books

I am so impressed with the variety of things they are making.

TTYL
BB

Another Edible Plant

Last week, a friend sent me a chart with the protein values for a number of potential animal feeds. The word Malanga jumped out at me with huge protein numbers. Very surprising. Then, another part said that the leaves were edible for people.

Malanga grows almost wild here in Honduras and inhabits any and most swampy or damp areas. Drainage ditches, wet stream banks and roadsides all seem to be sprouting this plant.

Malanga is a relative (quite a distant cousin in some ways) of the Taro plant. The roots are very tasty and are used in soups especially. Quite nutritious but, also, quite full of starch.

Right now, there is a big boom in malanga planting in Honduras because of the export market. Evidently it is gaining popularity in the United States. As you can imagine, that means even more leaves available for nutrition.

Saturday morning, a friend of mine helped me collect a few leaves. At home, I cut off the stems and the large central ribs and pressure cooked them for 10 minutes (on the advice of Leaf For Life director, David Kennedy). Gingerly, I tried two spoonfuls and waited an hour. No ill effects. (The leaves have a chemical that really makes your mouth and throat feel on fire when you eat them raw - Chepe and I know this from experience). An hour later I chowed down the leaves with vinegar and pepper.  All good.

This week we will try cabbage rolls with rice or a type of tamale with masa (maize paste used in tortillas). Will see if they turn out.

Interesting note. Evidently duck eggs are seen as having special nutritional or beneficial properties. Yeni's little girl, Ady, was taught by her grandmother how to tap one end on the table, make a small hole and suck them down. She does so with gusto ... while her mother tries to look as if it is nothing unusual.

Fish still living. We have ten in each tank now. Our middle tank was not thriving as well as the other two. We found out why. When we bought the fry, the man threw in a few extra. It turned out that, while there were 10 in the other two tanks, there were 90 in the middle one. Good news. They were living. They were growing (very slowly). They were making do on Moringa powder.

For any readers who are not aware, http://www.whatisinyourhand.org/  Ideas for Hope, a website with my textbook and various booklets is up and running.

TTYL

BB

Enjoying A Trip

Living in Honduras offers many opportunities to see beautiful scenery and experience new adventures. It is hard, sometimes, to think of what I am doing certain moments as work. This last week was filled with such moments.

On Wednesday, I flew to Belize City to attend a conference on Aquaponics (raising fish and vegetables together). The conference featured Nelson and Pade Aquaponics founders and was something I had hoped to attend for some years. Having it in Belize City was a real opportunity.

 

Holding the post up while Jimmi does the work - I did carry the gravel and dirt ... just so you know

The short flight to Belize was in a twelve-seater plane. Flying in small planes is so much more fun than large ones. We were able to watch all the dials and maps on the pilot console and, because we flew so much lower, able to see the gorgeous reefs, islands and empty shorelines clearly. A bank of cumulus clouds made the trip more exciting as we dodged through the openings.

Belize is a British colony and features Her Majesty's picture on their currency. I felt right at home. The difference in culture between the two countries is really amazing. Language is, of course different with a mixture of English, Garifuna, Creole and Caribbean dialect instead of Spanish. The food is different as well - a mixture of English, Indian, African and some Spanish. Many more spices and flavours are part of the diet. For a Prairie boy, mashed potatoes was a wonderful treat.

The conference was enjoyable although not as informative as I had hoped. Our focus in Honduras is finding simple ways for the poor to grow food, address nutritional concerns and find new sources of income. They don't need large systems with a heavy reliance on technical equipment and large sources of energy.

 

A ferro-cement tank being built by my friend Glen - I helped with design ideas and taking him to see some already-made tanks (so ... get part of the credit ... enough to post a photo anyways)

It is very difficult for people who have not lived any length of time outside of their culture to appreciate the need for food systems that are small, simple but utilize good science and a modicum of technology. Our culture is a mono-culture based way of thinking - in agriculture, in business and, often, in religion. To switch to a poly-culture, integrated and multi-use way of thinking is a struggle.

Fortunately, I was able to spend a day with Jimmi and Sandra, a couple who have a small aquaponics system in Belize and who are looking at ways to make it more integrated and multi-faceted. We discussed many ideas and how to implement them - both in Belize and here in Honduras. Jimmi has several years experience and has learned what must be done and what can be left undone. As well, because we have talked for some time, he is interested in using his waste streams to better effect. Despite the efficiency of his system, he has room to easily double or triple his income by utilizing the waste streams of plant material, fish carcasses, fish manure and space management.

 

Karen showing her purse (lined with a zipper top)

We spent a couple of hours making some wicking beds where Jimmi will try growing alternative crops. That was enjoyable although, at 2.00 p.m. in the greenhouse rather warm.

The flight back was as enjoyable as the first flight. It was nice to be home in good time to have a few hours of Sunday rest.

Karen finished her first crocheted purse. I am so impressed with the way in which students are learning how to crochet and the way in which Yeni, Ana and Maricella are teaching them.

TTYL

BB

Already Home

This morning, we organized four separate groups of people to go to Plan Grande, the site of our next building project. We were only one hour behind schedule when we left. That is a miracle in itself.

In Plan Grande, we met with the families that will be participating. They were introduced to each of the players in the project and we talked about the potential and the work that lies ahead.

 

Christopher and Catarin Nuñez - 2 of our students

After the meeting, we went to look at the land. Edgar and I had prepared a bunch of plants to start in the property (read that, "Edgar prepared and Bryan paid wages and organized"). I took one of my homemade planting shovels and, along with several of the men, headed to one edge of the property and began planting.

In the next hour, we planted over 200 cuttings, slips and plants. Trying to imagine what it was like for people to plant something on what will be their own property. It was, I am quite sure, the first time in their lives to plant anything other than maize, beans and cassava. Two kinds of Chaya cuttings, Vetiver grass and Lemon grass slips, and Arachis pintoi plants all found a new home. In addition, we left several hundred seeds for Pigeon Pea, Moringa, Mucuna, and Tephrosia. It will be great if they plant them.

 

Johnny learning to crochet - Hurrah - Yeni's Teaching is Paying Off

These people have seen this land all their lives. They have walked, harvested firewood and played on it. But, today, for the first time, they were looking at it with new eyes. It was, now, home.

How many times in my life have I looked at horizons, packed to leave, sought alternatives ... when I was already home. How much of religious activity and energy is spent fruitlessly ignoring the home and the Continual Present Tense that surrounds and invades us.

 

You can see them if you squint hard enough

Last weekend, on a trip to Belize to renew my visa status, I talked with a man (named Bryan as well) about a Mayan plant Calaloo (Amaranth family). He took me upstairs and showed me two other Mayan plants that have highly nutritious edible leaves. Wow. He is going to organize seeds for me to collect the next trip to Belize. So many resources already available.

Fish are still living and growing. Today marks a month in the tanks. Tomorrow morning we hope to harvest some (mostly to give space to the others) and cook them in a pressure cooker to make sardines. Will see how they taste.

 

Edel and Anna - close second (but ... since they won the Spreadsheet contest the day before the judge ruled against them )

Yeni and Manuel hard at work. Chepe looks on in admiration.

Last Wednesday was PowerPoint Competition day for the Staff. Yeni and Manuel won.

TTYL

BB

Waiting

We were told to be at a meeting of the Municipal Board this morning in regards to the land for our next housing project. The time to be there was set at 9.00 a.m. We arrived early in order to set up our projector and have it ready for our presentation.

All was going well when a young man wearing a phone in his ear - always a danger sign in my mind - arrived to tell us that we couldn't set up the equipment before our presentation and that the presentation wouldn't be until 10 or 10.30. The Board meeting started at nine and, for some odd reason, they couldn't have a projector sitting on the table while they met. It is 11.00 now and we are still waiting. Not sure how the presentation will go because we have to go through the rigmarole of setting up computer and projector while one of us talks to the group.

One of the frustrations of working here is the reluctance of so few to help out. There seems to be a feeling that, since expatriates have recourse to unlimited funds, we should pay for anything and everything and at an inflated rate. Totally frustrating.

Post Meeting.

The presentation went fairly well. Manuel and Chepe did their usual stellar job of presenting our program and telling where we wanted to go with the next project. The Board was somewhat interested but only after the intervention of a fairly impassioned plea by the Mayor did there seem to be any indication that action should take place quickly.

Afterwards, we met with our lawyer to discuss cost of documents and so forth. Once again, we were taken completely aback with the cost suggested. Using a simple calculator, the lawyer was asking for what would work out to a million dollar a year income. She was genuinely puzzled why I would think it rather exorbitant or why I would have trouble getting the money. After all, we would just pass on the price of the lawyer fees to the people in the project ... in other words, we would just ask the poor to pay more for their homes - the equivalent of one month's minimum wage for each home owner for each document ... and no saying how many documents we would need finally. The solution, in the lawyer's mind was that we could pay later ... didn't have to pay up front. I missed the point of the solution as it would still have to be paid. The lawyers' union has, evidently, set prices for certain types of transactions and you are supposed to pay those rates regardless. When land is involved it is partly based on the amount of land involved - so ... more land, more cost.

Enough griping.  Won't help find the solution. It has been one of those weeks with frustration after frustration by people who want to milk the cow without feeding it.

TTYL

BB

Student Days

Last week were two days to celebrate the students. Tuesday we showed movies with a projector I brought back with me from Canada. You can get them here but they are much more expensive. It worked nicely projected on to one of our white boards.

Friday was a school dance. With so many students, we are going to have to move special events to another location. Insignificant issues like edible plants are easily forgotten in the excitement of the party. The students put in a few lempiras each and had the normal, anti-nutritional snack fare. I see that, thanks to the rains, most of the plants have recovered from the traffic.

We continue to measure land for our next housing project. We have, finally, established the majority of the boundary points. Four more points on one plot and it will be done. Very little official marking of boundaries has been done with a GPS. The person formerly in charge of the land office was more inclined to make up maps and give them to folks for a small consideration. Then he would, conveniently forget to input them into the office computer. This, of course, leads to difficulties when it is time to establish boundaries. We met one of our "neighbours" and are now using his map (from three years ago) as a starting point. Consequently, the need to measure again. Edgar and I were the ones able to read the maps and help the two men from the land office figure out which points went where. Sigh.

Monday, Edgar told me that he had taken a bag of Pigeon Pea seeds and planted them on his property. Hurrah. He planted over 100 seeds. it is an exciting first step in making his land productive year round with vertical sources of nutrition. He has, as well, ordered Willow cuttings to plant along the stream that bounds one side of the property. This week, as well, he gave two, standard shaped hoes a try. He found that they were faster and less painful to use than the traditional digging hoe or grub hook. He is quite excited about trying two others that we bought yesterday.

A hoe which can be used while standing upright is a great improvement. It means, as well, that the maize can be weeded earlier and more often which results in better production. Often, the tedious, painful way of weeding means that the weeds are often over a foot high before being tackled. By that time they have done serious damage to production. I need to find a Dutch hoe yet to see how it performs.

The fish are still alive and, yesterday, Edgar divided them into three tanks. We designed a small aerator using 3 toilet plungers. It seems to work quite nicely.

Another art project - a sign for Chipilin - the girl is quite pleased and so am I to see a plant being labelled so nicely.

TTYL

BB

Johnny modeling his art project - a scarf made using nails, a block and a crochet hook

Karin modeling her scarf.  School plants in the background.

Fish Fry

Yesterday afternoon, Edgar and I went to find some fish fry for a small experiment we are doing. On the way, we stopped at his place to look at his land and give some ideas. He has some beautiful land and, with some work, he can easily be self sufficient. It will take some work to plant but Edgar is a good worker. He is going to give some new hoes a trial today in the maize he is growing. Currently they are using a small, sickle shaped hoe to weed with and it looks positively painful to see them bent over like that. I will try and get a couple of other types of hoes in San Pedro for him to try. Being able to stand and hoe should speed up the process and keep the fields much cleaner. Having someone try them out is a benefit because I can find out which is best for the conditions here.

The "bag" floats on the tank to equalize water temperature and to accustom the fry to the new water.

We got to the fish rearing ponds and drove up to where we could buy the fry. The track got narrower and narrower with steeper and higher banks to look down. My truck is rear wheel drive and none too happy with slippery conditions so I drove quiet cautiously.

The young man and his wife who helped us live in a watchtower/house/storage room. They sleep in hammocks on the upper storey and have a large flashlight to scare away predating animals at night. People are not the major problem it seems. I think he is referring to racoons. They had a large pack of dogs - friendly, thankfully - to help with the task.

Bag open and water being added gradually to mix with the water from their home pond.

He had a roll of plastic tubing (1 m diameter) and cut off a length. Then he made two tie straps from a piece of old inner tube. His very sharp machete made it look positively easy to cut the inner tube. I know, from experience, just how sharp that machete had to have been to cut through rubber that quickly.

We went to the pond where he caught the fry with a net and counted them into the bag (filled with water). They had an oxygen tank by the pond so ran some oxygen into the water and the bag. We tied it off and set it in the back seat of the truck.

Edgar feeding Calliandra dried leaf powder - Fish are still too flighty to get person + fish in the same picture.

Less than an hour later, the fish were in their new home. We will divide them into three groups later.

This morning, Edgar fed them Calliandra leaf powder. They ate it. This is so exciting. We may have found a food source for families to grow their own protein. Leaf powder is easy to make, easy to store and costs nothing but time. In addition, the trees that can be used often fix nitrogen, provide firewood, are good for animal and human consumption and help with erosion control. The potential is awesome. We will see how it goes for now.

Note the entrance the Gimerito bees have constructed in the top corner of their hive.  They also use the entrance hole in the middle of the front panel. 

A group of three neighbours, including Lydia (fish farming stories) are using  the rest of the swampy land to grow Malanga. This week they sold several thousand shoots (hijos). That is exciting as it is a new source of income. I am quite pleased to see their industry and the success it is producing.

Two weeks into the tube experiement - Chaya cuttings (back two rows), Tephrosia and Pigeon Pea (front row) all doing well. Especially pleased with the chaya. 

TTYL

BB

Gimeritos

Today, Edgar transferred some Gimerito bees into a new home. They had been living in a gallon plastic jug and, hopefully, will appreciate their new digs. I was waiting a beekeeper to move the hives but Edgar said he knew how ... and he did!! In just a few minutes we had them transferred. He is off to the house where he and his mother will transfer the second hive. It was so exciting to find out that Edgar knew how to do this and was happy to give it a whirl.

 

Opening the jug - Obviously they are a hardy insect

The mass of wax, honey and bees inside the new home

Edgar putting on the cover

Hanging the hive - they do well near/by a house

Our next housing project got a boost yesterday as we acquired the maps of the land last night. The official documents are a couple weeks away but ... first step that is concrete. Hurrah. It has been a lot work and not without difficulties.

Not much else for news other than that. Enjoy the pictures.

TTYL

BB