This week Joel, Joseph (one of the farm workers) and I have been digging one of the farm wells deeper. The drinking water well is ok, but the veggie garden one was too low and it’s pump was sucking mud. Well, it was quite a mission I must say!
Joseph stood in the freezing water at the bottom, hand-scooping the mud away while Joel and I pulled up and dumped the buckets and operated the pump. We pumped up the water and then dug until the well filled up again. Eventually we had to suspend the pump down inside the well from a tree above because the pressure became to much for it. Today Joseph used a brush and pitchfork to scrape away the old mud layer on the walls to improve the flow. Of course I had to climb down once for the experience!
The well’s a real optical illusion. Looking down you’d think it’s shallow, but the whole 5 meter ladder disappears down it!
I made my first Zambian Herb Salad yesterday for diner with fresh basil, coriander and parsley. If you don’t know already, at home I’m usually the salad man. There’s something's really special about walking to your own garden and picking fresh grown herbs and veggies every day! The Schaefer’s grow all their own greens apart from red onions and potatoes, which they buy at the Manada market in town twice a month.
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