Monday, January 2, 2012

White Man Farming

The past week or so here during Christmas break I've been keeping my spare time busy in "the garden."  Mom sent me some seeds from home and I was shown "the garden" spot here in the compound...  It didn't look much like a garden at first, when Trixy said, "here it is" I though, "where??"  But I set to work and have thoroughly enjoyed the sweet familiar feel of farm/garden work!  It's dry season and although it's still much more humid than I'm used to, it really is dry.  The ground is very dry and all the water is carried by hand :) it's good for me!  The Cameroonians who have heard of my garden and come to visit are more than surprised to see a "white man farming" some of them can't believe it at all.  One church member told me basically that the people of his village wouldn't believe it till they saw it!  I just smile and tell them this is what I love, I live on a farm at home and I can't wait to share the produce with them!
Before.....
After....
Before, you couldn't see the dirt....
Now, it looks more like a garden :)
Caleb came to help me one day, the multi-purpose farming/gardening tool around here is a machete! (yes, I have one)  The day I bought mine in the market and was carrying it home a guy yelled out to me, "white man why you need a machete!? you a farmer!?" (making fun and fully confidant that I was not) but I was very pleased to be able to reply with a smile, "yes, I am!" 

Caleb and I got to talking while we were working, here's a thought, the first job ever given to man was gardening...
The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15
Also, what "work" will we be doing in heaven?
"...they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit" Isaiah 65:21
From The beginning of man kind, through eternity... there will be farmers! :) I personally feel there's few greater joys than planting a seed and caring for it as God makes it grow!

After there still being nothing up yesterday...
Zucchini!  After no evidence of life yesterday these guys popped out and GREW today! I was so excited when I found them tonight!
Yellow beans :) I'm excited to introduce my Cameroonian friends to yellow beans, there's lots of green beans here, but they've never heard of yellow beans!  The corn is up too! I'm so excited! today was nice and warm so the sun must have just pulled it all up! I'm just thrilled to have a garden just getting started with the new year!
 
P.S. Despite mom's fear that, "those ND seeds might not know which direction is 'up' in Cameroon!" it looks like they figured it out! ;)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm sure you will all get to enjoy watching your garden grow. I'm anxious to watch it grow from here in South Dakota. Did you plant radishes or cucumbers. No sense planting tomatoes when they are already dirt cheap (HAHA) over their. Love Dorothy

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy those ND seeds found their way out of the ground 1/2 way around the world!! What a blessing it will be when all the yummy garden stuff can be enjoyed by you and all your friends, and I mean 2 footed friends!! I'm so excited to get my own garden planted after seeing your plants peeking out. This super mild winter is even more reason to have gardening fever. I'm so proud of you, my little white woman farmer!! LOVE YOU and MISS YOU, mom

Anonymous said...

Yay! Enjoy watching your garden pop out of the ground. Another one of Gods miracles. Thanks again for all your pictures and for sharing your experiences with us, they have all been a blessing. Lovingly Lyle and Becky