This Sh*t Never Ends...

A short flight from Kigali to Entebbe, and an 8hr challenging drive later, with Solomon, our Manager Of operations, so expertly and thankfully at the wheel, we were in Lira, N. Uganda...but please, let us digress.
Ugandans bud in line, EVERYWHERE!
Traffic is beyond chaotic as drivers create their own multiple lanes causing constant jams, and make high speed passes so close you can hear them whisper.
Potholes in the north are so deep and wide you could bath in them and so numerous that navigating around them is like being on an amusement park ride.
Definitely not for the weak stomached, as one of our volunteers learned the hard way!

Catching up with co-operatives in Barlonyo and  Ober Bar. So far roughly 250 goats have been distributed, and the remaining 200 will be sourced in the coming months. 

It's a lot harder here in Northern Uganda as Joseph Kony and the LRA killed or stole most of the farm animals and many families just don't have the means to start up again. 

In many cases, we've had to truck them in from more distant markets.

everywhere we visit, grandmothers to children, everyone is sooo eager!

The laptop proved a wonderful addition- sharing project related photos...and shots of our kids and grandkids!

Solomon Adiyo, our General Manager of Operations in Uganda leads the meeting with the Barlonyo cooperative leaders. While everything is great, it's not all perfect and we're also dealing with every-day ailments, miscarriage, still-birth, infant mortality and a serious lack of vets. James, the co-operative leader (in the blue shirt) gives us the stats.

Esther (Solomon's wife) and Jeff handing out fruit tree sapplings to take back to the farmsteads for planting in the newly re-energizing soil.

 

 

Unlike Rwanda, composting is a new concept to many in northern Uganda so we're a teaching initiative as well. 

 

 

Showing pictures helps illustrate the concepts. The grandmothers of Ober Bar are eager to learn more.

Off to see the fruits of the Grandmothers' labours

Women are also saying that farming feels less like toil when you have something to show for it.

Hello little shitters!

Twins are always a bonus!

Always a buzz to see our tags!

Proud to show off what will be the best yield of carrots ever! Earlier vegetable harvests were quickly scooped up at market by other women from neighbouring communities who couldn't believe the quality of the crop! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the right, George, Solomon, Jeff and Esther, discussing the science of the compost pits that are contributing to the robust crop yields.