Today we harvested organic plantains in Njumbi Murang’a county. These plantains were planted during the Corona lock down. Many thanks to the many hands that tilled the land, offered seedlings and financial support. The first cropped has gone to some of those supporters.
The biggest reward has been to work on a project which involves 4 generations alive, my matriarch mother, myself, my children and grandchildren. The project also offered internship opportunities for some of the local youths and kept them productive and learningduring the longest school break in history of modern schoolingin Kenya. Many students strayed from the normal path, with teenage pregnancy and drugs resulting in high school dropouts across the country.
Munene Antony and Stanley Gatheca were critical in starting the project. Many others have supported in various ways. Here is a repository for very old species of indigenous bananas and other cultural and exotic foods. It's a small place with a big heart equal only to the dreams of the ancestors who kept the grounds sacred enough for those who will be nurtured both by the fertility of the soil as well as the hearts of those that fertility has nurtured.
There are also reparations that are owed to the soil for the brief period Maafa, where the custodians of the soil were duped into applying foreign chemicals into the soil as they chased the illusive and deceptive monster known as the global market. Some are yet to recover from that misadventure and the diseases of the body, soil, soul and pockets due to consequences of toxic chemicals applied on their land. It is no suprise that many today have high levels of chronic diseases. I am acutely aware of the difference between food and fiat food. I never could have thought that food could be inflationary. The food we grow is the exact opposite. It is deflationary. It will be more expensive and valuable over time and we have the record and the clean soil to back the claim. But most importantly we have eaters who can bear witness of our work. What I hope will also happen simultaneously is that we will help make it easier for those who eat our consciously grown foods do is recognize the pirate cum inflationary food from miles away.
On a positive note, the work has taught me so much about value and what it means for me to stay connected to a place I call home but yet have not resided in over 40 years. Home is truly a strange concept! Home has quantum characteristics as one can be there even when far away. For all the talking I do, for all the dreaming and theorizing I do, its an unspeakable joy to share my home with others across continents and across time and space. That is what gives life something beyond meaning and profit. I am so much wiser now and hope to grow, along with others on that fantastic voyage.