Planting Swiss chard and broccoli and introducing the concept of clean water scarcity and accessibility

We are continuing to care for our garden on a daily basis. We are also gradually filling our garden beds with vegetable and herb starts. Last week we planted eggplant, peppers, basil, sage, parsley, and oregano. This week we are planting winter starts.

Again, Phebe worked with small groups to plant Swiss chard and broccoli! They used their hands as tools to clear space and plant the small starts. Friends helped Phebe carry the water bucket back and forth from the spigot and dipped their watering cans into the bucket to refill their water. 

Phebe and I have been discussing water scarcity and how different water accessibility is in Cameroon to here in the PNW. We are beginning to have this conversation with the kids. We have a book written by an author who grew up in Burkina Faso called, The Water Princess by Georgie Badiel which Phebe will soon introduce to us. It tells the semi-autobiographical story of of a girl who makes the daily long walk to a stream to collect the day’s fresh water and her desire to bring fresh water closer to home. We’ll continue to explore this theme throughout the year.