Day 8

Today the farm manager, an Ecuadorian man of about 28 years, took 4 volunteers and a horse to Tumianuma to restock on food. I found out that the farm owner uses her mules to transport gas canisters  and other heavy supplies to and from town. The trip took about 4 hours for the volunteers.

I only saw one garden sign on the property. There are three gardens.

I have found that a lack of labeling (signs for crops, kitchen utencils, trash and various composted items, tools, mapping locations, etc.) has lead to disorganization and confusion. For instance, cooking spoons have been lost or misplaced because not everyone puts them in the same places as the last volunteer who used it. Kitchen efficiency is low, making nightly responsibilities end around 9pm and dinner around 8pm.

Sign describing how to use dry toilet

Also, I was instructed to bring a donkey to an unlabeled plot today on the instructions of "bring him where he was this morning". Many winding acres of land can be confusing for a volunteer. Plot names/numbers should be provided to enclosed acreage. I then was asked to relay a message to community workers (whom I've never met before) in some part of some field, which could have been done much more efficiently with more specific directions.

Note:

• Uproot-and-burn method is used on rapidly-growing raspberry bushes to prevent damage to animals
• barbed wire is used to contain animals but also causes them injury
• purple spray is used to prevent infection of injuries on animals. Is this a chemical spray??
• One of three donkies was used today to eat at weeds near the garden. This seems to be a good method for "mowing" the grass.