Seedlings

Seedling season is finished and we will be happy to have Jon around more. Jon worked with the 5 F’s project to deliver thousands and thousands of seedlings to neighboring communities, many very rural. Through stuck trucks, rainy days and thorny plants, they maintained an air of festivity.

The seedlings are grown by farmers (actually, mostly women), and include many native plant species. As the land heavily depends on it’s trees and they are rapidly disappearing, some species were nearing extinction. When Mark and Debbie, our team leaders, started the project over 14 years ago, they worked diligently to reproduce these plants that replenish the land and balance the climate and ecosystem and control the massive erosion problem.  When non-indigenous plants are introduced, they can take over the fauna with long term damage to their environment. 

Many women work as day laborers and are hired. They work in rains and under heavy loads. Whenever we tagged along, it would surprise me how happy they worked. I am sure if I would have carried their loads, you would find me at the chiropractor.

Hauling loads from the truck to a delivery point

Loaded unto the truck in crates. (Great plan, Cheryl!)

Jon drove our minibus to it’s capacity. Tafera, the project director, drove ahead with the seedlings and the truck. I have some good stuck in mud up to the back axles pictures I need to scrounge up. :)

Many rural communities were very surprised to see a white face and what kid isn’t delighted by the camera phone?

Follow Jon on instagram: gerstjon

One day, a local government sent a dump truck to load for their community.

 

 Seedlings 2014, complete. :)