An experiment in Garissa North East Kenya
We are going to sow 21 vegetable varieties in the Garissa Project
Melons from Italy
Aubergine Cucumber Sweet pepper Watermelon
All kinds of pumpkins
By bus 400 kilometer from Nairobi
The camel is an important way of transport
A camel caravan
The ship of the desert
Drought is a synonymous for poverty
Huts to survive the harsh nature
I want to change this with trees making money for the local population
After 400 km Pieter Hoff arrives in Garissa with a warm welcome
Mules transport goods into the city of Garissa
Arrival at the office of the Drought Management Institute of North Kenya
Mr Osman Rashid the project leader
The Tana river still has some water but thousands of pumps take it out
The water is spilled through using the flooding method of irrigation where over 80% evaporates
The flooding also destroys the soil
The planting place was invaded by Proposis juliflora (commen name Devil tree) a dangerous weedious tree
The Proposis juliflora has been taken out and thin branches are burned
All planting holes are made at once
Ash of the thin branches
The thicker branches are saved and used for charcoal
Charcoal production in Garissa
Charcoal production detail the bananas in the background are flooded from the river
We plant under the tree to see the effect of the Groasis waterboxx on the dryest possible soil
Teaching to prepare the planting place
Instruction on how to prepare a planting hole without damaging the capillary column
This is really dry
The ash mixes with the soil
Heavy work in the burning sun
Everything is translated in Somali language
The managers check the progress
Planting hole detail
The boxes are waiting to be assembled
Explanation about letting enter oxygen in the soil
Explaining the carton and the isolation plate
The holes are pre-drowned and now we open the compacted soil
No oxygen means no roots
The whole team
We leave the soile open for a few hours and the oxygen enters
Mr Ali Adow of Drought Managament Initiative Kenya translates and explains to the group
We put the Groasis waterboxxes in as an example
Explaining the water battery function
Explaining the cover
Explaining the function of the wick
The whole group living in an area that is infested by draught is deeply interested
Everything is explained carefully in Somali language
We have sown all the vegetables in trays with plugs (1)
Explaining the pre-germination and the radicle root function
Carefully removing the plugs without damaging the root from the tray
Showing the radicle root of the tomatoe
Planting
Making a small hole deep enough to keep the radicle root intact
Then cover with the carton to prevent evaporation of the water
We cover the carton with some soil
We also use some rotten leaves to stimulate the development of mycorrhizae
We add some Acacia leaves to see if we can inseminate bacteries who produce nitrogen
Add some soil around it
The loose soil helps against evaporation of water from the capillary colum
Add 4 liters (one gallon) via spilling in the center opening so that the roots don't wash out
Add 16 liters (4 gallons) in the waterboxx
Somali women can also do this light work
She shows the radicle root
Carefully planted
Put the carton cover carefully over the 2 plants
Inseminate with old rotten leaves
Put some soil against evaporation
This is light work as the soil is dry and loose
Finishing the job
Spill 4 liters indirectly in the center opening
Then fill the waterboxx completely
This is not a waterboxx problem ants are everywhere with or without box
Another challenge is the goat that eats everything that is geen
Overgrazing by this lovely animal is one of the great causes of erosion
Many warm countries are infested by termites too
The termite hill is a terrifying beauty
The group asks the last questions,/p>
The first plantation in Garissa Kenya has been done
Greetings from Garissa Kenya
