Hi Ho Hi Ho its off to work we go
During a visit to Clarens in South Africa to carry out a Charity Project carried out by a group of volunteers from Wiltshire & Avon to extend a Feeding Shelter for local Aids Orphans, The Faringdon “Bag for Life” from the First Fair Trade Town in the UK - travelled just over the border from South Africa to Lesotho where we experienced working the land using zero tillage. We used the bag to carry and hand out the precious maize that was provide by the UN as part of an education project for local farmers. Zero Tillage takes farming back to Biblical times. Normal ploughing causes the water to rush over a ploughed field, taking the seeds away. Excessive ploughing also causes severe soil erosion problems. With zero tillage, the only tool is a large, long handled, axe shaped hoe. Add maize seed, manure & ash, plus a measuring stick and a long piece of string with knots at various intervals, as spacers and this is all that is needed to plant a whole field (plus manpower of course). Three maize seeds are planted in each hole at regular intervals. The next row is marked at a set distance away from the first, each hole being counterset between the holes on the previous row. Using this method, the maize is not washed away when the rain comes as the rain ripples between the mounds of earth on top of the seeds. A small field feeds a family for a year. The seed is initially provided by the United Nations, and each farmer gives back 10% of the seed from his crop to pass on to other farmers.
The Kingdom of Lesotho, is a land-locked African country, entirely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. Lesotho covers 30,355 square kilometres (11,720 sq mi). The most notable geographic fact about Lesotho, apart from its status as an enclave, is that it is the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) in elevation. Its lowest point is 1,400 meters (4,593 ft), and over 80% of the country lies above 1,800 metres (5,900 ft).
Lesotho's economy is based on exports of water and electricity sold to South Africa – It rains a lot in Lesotho between very dry periods and unfortunately this rain causes extensive soil erosion with whole fields disappearing overnight as mudslides. This is made worse by ploughing
Lesotho is severely afflicted by HIV/AIDS. According to recent estimates, the prevalence is about 29%, one of the highest in the world. The United Nations projects that this will rise to 36% within fifteen years, resulting in a sharp drop in life expectancy.
Hi Ho Hi Ho its off to work we go
During a visit to Clarens in South Africa to carry out a Charity Project carried out by a group of volunteers from Wiltshire & Avon to extend a Feeding Shelter for local Aids Orphans, The Faringdon “Bag for Life” from the First Fair Trade Town in the UK - travelled just over the border from South Africa to Lesotho where we experienced working the land using zero tillage. We used the bag to carry and hand out the precious maize that was provide by the UN as part of an education project for local farmers. Zero Tillage takes farming back to Biblical times. Normal ploughing causes the water to rush over a ploughed field, taking the seeds away. Excessive ploughing also causes severe soil erosion problems. With zero tillage, the only tool is a large, long handled, axe shaped hoe. Add maize seed, manure & ash, plus a measuring stick and a long piece of string with knots at various intervals, as spacers and this is all that is needed to plant a whole field (plus manpower of course). Three maize seeds are planted in each hole at regular intervals. The next row is marked at a set distance away from the first, each hole being counterset between the holes on the previous row. Using this method, the maize is not washed away when the rain comes as the rain ripples between the mounds of earth on top of the seeds. A small field feeds a family for a year. The seed is initially provided by the United Nations, and each farmer gives back 10% of the seed from his crop to pass on to other farmers.
The Kingdom of Lesotho, is a land-locked African country, entirely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. Lesotho covers 30,355 square kilometres (11,720 sq mi). The most notable geographic fact about Lesotho, apart from its status as an enclave, is that it is the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) in elevation. Its lowest point is 1,400 meters (4,593 ft), and over 80% of the country lies above 1,800 metres (5,900 ft).
Lesotho's economy is based on exports of water and electricity sold to South Africa – It rains a lot in Lesotho between very dry periods and unfortunately this rain causes extensive soil erosion with whole fields disappearing overnight as mudslides. This is made worse by ploughing
Lesotho is severely afflicted by HIV/AIDS. According to recent estimates, the prevalence is about 29%, one of the highest in the world. The United Nations projects that this will rise to 36% within fifteen years, resulting in a sharp drop in life expectancy.