So, I'm due my monthly visitor today (period). It's too early to tell, but I hope and pray she stays away. See, we used ovulation testing kits this month, so timing was so right for doing what you gotta do to get pregnant, and boy did we go at it **blushes**. Anyway, I had a single early pregnancy testing kit and tested my first morning urine... I got a second line. So, I had some of last night's left over salad and took 150mg of aspirin - as advised last year when we had all those recurrent miscarriage tests. And so I wait one hour at a time, praying and hoping that this is a real pregnancy and that it sticks for the duration. Please God, we've wanted this for so long, make it happen for us, please! See, this month marks 5 years since we started trying for a baby. 5 years! I pray the next 36 weeks bless us with a healthy baby. Please send up a prayer on our behalf.
Blessings!
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Today I suffer...
As a result of yesterday's foolishness! Here's what happened:
I've been on a highly raw diet lately, since my 10 day juice cleanse. Well, a few days ago, I bought some organic chicken carcass - cheap and the amount of good meat in it is enough for 2 meals (risotto style), which suits me as I'm trying to eat less meat anyway. So, I made a big pot of soup using the meat and added a whole of veggies in it. First day was fab as the veg were undercooked, so lots of nutrients still within. Yesterday however, the veggie goodness was nil, especially as hubby boiled the whole pot again for dinner. Of course, being hungry not having eaten anything substantial but fruit all day, and having played netball, I 'treated' myself to 3 bowls of soup. Felt okay, went to bed. This morning however, I didn't feel right I felt so uncomfortable and bloated all day! My body is definitely telling me something. I've not been able to face any food all day, not even fruit. My body is still trying to digest the 'healthy' broth I had last night - I can still taste it in my burbs. I've felt rotten all day and the day was such a struggle, all I want to do is stay in bed.I wonder if I'm ill and this whole thing is a coincidence, or am I struggling because of the highly cooked meal I had after 2 weeks of mostly raw live foods? I feel toxic - like I'm on day 2 of a detox programme and I'm suffering. I'll see how I feel tomorrow, but my gut instinct tells me I ate wrong last night and that's why I'm having a hard time. I've learnt a valuable lesson - stop and think before you eat. I've felt only great on a highly raw diet. I'm definitely listening to what my body is telling me right now and will feed it more raw and living foods. It is written!
Another thing.... I had some awfully scary dreams last night! Been reading up a lot on cancer (work ad courses), and this is one disease I fear more that all others. I dreamt I had breast cancer. I was dying, and these nasty lumps were all over my breasts. Too scary. I spent lunch hour today in a chapel, just taking it easy and praying as I could not bear to smell food all day. Still can't. I pray that was just a dream, but Lord, why cancer? One thing is for sure. More living, live foods for this body of mine from now hence forth! Perhaps this is my little moment of change - everyone that changes something in their lives drastically has a moment, right? This is mine. Now, off to enjoy a refreshing orange - it's all I feel I can tolerate right now...
I've been on a highly raw diet lately, since my 10 day juice cleanse. Well, a few days ago, I bought some organic chicken carcass - cheap and the amount of good meat in it is enough for 2 meals (risotto style), which suits me as I'm trying to eat less meat anyway. So, I made a big pot of soup using the meat and added a whole of veggies in it. First day was fab as the veg were undercooked, so lots of nutrients still within. Yesterday however, the veggie goodness was nil, especially as hubby boiled the whole pot again for dinner. Of course, being hungry not having eaten anything substantial but fruit all day, and having played netball, I 'treated' myself to 3 bowls of soup. Felt okay, went to bed. This morning however, I didn't feel right I felt so uncomfortable and bloated all day! My body is definitely telling me something. I've not been able to face any food all day, not even fruit. My body is still trying to digest the 'healthy' broth I had last night - I can still taste it in my burbs. I've felt rotten all day and the day was such a struggle, all I want to do is stay in bed.I wonder if I'm ill and this whole thing is a coincidence, or am I struggling because of the highly cooked meal I had after 2 weeks of mostly raw live foods? I feel toxic - like I'm on day 2 of a detox programme and I'm suffering. I'll see how I feel tomorrow, but my gut instinct tells me I ate wrong last night and that's why I'm having a hard time. I've learnt a valuable lesson - stop and think before you eat. I've felt only great on a highly raw diet. I'm definitely listening to what my body is telling me right now and will feed it more raw and living foods. It is written!
Another thing.... I had some awfully scary dreams last night! Been reading up a lot on cancer (work ad courses), and this is one disease I fear more that all others. I dreamt I had breast cancer. I was dying, and these nasty lumps were all over my breasts. Too scary. I spent lunch hour today in a chapel, just taking it easy and praying as I could not bear to smell food all day. Still can't. I pray that was just a dream, but Lord, why cancer? One thing is for sure. More living, live foods for this body of mine from now hence forth! Perhaps this is my little moment of change - everyone that changes something in their lives drastically has a moment, right? This is mine. Now, off to enjoy a refreshing orange - it's all I feel I can tolerate right now...
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Feels like a new life
Today is the day after my 10 day juice cleanse. It feels bizarrely like a new start to life for me... I really, really want to lead an even healthier life, doing the best I can for my mind, body and soul. I'm so hungry for more, I'm just lapping it all up! I've made some really good friends online with the same interests to health and wellbeing and I feel positive this is the year I assert and commit myself fully to this way of living - raw, organic, clean and at one with nature. There's a wealth of information out there, I need to carefully plough through it to gain more knowledge. I've only just scratched at the very surface, there's a whole more out there. Permaculture's calling at me, and it's calling out loud! Maybe this will pass in time, perhaps it's just a phase I'm going through, but I doubt it is, as these past 4-5 years have gradually been leading me to this. It's all been a dream, but I feel strongly this could be the year to get it all well planned and started. Now all I need do is get my beloved doing it with me - that'll be a challenge, but he's a wonderful man and has so far only ever been supportive, and I'm thankful for that. I mean, he drinks my green juices and concoctions with me! And likes them! That's a start, right? Right? Ah well, I'm optimistic he'll come round and do it with me. Might take time, but eventually, LOL!
So, really, no massive point to this post, just writing down how I feel. Right now, I feel good! I'm back to eating solids proper again, I treated myself to dried soaked prunes and apricots for breakfast and had MSM in my water and that's filled me up well. No idea what's for lunch, but pineapple sounds great. Dinner will be a green salad with some fermented millet and brown rice pudding (off a jar). Might have a few nuts too, as cashews have really been enticing me lately, and well, I did have a few whilst cleansing, so I will treat myself to some. Oh and chlorella too... eating those right now as I type - so good!
Till next time, blessings! xxxx
So, really, no massive point to this post, just writing down how I feel. Right now, I feel good! I'm back to eating solids proper again, I treated myself to dried soaked prunes and apricots for breakfast and had MSM in my water and that's filled me up well. No idea what's for lunch, but pineapple sounds great. Dinner will be a green salad with some fermented millet and brown rice pudding (off a jar). Might have a few nuts too, as cashews have really been enticing me lately, and well, I did have a few whilst cleansing, so I will treat myself to some. Oh and chlorella too... eating those right now as I type - so good!
Till next time, blessings! xxxx
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Day 10
Officially, today's the last day of the World Juice Cleanse, and I feel ecstatic! I go through periods of feeling I can do this for a longer period, mainly in the mornings and during the daytime, then the evenings bring the challenge of me really wanting to eat. The last 3 days at least, have felt this way. So, planning ahead, I think I may transition to intermittent fasting, which I've dabbled in before... Make my juices and smoothies in the mornings and drink those in the day, and eat a meal with my family in the evenings and weekends. We'll see how this goes, obviously as I'm thinking out written right now... no idea if this will work in the long term, but I'm willing to try.
So far today, all I feel like having is water and chlorella, so that's all I'm having at the moment. I plan to make a LARGE green juice later in the day to share with hubby, and wrap these past 10 days up loving green. I'm so thankful I had group support as, even though I was planning on doing a cleanse, truth be told, had I not had the world wide support of the lovely people that joined in with Shazzie who so wonderfully organised the whole event, I'd still be feeling all bloated and uncomfortable, stuck in the procrastination of 'planning' and putting the whole experience off as I wait for 'better timing', all while I carry on eating as usual and feeling more and more uncomfortable, ending up in that vicious cycle we all know so well. Oh, and my clothes would still be feeling very snug around me making me feel awful!
So, day 10! My mind, my beautiful mind has really tried to break me, but I soothe her and she calms down. If I can do it, I strongly feel many more can. There's so much nutrition and energy in [freshly extracted] fruit and vegetable juices, and not once have I felt weak or faint. The desire to eat is a test, but when sufficiently prepared, this is easily overcome. Look at it this way - you have a lovely sandwich, quite filling for lunch. 2 hours later, you're exposed to crisps or chocolate. Now, you know you've eaten and are not hungry, yet the crisps/chocolate are irresistible, so you have some. A few hours later there's more food you cannot resist and have some. I feel exactly the same way on juice, only my palate has been set and when I see crisps, I think nope, I'd love some nuts/seeds/olives. I see chocolate and my mind goes to the raw cacao liquor and yacon syrup I have in my cupboard waiting to be savoured. The fast has helped restore some lost will power. This juice cleanse has reset my palate so well, I'm so looking forward to eating much healthier foods most, if not at all times, and if I really, really, really want crisps, I'll have a few of my blue Terra chips that have been sitting at my desk since the 31st of Dec. The automatic reaching out for and eating whatever's on sight has been quashed. I can think before I reach for whatever's available. And who knows, I may well embark on more juice fasts whenever I feel my resolve for healthier is slipping and reset again! After all, the facebook group seems to be having new people joining in everyday, so support is very close at hand. Try it, it's so much worth it and your body and mind will thank you for it!
Till next time, blessings! x
So far today, all I feel like having is water and chlorella, so that's all I'm having at the moment. I plan to make a LARGE green juice later in the day to share with hubby, and wrap these past 10 days up loving green. I'm so thankful I had group support as, even though I was planning on doing a cleanse, truth be told, had I not had the world wide support of the lovely people that joined in with Shazzie who so wonderfully organised the whole event, I'd still be feeling all bloated and uncomfortable, stuck in the procrastination of 'planning' and putting the whole experience off as I wait for 'better timing', all while I carry on eating as usual and feeling more and more uncomfortable, ending up in that vicious cycle we all know so well. Oh, and my clothes would still be feeling very snug around me making me feel awful!
So, day 10! My mind, my beautiful mind has really tried to break me, but I soothe her and she calms down. If I can do it, I strongly feel many more can. There's so much nutrition and energy in [freshly extracted] fruit and vegetable juices, and not once have I felt weak or faint. The desire to eat is a test, but when sufficiently prepared, this is easily overcome. Look at it this way - you have a lovely sandwich, quite filling for lunch. 2 hours later, you're exposed to crisps or chocolate. Now, you know you've eaten and are not hungry, yet the crisps/chocolate are irresistible, so you have some. A few hours later there's more food you cannot resist and have some. I feel exactly the same way on juice, only my palate has been set and when I see crisps, I think nope, I'd love some nuts/seeds/olives. I see chocolate and my mind goes to the raw cacao liquor and yacon syrup I have in my cupboard waiting to be savoured. The fast has helped restore some lost will power. This juice cleanse has reset my palate so well, I'm so looking forward to eating much healthier foods most, if not at all times, and if I really, really, really want crisps, I'll have a few of my blue Terra chips that have been sitting at my desk since the 31st of Dec. The automatic reaching out for and eating whatever's on sight has been quashed. I can think before I reach for whatever's available. And who knows, I may well embark on more juice fasts whenever I feel my resolve for healthier is slipping and reset again! After all, the facebook group seems to be having new people joining in everyday, so support is very close at hand. Try it, it's so much worth it and your body and mind will thank you for it!
Till next time, blessings! x
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Day 8
So far, so good! Still going light, and loving how I feel! I allowed myself a few bites at lunch with family yesterday, and boy, oh boy! My stomach wasn't happy - it grumbled and churned all afternoon into the evening and through the night, with lots of air - all I had was what would normally be 2-3 mouthfuls. Lesson learnt! So, I'm back on track today, been on water, kombucha, detox tea and chlorella, and planning a massive green juice to feast on this evening. I want to stick to just juices and water till Wednesday then start transitioning with smoothies and fruit - cannot wait!
Till next time, stay brightly, blisfully blessed!
Till next time, stay brightly, blisfully blessed!
Friday, 8 January 2010
Mind Games
I'm on day 6 of my juice cleanse, and feeling great physically - my mind however loves playing silly games with me. Thing is, I've sussed that voice out! I'm sticking to my mantra: Not today, maybe tomorrow. When I wake up in the morning and say I'm juicing, then that's it, I'm sticking to it, so that little voice telling me to have just one this and a little that... ha ha ha, you've been busted, won't work!
I feel fabulous! Not had any hunger pangs today, and a pint of juice fills me up so well, I'm loving it! All I need to do now is get some form of exercise going. I'm walking as usual - at least 4 to 6 miles a day. I'd love a rebounder...
Off to plan dinner tonight, I'm so cold, so something savoury and spicy, warmed up a little in a hot water bath. Can't wait!
I feel fabulous! Not had any hunger pangs today, and a pint of juice fills me up so well, I'm loving it! All I need to do now is get some form of exercise going. I'm walking as usual - at least 4 to 6 miles a day. I'd love a rebounder...
Off to plan dinner tonight, I'm so cold, so something savoury and spicy, warmed up a little in a hot water bath. Can't wait!
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Tomatoes peppers, chillies, okra, aubergines...
I think I should sow tomatoes. I think starting early will help me escape the blasted blight this year. I should get my act together and do it before January ends...
Peppers, chillies, okra, aubergines - I should get started on these too as I often fail to get them to germinate. Then I can have a few tries and still not be too late...
Peppers, chillies, okra, aubergines - I should get started on these too as I often fail to get them to germinate. Then I can have a few tries and still not be too late...
Detox/Juice Cleanse/Juice Fast...
Many call it something akin to the title above. I'm on it. Started on the 3rd with a host of Twitter and Facebook peeps. This particular one was organised by Shazzie, and I'm just so thankful, as I really wanted to fast into the new year but my weaknesses were too great to have me get on it on my own. So, when I saw a tweet with details of a world juice cleanse to celebrate Shazzie's 10 year anniversary raw, I jumped at the opportunity. And I'm so glad I did. I'm about to start day 5 and I feel so good, so light already and the detox has been phenomenal. And I definitely am glad the bloated post Christmas feeling is all gone, thank God!
So, yesterday saw me having the hardest emotional detox I've had since my very first fast in February last year. Here's what I just posted to the group's Facebook page:
So, yesterday saw me having the hardest emotional detox I've had since my very first fast in February last year. Here's what I just posted to the group's Facebook page:
WOW! Came out of nowhere!
I heard some news yesterday. This news gnawed at me, and gnawed and gnawed till I cracked and had the hardest cry I've had in a while... I'm believing cleansing my body of toxins will help me accomplish this dream I have. The dream of motherhood. I've hoped and prayed for so long. It's what started me on my journey to health. My journey to green. My journey to live lightly on this earth. My journey to deep, deep, non-religious spirituality - being at one with nature. And since 2008, my journey to raw.
I know it's a natural everyday occurrence but it's eluded us for so long, and when it happens to others I'm ecstatic for them yet hungry for the same experience. That cry, and the acceptance of what's happening around me, and the understanding that my time will come. I detoxed well these past 24 hours or so. I had a headache all last night and all this morning, which eased late this afternoon. I love detox. I'll stick to this and let my spirit guide me every day - one day at a time. I have this group and other sources holding my hand. Safron's wise words are priceless, and I'm glad I have his wisdom at hand. He says, ''extreme emotion can store toxins in the body..... airborne toxins, toxic household items may be locked into the body by emotions which act like glue keeping the toxic material in the body.'' He says ''Deal with surfacing emotions for healing on every level. Affirmations or self-reassurance can help release and rebuild the body...''
Just wanted to share. I'm so glad I didn't go with my mind saying 'I've had enough, I'm breaking this fast after 3 days,' I know every single day is wonderful but I refuse to not deal with arising emotional issues being the factor in me deciding to break this cleanse. Hence my mantra was born (via a forumite on a raw food forum I visit): Once I commit to the day, whatever happens, I do not break my fast on the day. I could break it tomorrow but only if I commit to breaking it - no impulsive reactions will get me breaking my fast! The decision to break will be made on the day preceding the day I break my fast. So there! No mind tricks allowed here!
Blissful blessings to all. J x x x
More updates soon, stay blessed!
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Two Thousand and Ten
Happy New year to all!
Wishing all the brightest of blessings in the new year... good health, prosperity, and everything good physically, mentally and spiritually. I know I'm taking my health up a notch this year, as 2009 gave me a glimpse of just how wonderful I can feel if I look after myself well.
No resolutions here, as we all know those fail within hours of being muttered. I am however keeping with my quest and flirtations with raw and living foods, with lots of fresh green juices and smoothies. Staying staunch on organically grown produce (as much as we can afford anyway!), with as much as possible home grown on my allotment. Keeping the dream alive for bees and hens for eggs. I'd also love to adopt a few animals too (for meat), but I'll look more into that. Possibilities include pigs and lambs etc. Probably one of each. More research to be carried out on this one. And the possibility that a large chest freezer needs acquiring to store all the goodies!
Fitness-wise - continue with netball, walking, some running (yikes!) and my newly acquired skill of riding a bike. Yes! I can ride a bike now, YIPPEE!!! As soon as I hit gold, maybe platinum on my PruHealth, I'll join the gym so I can get Body Pump, Yoga and Pilates.
Hair and Skincare - I intend to continue as I am, mixing up and experimenting with my own stuff and using even less of the commercial stuff.
Keeping my Kenyan dreams alive too - more as these unfold! Could be exciting, could be a fail, but one never knows till one tries, right?
Last but not least, and for now only, as there are more... blog more, and with pictures! My poor blog's all deserted and lonely; time to get her alive again - hopefully!
Till next time, stay brightly blessed!
Wishing all the brightest of blessings in the new year... good health, prosperity, and everything good physically, mentally and spiritually. I know I'm taking my health up a notch this year, as 2009 gave me a glimpse of just how wonderful I can feel if I look after myself well.
No resolutions here, as we all know those fail within hours of being muttered. I am however keeping with my quest and flirtations with raw and living foods, with lots of fresh green juices and smoothies. Staying staunch on organically grown produce (as much as we can afford anyway!), with as much as possible home grown on my allotment. Keeping the dream alive for bees and hens for eggs. I'd also love to adopt a few animals too (for meat), but I'll look more into that. Possibilities include pigs and lambs etc. Probably one of each. More research to be carried out on this one. And the possibility that a large chest freezer needs acquiring to store all the goodies!
Fitness-wise - continue with netball, walking, some running (yikes!) and my newly acquired skill of riding a bike. Yes! I can ride a bike now, YIPPEE!!! As soon as I hit gold, maybe platinum on my PruHealth, I'll join the gym so I can get Body Pump, Yoga and Pilates.
Hair and Skincare - I intend to continue as I am, mixing up and experimenting with my own stuff and using even less of the commercial stuff.
Keeping my Kenyan dreams alive too - more as these unfold! Could be exciting, could be a fail, but one never knows till one tries, right?
Last but not least, and for now only, as there are more... blog more, and with pictures! My poor blog's all deserted and lonely; time to get her alive again - hopefully!
Till next time, stay brightly blessed!
Sunday, 8 November 2009
I attended my first ever BarCamp event yesterday....
.... And I learnt sooooo much, I'm still bursting!!!
What is BarCamp? Wikipedia: ...an international network of user generated conferences (or unconferences) - open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants.
The one I attended yesterday, in London was BarCamp Africa UK, and so much was offered - in the way of presentations, talks and hospitality.... my mind was blown away!
Now, apart from technological talks, focusing on how technology can be utilised to offer solutions to many of Africa's shortcomings - which I very, very much enjoyed, especially as I've recently had a weird attraction to technology and how it can be used to better our lives in general (evolving from technophobe to technophile), the group discussions/presentations at the event.... so many good ones running concurrently that I was spoilt for choice, but thankfully, most, if not all, that can be found via twitcam and here; the one that resonated most with me was on 'Subsistence Crop Production Improvement: Eco Options' - by B S Kyambadde. This talk bawled me over.... the many ways in which soil can be naturally enriched; keeping it all ecologically sound; the fact that Africa and most other developing countries, inspite of the fact there are vast amounts of land to cultivate, cannot produce enough to feed themselves and as a result, are forced to import food from abroad; the fact that education in subsistency could change things around so dramatically, yet resources are lacking, and a host of others..... I was kept awake very early this morning just mulling over this discussion, and cannot wait to get the powerpoint presentation to read through once it's available.
Whenever Africa and growing is mentioned, my brain immediately transports me back to my family's bits of land. My 'little' 10 pole plot* of allotment land in London is like a child's playground compared to the amount of land an average Kenyan has in the front and back yards in the country (forget cities - too crowded!). I consider myself blessed, in that I'm pretty much self sufficient on crops such as onions, garlic, beans, leeks and potatoes (for the better part of the year anyway!). The land my grandma and my immediate family (uncles, aunties, cousins) lives on is easily 10-15 acres. Add to that the fact that there are more plots in other sites at walking distance, they could so easily clock another 5 acres, perhaps even more. I'd guess in total there's at least 20 acres in total... why then, does my grandma still have to buy MOST of her food all year round? She keeps livestock too - cattle, goats, sheep and chicken - yet 80% of animal consumable products have to be bought - milk, meat, eggs.... I know it's easy to assume that with all of that, one would be able to make the most of that land and produce MOST of their own food, but is it a wrong assumption? I strongly believe that with the right resources - education, a bit of cash investment and labour, things can be turned around for the better. Enough can be produced for consumption and for sale. Yes, mother nature has a role to play, and with the recent drought, it may well have been a bad year anyway, but wouldn't it be better to not solely depend on rainfall for a good crop? How about using a method of farming/gardening that utilises every bit of plant nature throws at us for enriching the land? How about getting all that animal waste onto the land for better fertilised and productive land? All that lovely animal manure, all those leaves that get swept and burnt, all the fruit and veg scraps that get thrown in rubbish heaps and latrines... My most recent visit to Kenya had me chuckling as there was a lone tomato plant, and a lone okra plant, both thriving on the rubbish heap - no suprises then, as the cultivated crops were struggling at the height of summer... And you know what? Grandma laughed at me when I picked and at a tomato from that plant! Lord help me so I can get a programme going for the education of my people. Anyone have ideas on how more can be done to help the developing countries look after their land? How to go about establishing a hands on learning programme? I have a feeling pondering this will give me many early wake up calls (and possibly sleepless nights). What's clear in my mind though... something has got to be done!
10 poles* - An old measurement of length from the back of a plough to the nose of an ox; or 25 metres by 10 metres - that's 250 square metres peeps! (Excerpted from an article on The Independent)
Editing to update/add useful links:
http://barcampafrica-uk.wikispaces.com/Publishing+technology
http://www.arti-india.org/content/view/12/28/
http://files.howtolivewiki.com/Ending_poverty_with_open_hardware_3_bar_camp_africa_london.MP4
http://africamp.com/
What is BarCamp? Wikipedia: ...an international network of user generated conferences (or unconferences) - open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants.
The one I attended yesterday, in London was BarCamp Africa UK, and so much was offered - in the way of presentations, talks and hospitality.... my mind was blown away!
Now, apart from technological talks, focusing on how technology can be utilised to offer solutions to many of Africa's shortcomings - which I very, very much enjoyed, especially as I've recently had a weird attraction to technology and how it can be used to better our lives in general (evolving from technophobe to technophile), the group discussions/presentations at the event.... so many good ones running concurrently that I was spoilt for choice, but thankfully, most, if not all, that can be found via twitcam and here; the one that resonated most with me was on 'Subsistence Crop Production Improvement: Eco Options' - by B S Kyambadde. This talk bawled me over.... the many ways in which soil can be naturally enriched; keeping it all ecologically sound; the fact that Africa and most other developing countries, inspite of the fact there are vast amounts of land to cultivate, cannot produce enough to feed themselves and as a result, are forced to import food from abroad; the fact that education in subsistency could change things around so dramatically, yet resources are lacking, and a host of others..... I was kept awake very early this morning just mulling over this discussion, and cannot wait to get the powerpoint presentation to read through once it's available.
Whenever Africa and growing is mentioned, my brain immediately transports me back to my family's bits of land. My 'little' 10 pole plot* of allotment land in London is like a child's playground compared to the amount of land an average Kenyan has in the front and back yards in the country (forget cities - too crowded!). I consider myself blessed, in that I'm pretty much self sufficient on crops such as onions, garlic, beans, leeks and potatoes (for the better part of the year anyway!). The land my grandma and my immediate family (uncles, aunties, cousins) lives on is easily 10-15 acres. Add to that the fact that there are more plots in other sites at walking distance, they could so easily clock another 5 acres, perhaps even more. I'd guess in total there's at least 20 acres in total... why then, does my grandma still have to buy MOST of her food all year round? She keeps livestock too - cattle, goats, sheep and chicken - yet 80% of animal consumable products have to be bought - milk, meat, eggs.... I know it's easy to assume that with all of that, one would be able to make the most of that land and produce MOST of their own food, but is it a wrong assumption? I strongly believe that with the right resources - education, a bit of cash investment and labour, things can be turned around for the better. Enough can be produced for consumption and for sale. Yes, mother nature has a role to play, and with the recent drought, it may well have been a bad year anyway, but wouldn't it be better to not solely depend on rainfall for a good crop? How about using a method of farming/gardening that utilises every bit of plant nature throws at us for enriching the land? How about getting all that animal waste onto the land for better fertilised and productive land? All that lovely animal manure, all those leaves that get swept and burnt, all the fruit and veg scraps that get thrown in rubbish heaps and latrines... My most recent visit to Kenya had me chuckling as there was a lone tomato plant, and a lone okra plant, both thriving on the rubbish heap - no suprises then, as the cultivated crops were struggling at the height of summer... And you know what? Grandma laughed at me when I picked and at a tomato from that plant! Lord help me so I can get a programme going for the education of my people. Anyone have ideas on how more can be done to help the developing countries look after their land? How to go about establishing a hands on learning programme? I have a feeling pondering this will give me many early wake up calls (and possibly sleepless nights). What's clear in my mind though... something has got to be done!
10 poles* - An old measurement of length from the back of a plough to the nose of an ox; or 25 metres by 10 metres - that's 250 square metres peeps! (Excerpted from an article on The Independent)
Editing to update/add useful links:
http://barcampafrica-uk.wikispaces.com/Publishing+technology
http://www.arti-india.org/content/view/12/28/
http://files.howtolivewiki.com/Ending_poverty_with_open_hardware_3_bar_camp_africa_london.MP4
http://africamp.com/
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