ARI Update

Ever wonder about ARI? So do I so I got together some info for you in an update, read on my friends, read on.

We are into the full swing of the season, we had a nice day of rain yesterday that we needed badly. Last week we actually had to water our Kankong seedlings after we transplanted (note to those in the southwest of the US, they don't water here, much less have water spigots at each field.) We are heading into the rainy season next month so I can't wait to see what that holds.

We have 30 participants from 18 different countries (China, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Kenya, Zambia, Cameroon, Togo, Ghana, Sierra Leone) 8 volunteers (US, Germany, Japan, Korea) and about 12 staff (Japan, US, Ghana, Philippines, Myanmar.) In April we got a new director, Rev. Otsu and he is settling in nicely, I have really enjoyed working with him and look forward to all of the good work he has in store for us. Along with a new director we have two new staff in the farm section and they add some spice to my life. Sanae-san came down from school in Hokkaido and specializes in livestock (she wears a sweatshirt from their animal reproductive program.) Good-san most recently worked in Afganistan for a year after studying arid climate agriculture at school, he works with us in the crops and vegetables arena and likes to go camping, we sometimes play baseball together.

I have mentioned the animals in recent posts, but just for good measure; we have around 450 laying hens, 18 roosters, and 100 chicks. I am not as clear on the pigs but somewhere around 5 sows, 30 piglets, and 40 growers (fatteners). We now have 3 cows and we are babysitting 2 sheep. Our duck population is in flux as we butcher the old ones from last year and continue to hatch ducklings for this years rice paddies.

On the farm we have transplanted most of our seedlings into the fields and it is an exhaustive list of vegetables but to highlight some of my favorites; tomatoes, chinese cabbage, leaks, kankong (I like the name), spinach, carrots, broccoli, and sweet potatoes. From the winter we are harvesting strawberries (be jealous), our wheat is coming in strong, our onions and garlic are growing well, and we are finishing up the broccoli. On Wednesday we have the big community rice transplant which is going to be a riot. I have been assigned to the group that gets up at dawn and prepares the paddies, but on the bright side I get to deliver (read that as throw) the seedlings to the people transplanting in the field.

Everything is moving along well and life is full of food music and new friends, now get up and go give someone a hug.

Peace and Love

Mike