tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570175630871421513.post7949425050089208672..comments2023-02-14T10:11:49.241-08:00Comments on Ben in Zambia: On the RanchBenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11729589983031374257noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570175630871421513.post-34266484755606723772014-05-02T16:54:41.650-07:002014-05-02T16:54:41.650-07:00Everyone shares what they have. Obviously this cau...Everyone shares what they have. Obviously this causes quarrels from time to time, often the better farmers end up supporting the poorer families. But this is completely normal in village life. Everyone from time to time is in need of something from their neighbor. Even the best most educated people I know have asked their neighbors for something. One family might ask for mealie meal one day and will give some from their fruit trees later in the year.<br /><br />Some areas have community gardens. The fish farming group I mainly work with has other endeavors including a bean field and some other plots. The Positive Living group I'm starting up has its own plot as well. Being in a registered group allows you to get fertilizer and seeds at subsidized prices.<br /><br />It would seem best if they all pitched in and helped out equally, but unfortunately the work ethic nature of most people I've encountered prevent everyone sharing an equal load. Many times some people don't show up for work but still benefit in the end. The best farmers I know work alone for the most part, hiring help for digging rows, weeding, watering, etc.Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11729589983031374257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570175630871421513.post-39567382973823927462014-04-24T06:41:56.828-07:002014-04-24T06:41:56.828-07:00If some are better farmers than others do they sha...If some are better farmers than others do they share much among the villagers or do some just do without? Are there "community" gardens for the larger plots or each family farmer takes care of their own farms? It would seem best if they cooperated in planting, weeding, harvesting, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570175630871421513.post-35743260010108339832014-03-19T05:27:09.753-07:002014-03-19T05:27:09.753-07:00There are almost no fences in my area. A few peopl...There are almost no fences in my area. A few people make fences with different types of trees and bushes, but mostly for decoration or to mark off their land around their homes, not for keeping animals out. I built a garden with a fence, and within a year some of the posts have been eaten by termites. The circle garden in the picture has chicken wire tied to small posts and is working well. It's difficult to do so most people don't bother with fences or gardens. Plus, no one ties up their goats even though it's the law, so why bother with a garden when your neighbor's goat will eat everything.<br /><br />Their fields are another story, normally located a bit away from the village, either along the dambo edge or back into the bush a bit, where at least the goats can't get to them easily. <br /><br />Everyone in my community farms, they don't have paying jobs. Some are definitely better than others, and it shows. These are the people I work with most, mainly because they are the ones interested in trying new vegetables, planting trees, etc. Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11729589983031374257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1570175630871421513.post-27138160387468720492014-03-17T17:46:59.175-07:002014-03-17T17:46:59.175-07:00Good to see your garden doing well. I do not see a...Good to see your garden doing well. I do not see any fencing. How does everyone know what area they can farm/garden? It looks like some do much more farming than others. Is this really the case or are the other plots just not around the huts where most of your pictures are taken?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com