Fire Season

Kevin sucks on the cocoa seed 

There is a belief in the surrounding villages that when it's REALLY dry it's time to burn the fields.  During the past month we have experienced MANY fires in the area. One was on our secondary sight and narrowly missed 3 of our staff houses, but did do some damage to our greenhouse. The seriousness of the issue was lost on those who have grown up here and believe that next season's grass won't grow if you don't burn. The worst part was that it was also an extremely windy time as we were deep into the dry season. In fact, the change of the wind direction was what saved many of our threatened structures here at New Hope. On the vocational school land, where we and other staff keep gardens, we amazingly missed fire devastation! A roaring fire burned up to our garden on three sides and did not destroy any of our crops! But, that was two weeks ago, and a different fire altogether than the one we suffered last week. We lost cassava, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and a little bit of sugar cane. Geoff dug up the remaining cassava and potatoes last Friday. While he was there working, one of our neighbor gardeners gave him a cocoa plant seed pod. The kids were excited to see cocoa in its virgin form and proceeded to do the local thing. . . suck off the outsides and spit out the seed! (The seed from which cocoa, as we know it, is made.)

Cocoa seeds drying in the sun

The intact seed pod and casing before the kids got to it!

Sharing the wealth! There was no way we could eat all the cassava we had to dig up. It only lasts about 2 days after taken from the ground. We were able to share with a family who is new to our staff.  It is a blessing to bless!

After the garden, Acacia and Daddy spent some special time together!

Sweet girl Acacia!