Farms

Yesterday we visited the farming sites that Watoto operates. A friend of ours had several family members visiting from Canada (all with Saskatchewan roots). They were touring the sites on a bus and invited us to join them. We met some amazing new friends, as well as seeing the farms. Double portions of blessings yesterday.
Our “tour guide” was a young woman named Leanna. She is American, grew up on a farm, has an agriculture degree and is passionate about the work that is being done here. She oversees the work at all three sites and is so knowledgeable about all aspects of all three operations- goats, chickens and crop production. Watoto is very fortunate to have her as part of the team- it is so evident how the team values and respects her.
First we visited the Suubi site where the goat dairy operation is being established. As we stated in a previous blog, they are currently getting enough milk to feed the babies in the Suubi babies’ home. The existing goat barn is near capacity so they will be looking at expansion in the future.
Our next stop was the Buloba farm (near Bbira children’s village). This is the site where the poultry operation is being set up. You have all heard the saying “Go big or go home”.  Well that is certainly the case at this farm! They are just finishing construction of a huge poultry barn that will hold 8,000-12,000 chickens. It will be state of the art and is being modeled (to some degree) after an operation in the UK. Much of the operation will be automated- some of the equipment is already in Uganda waiting for installation and the rest has been shipped and is on its way. The chicks will be purchased all at once (due to disease reasons)- I believe the chicks are to be purchased in September and they expect them to be laying eggs shortly after the new year. The expectation is that 90% of the chicken will be laying daily so there will be enough eggs to supply the children’s villages with “leftovers” to sell in the market. There is enough space on this land to build three more barns like the first so that eggs can be sold and generate funds for the organization. Remember we have mentioned that the self-sustainability plan was one of the things that attracted us to Watoto- that plan is becoming reality.
After leaving Buloba farm, we traveled down some back roads through “very rural” Uganda and about an hour later arrived at the Lubbe farm site. When this land was originally purchased, the plan was to start the next children’s village there. However, as they looked at this prime farmland, the decision was made to use this site as part of the self-sustainability project and grow vegetables there. Yesterday they were planting a crop of beans- not something they have grown yet because harvesting is extremely difficult without a combine (combines are too big to fit in a shipping container). However, beans put nitrogen back into the soil so they were being planted for that reason. They are trying some new things and are also growing “tried and true” Ugandan vegetables. They have already harvested or are currently growing: tomatoes, carrots, onions, Ugandan sweet potatoes, Australian sweet potatoes (for sale to Mzungu), green peppers, corn, beans, soya beans and rice (I believe Leanna called it “lowland rice” and is not grown in the traditional way that we think of rice being grown). Each week, vegetables are taken to Bbira and Suubi children’s villages and the excess is sold. Again I say, self-sustainability is becoming reality.
On an unrelated topic- we made a decision yesterday to sponsor three more children. They are a family that came to the babies’ home together and will soon be moved to a children’s village. Lorenda has been involved with them since their arrival at the babies’ home and wants to be involved in their futures.
Are you sponsoring a child? For most of us $35 per month is very little, but it makes a huge difference in the future of a child here in Uganda. If you are interested in sponsoring a child, go on the website www.watoto.com and they can get you connected with a child who needs you!