The other day I was in the grocery store and I of course always check out the plants and cut flowers:( when I stumbled upon an Arabian coffee plant. I was like neato! but it came packaged in a coffee mug, how chic!?! I wasn’t about to pay 8 bucks for a coffee mug and one plant. I could buy the seeds for less. But because of my journey I am a bit reluctant to plant more than what we need for sustenance and ornamentation. (mind you my kitchen looks like a miniature jungle with all of seedlings I’ve sown the past few weeks) The point is that I am trying to keep it manageable for my husband and offspring.
I don’t drink coffee regularly, but I do want experience growing native Ethiopian plants. This is pretty darn close. I think any program has to take into account its usefulness to the people it serves. Of course it is important to introduce diversity but not at the exclusion of tradition. My goal is to introduce our best mini farming methods and fuse them with the experience, traditions, and best practices of Ethiopia’s farmers. My mission is not an attempt to go and say your wrong do it this way. But as partners lets work towards increasing the success and productivity of the small farms with agricultural practices that rebuild the soil, conserve resources, and feed the people.
- 95% of Ethiopia’s population have and maintain a small to mid-sized farm
- The primary method of irrigation is rainfall
- Rural water development methods need to be explored
I hope to determine on this visit what the direct needs of the farmers are and seek out solutions based on rediscovered and sustainable technologies. Main criteria is that it needs to be easily self managed.
There is no one right way. I know I will learn much more than I will ever be able to teach. Long live life long learning!
…back to Albertsons, so I didn’t buy it. Then I had to go in and pick up something from a different one and low and behold someone else dropped a mug and broke it… the coffee plant was now without a coffee mug and I bought it for $2.50. yippie! Ya just don’t find plants like that lurking around, ya know. Oh and the leaves look like they have been heavily waxed, they are gleaming, blinding, and just way too much… but I am sure after a few years of loving neglect they will dull down to a healthy glow. When will they learn….lol
now get off the computer and grow something,
smiles…dandelioness
