Land Preparation

The main occupation on the land is preparing it for the forthcoming rains i.e. the short rains season. This entails removing the couch grass which has ingrained itself due to many years of the land lying vacant. The grass is tough and has created a network of roots therefore making its removal a slow and strenuous process. The muddy situation has not been making this work any easier.

Therefore, you have to dig at least a foot, pull out every strand of the grass, dump it in a heap and after drying you burn it. For every bit of it left it’s bound to germinate again. Couch grass is known to ‘suffocate’ the soil and therefore render it hardly productive. In spite of the toughness of this task, the morale amongst the Shiriki volunteers remains high and unstoppable.

Climate Change

We’re in September when it should be hot and dry here. However, it’s been raining a lot – this naturally being a blessing but at the same time causing inconveniences and uncertainty. With the muddy situation, it has been quite difficult to undertake land preparation – particularly in removing the grass.

The rainy condition is also perplexing the farmers; they don’t know whether to plant or wait for the ‘rains’ which should come down later in October/early November. Joining the farmers who have started planting, we at the Shiriki farm have decided to also plant in the course of this week. The worry is not about the rains but rather the consistency of it to sustain the crops to maturity. We’ve planned to sow maize, beans, cowpeas, carrots, cabbages and indigenous vegetables such as amaranthus. 

All Eyes on Shiriki!

All over the community everyone is noticeably interested in Shiriki Organization’s ideas. Some mamas are coming through to graze their cattle on a portion of our land which is yet to be rehabilitated. They are eager to hear more from us.

Communication Forum

Communication being the fibre that links up the people in a society, the volunteers have been pondering on which forum to employ in order to communicate with the community. Possible forums could be local barazas (local community meetings) as well as musical show and art exhibition in Maragua town.

In fact, local youth are very eager for a musical concert and keen to get more information and knowledge. The Music Department of Shiriki Organization is based in Nairobi and planning is underway to hold a show on the first weekend of October. Musical concerts, besides it being a channel of communication, will also be a way of generating income to help in the upkeep and development of the agricultural endeavours.

Art Market

Sunday is the market day at Maragua. Before we can produce surplus food to trade in the local market, we have art products which are made by the volunteers on the ground as well as Shiriki volunteers in Nairobi and Kitui. The products include sandals (made from old car tires), badges, scarves, belts, bags, hats bracelets and neck chains. Local folks have loved our art and are demanding more! To give people a variety, we plan to buy some baskets and mats made by certain women from rural Kitui who use local materials such as sisal and palm leaves. This will be a shot in the arm of these women.

Environment consciousness

The local community are somewhat environment conscious. Nevertheless, to add to this Shiriki volunteers have come to a resolution that our farm is a `polythene-free zone`. Whenever a volunteer purchases goods from the shop or market he won`t take the plastic wrappers which vendors are very willing to give their clients. The volunteer will teach the sellers on environmental awareness.

Community Interaction

Ever since the first day when Shiriki volunteers entered Maragua, members of the local community have been very warm and welcoming.

Source of Energy

The main source of heat energy in Maragua is firewood and charcoal. For light, local people use kerosene. Shiriki Organization is on the frontline in the quest for alternative environment-friendly sources of energy. We therefore have invested in solar energy which is serving well to charge cell phones and provide light.