Ellen and I slept in until about 8:30am. We did a load of washing and I made a nice bircher breakfast and washed up.
We then headed out to a hardware store for some more supplies and then had a drink at a cafe. Ellen loves her coffee!
Ellen took me to the plot of land she has been granted access to by a local machinery yard. He has generously given her about 100sqm of land to grow food on. The yard is fully enclosed in high wire fences and is guarded 24/7. This is the area she wants to turn into a demonstration garden and education centre.
We started off by talking about a design, then agreed on a herb spiral and a pond in the centre. A garden bed along the fence will allow the locals to pick the food and she is happy to sacrifice it to stop them breaking the fence to get in for the rest.
We went off anc ollected a heap of rocks for the pond and herb spiral and then with the help of a chap she has employed, we built the pond. It looks fantastic!
We then headed out to a hardware store for some more supplies and then had a drink at a cafe. Ellen loves her coffee!
Ellen took me to the plot of land she has been granted access to by a local machinery yard. He has generously given her about 100sqm of land to grow food on. The yard is fully enclosed in high wire fences and is guarded 24/7. This is the area she wants to turn into a demonstration garden and education centre.
We started off by talking about a design, then agreed on a herb spiral and a pond in the centre. A garden bed along the fence will allow the locals to pick the food and she is happy to sacrifice it to stop them breaking the fence to get in for the rest.
We went off anc ollected a heap of rocks for the pond and herb spiral and then with the help of a chap she has employed, we built the pond. It looks fantastic!
Ellen and I went back to the unit for lunch, which I made and now I'm going to have a nap, which Ellen is already doing. The weather is very hot and this hard work is taking it out of me!
In the afternoon we went back to the garden and finished the pond and almost finished the herb spiral. We will complete that tomorrow. We put together the design for the plot and Ellen is very excited. I must admit, the pond is looking really lovely and has already attracted a native bee and a wasp! Its amazing, as the weather and landscape is so dry, I haven't seen any insect life anywhere, and as soon as we build a pond - they arrive.
While we were working, one of Ellen's friends came by with the carcass of a giraffe in the back of a truck. It had been shot at a game park and given away to the poor folk. She dropped some off for the workers that were working for us and others around the area. I got some photos of what looked like the rib cage and neck bones being carried to our workers.
In the afternoon we went back to the garden and finished the pond and almost finished the herb spiral. We will complete that tomorrow. We put together the design for the plot and Ellen is very excited. I must admit, the pond is looking really lovely and has already attracted a native bee and a wasp! Its amazing, as the weather and landscape is so dry, I haven't seen any insect life anywhere, and as soon as we build a pond - they arrive.
While we were working, one of Ellen's friends came by with the carcass of a giraffe in the back of a truck. It had been shot at a game park and given away to the poor folk. She dropped some off for the workers that were working for us and others around the area. I got some photos of what looked like the rib cage and neck bones being carried to our workers.
The young white boy in the photos is one of the many foster children that are sent to Namibia from Germany aparently. According to Ellen, they are troubled children who are either from domestic abuse, child sexual abuse or drug abuse families. They are taken here by families and sent to school and made to work very hard. According to Ellen the progrm is very successful and even though the children are allowed to go back to Germany when they are 18, many return here as the prefer it.
Ellen informed me that she has two volunteers that have been staying with them up North at their property in Kavango, and they will be coming down next week. We have sent them a message asking them to bring down some water plants for the pond. It is going to be essential that we shade the water somehow, and water plants are not plentiful in Grootfontein. She has asked me whether I would give them, her and Leonie a PDC (Permaculture Design Certificate) from my own notes and knowledge. I told them I'm not registered to do so, and the course would not be the same as doing a real one, but I will give them whatever knowledge I can.
I went and had a shower and washed my hair. The artesian water is so hard and my hair feels horrible. Ellen tells me I'm going to love the water up North at their other property. It is river water and as soft as silk. Can't wait for that!
Ellen and Leonie took me to a local restaurant for dinner, which was just out of town. It was made in a traditional manner with thatched roof. We ended up eating here a few times, and the last one gave both Ellen and I food poisoning. I had an oxtail stew which they called a Potjie (pronounced Poikee). It was very nice but incredibly fattening I'm sure.
Ellen informed me that she has two volunteers that have been staying with them up North at their property in Kavango, and they will be coming down next week. We have sent them a message asking them to bring down some water plants for the pond. It is going to be essential that we shade the water somehow, and water plants are not plentiful in Grootfontein. She has asked me whether I would give them, her and Leonie a PDC (Permaculture Design Certificate) from my own notes and knowledge. I told them I'm not registered to do so, and the course would not be the same as doing a real one, but I will give them whatever knowledge I can.
I went and had a shower and washed my hair. The artesian water is so hard and my hair feels horrible. Ellen tells me I'm going to love the water up North at their other property. It is river water and as soft as silk. Can't wait for that!
Ellen and Leonie took me to a local restaurant for dinner, which was just out of town. It was made in a traditional manner with thatched roof. We ended up eating here a few times, and the last one gave both Ellen and I food poisoning. I had an oxtail stew which they called a Potjie (pronounced Poikee). It was very nice but incredibly fattening I'm sure.
Third picture on the right is the lovely Ellen.
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