Pictures: All Good Things Must Come to an End, and by All Good Things, I mean Cold Season.

As Cold Season comes to a close, our garden is finally producing fruit! Yes, those tomatoes look a little green because, yes, we were a little eager to eat from our garden, but now our garden is full of ripe red tomatoes, carrots, hot peppers, and corn. It’s built up our credibility to the point where villagers have started seeking Jim out for more formal advice about their gardens. In the past 2 weeks, Jim held 2 separate trainings(one with men and one with women) teaching them about composting and soil improvement techniques. Villagers couldn’t believe it when he told them that the plastic bags they throw in their fields take a a few centuries to decompose!

 

 

 

(Below) Joye has been working more closely with the children in Kongodugu. Aside from her weekly health class with the community school, she has also invited 5th and 6th grade kids to come and study their lessons once a week at our home. A few weeks ago, the “study-hall” regulars asked if they could start learning English. So now, they have formed an informal English club and come on Saturday nights for introductory English lessons.

 

     

 

(Above) Joye also participates in Peace Corps’ World Wise Schools program, where she is linked with a class in the US and exchanges letters with them, sharing about life in Mali. This month, Joye worked with the village 6th graders to write letters (in French) to her partner class in the US. The partner class, a group of high school students studying French, will then write back.  The 6th graders in our village are SO excited about this!

 

 

February  also meant that the very first few mangos are starting to ripen. (Above) Joye found a 3 meter long stick and tried to knock one down.  (Unsuccessfully! I guess we’ll just have to be patient for a few more weeks) We also recently obtained a solar panel and battery, so this has allowed Jim to continue his work as part of Peace Corps’ Food Security Task force as well as begin to do research for his masters. He was able to meet with some of his professors this month as well since some came to Bamako for research! Look forward to an update on his Food Security work soon!

 

 

 

~Joye and Jim