Our Organic garden at Fikiria Kwanza

The sun emerged from behind the clouds for the first time in weeks on Thursday. Mount Meru flaunted its peak for Wazungu and Watanzania alike. Alley and I marveled at its impressive size, and realized how fortunate we are to be living in such a beautiful country.

That day, we were on our way to Fikiria Kwanza Academy to do what I like to call “my first effort at manual labor”. TFFT is partnering with the school to start an organic garden, which will yield enough fruits and indigenous vegetables to supplement the basic rice and beans diet of all of its students. So, on this day, I approached one of the school’s groundskeepers and asked, in my weak Swahili, for two hoes, a bucket, and some assistance.

The trek from the main campus to the garden is short, but filled with wonder. You walk through Fikiria Kwanza’s crop of coffee plants, pass under tall trees that house frightening birds, and avoid stepping onto the hills of some of the most vicious ants I’ve seen to date! The path winds briefly through this wildlife and spills you out onto a dirt road that runs parallel to the campus grounds.

We spent hours hoeing the designated area for our garden, and with the help of some of Fikiria Kwanza’s gardeners, were able to brush up on our language lessons. The garden should be ready for planting by the beginning of September, and yielding foods within a few months. We can’t wait to see what the cooks at Fikiria Kwanza do with the variety! Until next time…

T.D