This week we traveled to the village to prepare the last coffee area. The entire operation was much further along than we imagined. In all, we have 3 test sites where coffee will be planted. We were expecting to begin work on the second site, but it was already done with a little over 100 holes dug. It is a beautiful area in the midst of some nitrogen fixing trees that the team had planted a few years ago. You could just feel the ground saying, "Give me those coffee trees. You haven't seen what good soil can do yet." We were proud of the work accomplished on this site and very excited to see its potential. Good soil, natural fertilizer, shade trees and water available with a little water line work. It made you quiver!
The last planting site is named "Over the Hill" which is something of a misnomer because it's actually over the ridge of the mountain above the village. The land had the brush and grass/weeds cut down, but had not been cleared. We were going to help with that. We arrived in the afternoon(hot as usual)to find our host asleep. He and lots of other village men had been up on another mountain all night fighting an out of control fire. He was really tired. Never-the-less, he said that we were going to climb the ridge and set the field on fire. What? It's fire season! "It's OK", he said. See the pictures of that. It was a really hot fire, but everything turned out alright.
This was another fallow field which had not been terraced before. Our coffee planting book shows a method of using a triangular measuring device to follow the contour of a hill when terracing it. Well, do you suppose these guys used one? No way Jose, and we were smart enough to stay out of the way, too! They wanted to know how far apart the rows were supposed to be (2 meters), and where the first row was supposed to be(right there). They then went to work with hoes eating out terraces in both directions. These guys can really work! In just over an hour the hill was terraced and ready to have the holes dug. Although we didn't measure them, I'm sure that every one was within a few inches of being right on.
The walk up the hill was interesting. We all had a load of something to carry. I had 2 hoes. Up we started. After a few minutes of climbing, I was going to make a wise crack that I didn't think that we were going to run up this mountain. It was a brisk pace, and I wasn't even carrying one of the heavy loads. I had on hiking boots; the others had on flip flops and shower shoes. Half way up we stopped for a short breather and then finished the climb. WHEW! I'm telling this little tale to explain my complete surprise when, after being there for a few minutes, I look around and see our host's wife. She had come up to pick tea from the tea bushes surrounding this plot. She is also 5&1/2 months PREGNANT!! She is in the pictures wearing the wide brimmed white hat.
It was a great day! Except for the heat, it was perfect. Clear skies, a breeze now and then and lots of work got done. Fast Guy #1 dug 36 holes. He was a virtual backhoe in action. Fast Guy #2 had 31. Husband and Wife team dug 37. Everyone else had over 20 except The Tiger who only had 17. His name is a play on words, because he isn't known for his work output. They got 6 RMB ($0.90) per hole which is a very big wage for them. They were very happy to be paid so much, and we were thankful to have all 500 holes prepared for the coffee seedlings.
The holes will be idle until the end of June when planting will begin. Each hole was marked with a stick so that we can find it again and plant the seedling in its new home. All is going as planned. Please make it a part of your daily pr life to bring up this whole operation to the Father. Without His help the house will not be built. Thanks.
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