Comments for 11 Oaks Weblog http://11oaks.wordpress.com Improving food security for the worlds poorest farmers by using drip irrigation and other sustainable techniques Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:54:20 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Experimental Bucket Kit Technique from 11 Oaks by Chris Skellenger http://11oaks.wordpress.com/2008/06/17/experimental-bucket-kit-technique-from-11-oaks/#comment-10 Chris Skellenger Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:54:20 +0000 http://11oaks.wordpress.com/?p=6#comment-10 Here is a letter we recently received from Mr. Harper Brown of Sentebale which is Prince Harry's Organization in Lesotho: Hi Chris We certainly will have some projects and people for you to work with in November - january. We are going to do a large pilot project in the Semonkong area across three local Community Council Areas and this will be an Integrated Community Development project with multiple partners in different areas of Health/Education/Social Welfare/Livelihoods (your bit here in food security and agriculture ) There are plenty of OVC and elderly grandparents looking after children who could use your irrigation and expertise. As you say we should talk and get down to details on planning interventions and look at costs. Is this what you were looking for ?? Harper Here is a letter we recently received from Mr. Harper Brown of Sentebale which is Prince Harry’s Organization in Lesotho:

Hi Chris
We certainly will have some projects and people for you to work with in
November – january. We are going to do a large pilot project in the
Semonkong area across three local Community Council Areas and this will be
an Integrated Community Development project with multiple partners in
different areas of Health/Education/Social Welfare/Livelihoods (your bit
here in food security and agriculture ) There are plenty of OVC and elderly
grandparents looking after children who could use your irrigation and
expertise.

As you say we should talk and get down to details on planning interventions
and look at costs. Is this what you were looking for ??
Harper

]]> Comment on St Charles Water Project by erinsan http://11oaks.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/st-charles-water-project/#comment-9 erinsan Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:14:22 +0000 http://11oaks.wordpress.com/?p=5#comment-9 I came across the following article today about alternative gardens in Lesotho: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7432972.stm Erin I came across the following article today about alternative gardens in Lesotho:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7432972.stm

Erin

]]> Comment on Welcome to our blog! by camidon http://11oaks.wordpress.com/2008/04/26/welcome-to-our-blog/#comment-8 camidon Mon, 19 May 2008 17:18:50 +0000 http://11oaks.wordpress.com/?p=3#comment-8 The more discussion around the community, in almost any format, is a good thing. Chris, your point about the many Africas is absolutely on target. Its far too easy for us Americans to lump the many vast countries and ethnic cultures into 1 giant continent. "The Many Africas" is something that needs to be emphasized as much as possible. What works in one area may not work in another. The question then becomes, why is drip irrigation the right solution for Lesotho? From the meetings, its clear you know the answer to this, but irs our job to make this clear to everyone else. The more discussion around the community, in almost any format, is a good thing.

Chris, your point about the many Africas is absolutely on target. Its far too easy for us Americans to lump the many vast countries and ethnic cultures into 1 giant continent. “The Many Africas” is something that needs to be emphasized as much as possible. What works in one area may not work in another. The question then becomes, why is drip irrigation the right solution for Lesotho? From the meetings, its clear you know the answer to this, but irs our job to make this clear to everyone else.

]]> Comment on St Charles Water Project by 11oaks http://11oaks.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/st-charles-water-project/#comment-7 11oaks Wed, 14 May 2008 11:07:18 +0000 http://11oaks.wordpress.com/?p=5#comment-7 The Traverse City Rotary has informed 11 Oaks that, this time around, we are not a candidate for a grant for the school. Once we have evidence of our sustainability in Lesotho by hiring a local to maintain our presence and support, we will be in fine standing for the next round of grants! This is good news indeed. We should have all prerequisites in place by Jan 1 2009. Until then, the Canadian Rotaries are doing a fantastic job of promoting food security! Thank You! Chris Skellenger Director, 11 Oaks The Traverse City Rotary has informed 11 Oaks that, this time around, we are not a candidate for a grant for the school. Once we have evidence of our sustainability in Lesotho by hiring a local to maintain our presence and support, we will be in fine standing for the next round of grants! This is good news indeed. We should have all prerequisites in place by Jan 1 2009. Until then, the Canadian Rotaries are doing a fantastic job of promoting food security! Thank You!
Chris Skellenger
Director, 11 Oaks

]]> Comment on Welcome to our blog! by Chris Skellenger http://11oaks.wordpress.com/2008/04/26/welcome-to-our-blog/#comment-6 Chris Skellenger Tue, 06 May 2008 11:02:57 +0000 http://11oaks.wordpress.com/?p=3#comment-6 MARY HAGAN has been busy investigating the possibility of using bamboo for fencing and irrigation pipe. She has been in contact with the NPR show "You Bet Your Garden" which airs on Saturdays around here. She approached Mike, the host, with our investigative topic. Here is his reply: ================ well I wouldn't advise trying to install drip in Africa; they need solutions that are non-complex...there may be something better than bamboo; Would you like to try and discuss this 'on air' when we tape calls for my Public Radio show, “You Bet Your Garden”, this Wednesday between 3 and 5 pm EST? Thanks! ---Mike McG www.youbetyourgarden.org =================== How exciting is that! Awesome! But, I want to add this comment: Wow Mary! What great work! If you decide to talk to him you can tell him and the rest of the world that is listening what a great thing we have going with our drip irrigation over there. One stereotype we will come up against often has raised its head here, when Mike says "I wouldn't advise trying to install drip in Africa..." A lot of people think of Africa as just one thing... namely, "Africa"... this gigantic and complex continent cannot be subjected to generalizations. Some areas of Africa do indeed need very simple and sustainable technologies, and the continuum of acceptability ranges from the environs of Sudanese refugee camps to the needs of Soweto to the problems of ultra modern cities like Nairobi and Cairo..... there are many, many Africas... Also, I saw a unique fund raising method yesterday.... people were being urged to donate their receipts from the can return machine at Lake Ann Grocery to a local project and it was working nicely. Thanks, Chris Skellenger, Director, 11 Oaks MARY HAGAN has been busy investigating the possibility of using bamboo for fencing and irrigation pipe. She has been in contact with the NPR show “You Bet Your Garden” which airs on Saturdays around here.

She approached Mike, the host, with our investigative topic. Here is his reply:
================
well I wouldn’t advise trying to install drip in Africa; they need solutions that are non-complex…there may be something better than bamboo;

Would you like to try and discuss this ‘on air’ when we tape calls for my Public Radio show, “You Bet Your Garden”, this Wednesday between 3 and 5 pm EST?
Thanks! —Mike McG http://www.youbetyourgarden.org
===================
How exciting is that! Awesome! But, I want to add this comment:

Wow Mary! What great work! If you decide to talk to him you can tell him and the rest of the world that is listening what a great thing we have going with our drip irrigation over there. One stereotype we will come up against often has raised its head here, when Mike says “I wouldn’t advise trying to install drip in Africa…” A lot of people think of Africa as just one thing… namely, “Africa”… this gigantic and complex continent cannot be subjected to generalizations. Some areas of Africa do indeed need very simple and sustainable technologies, and the continuum of acceptability ranges from the environs of Sudanese refugee camps to the needs of Soweto to the problems of ultra modern cities like Nairobi and Cairo….. there are many, many Africas…
Also, I saw a unique fund raising method yesterday…. people were being urged to donate their receipts from the can return machine at Lake Ann Grocery to a local project and it was working nicely.

Thanks, Chris Skellenger, Director, 11 Oaks

]]> Comment on Welcome to our blog! by camidon http://11oaks.wordpress.com/2008/04/26/welcome-to-our-blog/#comment-5 camidon Sat, 03 May 2008 20:17:53 +0000 http://11oaks.wordpress.com/?p=3#comment-5 Thanks for setting this up, Chris. This is a great resource. I'll try to stay informed while I'm away in South Dakota, doing the whole Rangering thing. Keep up the great work. Best Wishes to all. Chris Amidon Thanks for setting this up, Chris. This is a great resource. I’ll try to stay informed while I’m away in South Dakota, doing the whole Rangering thing. Keep up the great work. Best Wishes to all.

Chris Amidon

]]> Comment on Welcome to our blog! by Chris Skellenger http://11oaks.wordpress.com/2008/04/26/welcome-to-our-blog/#comment-4 Chris Skellenger Thu, 01 May 2008 01:06:11 +0000 http://11oaks.wordpress.com/?p=3#comment-4 Here is the address to an outstanding article referred to us by Steve Swaney. It's long, but never a dull moment. http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=wq.essay&essay_id=359819 Thanks Steve, Chris Here is the address to an outstanding article referred to us by Steve Swaney. It’s long, but never a dull moment.

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=wq.essay&essay_id=359819

Thanks Steve,
Chris

]]> Comment on Welcome to our blog! by Sister Alice http://11oaks.wordpress.com/2008/04/26/welcome-to-our-blog/#comment-3 Sister Alice Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:33:09 +0000 http://11oaks.wordpress.com/?p=3#comment-3 Dear Chris. I am happy that you have sent me the information because it tells me how close to you we are. It elevates our sometimes weary bodies minds and souls. Please send my greatest gratitude to all members of 11 Oak Family for keeping us as part of their concern. Sister Alice St. Charles High School Lesotho Dear Chris.

I am happy that you have sent me the information because it tells me how close to you we are. It elevates our sometimes weary bodies minds and souls.

Please send my greatest gratitude to all members of 11 Oak Family for keeping us as part of their concern.

Sister Alice
St. Charles High School
Lesotho

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