Side Projects

It is a fact of the ages, when being introduced to a new friend or restoring communication with an old friend, the conversation will invariably lead to the question: "What do you do?" It's not as though our identities are here formed or that what we do should even be the signature of our characters, for our doing can often vary more than our wheres. But it does mean something; it helps give others a reference to how we spend our time, and for many, what we consider to be our lives calling.
Since taking leave from Purdue , I have found myself on a journey of discovery, knowing that need does not necessitate calling, but that it certainly should spark thoughtful consideration.
Freelancer I never thought I'd be going by this appelation, but one ought not presume to put constraints upon the future. Opportunities for offering oneself, one's time & skills, is seemingly without end in this part of the world, where we perceive there is always SO much to be done. Various & varied "Doings" have been the mainstay of the past 2 years. I'll offer you a snap shot of the primary ones:
Gardens for Life My relationship with GFL began while still at Kabul Uni, as several of the girls were looking for an opportunity to learn about the cut-flower industry. The gal single handedly running GFL was willing to give these girls a glimpse into the flower industry at large. Unfortunately, the girls became busy with other things and lost interest. But I gained such a deep appreciation for D (as we will call her), that I volunteered myself to her, initially in establishing an oil rose planting at the Garden Training Centre, located in a village a short drive outside of Kabul. Within a matter of weeks, we started a horticultural training program for the village ladies.

One of the lessons was on seed saving & sowing, with time after the lesson to go into the garden and practice.

Another lesson was on bulb-forming flowers, how to store the sensitive ones over winter, and then planting them the next spring. As with any group, there are the do-ers and the observers

By the end of the summer, their labors were fully rewarded with bright bursts of color extending through the entire garden!
In the fall, lessons resumed, with an even larger group of ladies. We had morning and afternoon sessions three times each week. One of the lessons was on "organic" and house-hold remedies for insect & disease infestations. D had bought each of the ladies a set of gardening tools, one item of which was a spray bottle. We each mixed up a potion of water, dishsoap & oil, then set upon the aphid-infested roses.

Lest you think that I am able to speak Dari fluently in presenting the lessons, I must tell you that I had the most proficient & gentle of translators, pictured above. I can only really just get about with the basics, but have noticed that love & affection cross all barriers! These ladies are truly a blessing to me, as they demonstrate much of the hopefulness, earnest desire, and efforts many Afghans have & make, in pursuit of "happiness" & a future. They are incredibly kind an generous ladies, quick to share, even in their want. On the occasion pictured below, a couple of the ladies brought D & me a lunch of bolani & mos (sour yogurt).

Several of the ladies were actually teenage girls, who were fast friends, as they loved to laugh & overcome the language-barrier with forthright actions --- like snatching my camera to take a picture of me--- "now, let's see, how does this work?" What a reminder of the differences between those who have & those who have-not!

GPFA In both the summer & fall, I had the opportunity of working with this organization, primarily known for their promotion of woodlots & extensive demonstration farm to the north of Kabul.

They have gone to great length to contextualize western systems of agricultural production, such as the irrigation pond & canal system below.

Below is Hashim & Rupert inspecting the popular stool-bed, from whence cuttings are distributed & sold. They brought in clonal species from Oregon, that are incredibly quick growing and dense of wood.

My purpose for being with them was to give the extensionists training in chip-budding of fruit species (primarily the stone fruits: almond, apricot, plum, peach). For those of you not familar with chip-budding, below is a diagram of the final stages of joining the scion wood (of the desireable tree) with the rootstock.

Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock Extension Communications Hub
Stemming from an ongoing relationship with UC Davis, I was asked to coordinate the establishment of this hub, which is to focus on the formation & distribution of pertinent horticultural information. Due to insuffient time, I really only organized the equipment/room end of things, while the A4 staff & folks from UCD carried out the training and follow-up.... We'll see what comes of this! Hopefully, a broadcasting of much-needed info!

Mercy Corps The last side-project I'll address was working with MC to develop a production manual for strawberry-transplant nurseries. A USAID-based group has been diligently promoting the growing of strawberries, and has hopes to develop a full-blown industry. They need a champion to follow this through --- we'll see about this one, too, as those of you who know me well, can perhaps also see the berry-bright future.

Green Spring: The effect of one of the wettest winters in years

The winter was mild and the snow was thin, but it kept coming, clear until 19 June. The photo below is a view from our roof looking west.

In its aftermath, a carpet of green on the all-too-often desolate mountains surrounding this ancient city once renown for its forests of pine.

In an attempt to pacify his guests' disappointment of a cancelled buzkashi match (Afghan-style polo), one of the Faculty professors proposed a trek with his family up the mountains abutting his backyard. No well-worn paths marked our way forward, we were each allowed to trample on what lay before us, the fragile and flailed plants, and the loose and easily dislodged gravel & boulders. Even the plant-life is born for adversity: if not devoured by insects & animals, if not desiccated by the sun & wind, the wandering uproots it as a curio.

The most predominate plant on the mountain slope was a tender succulent with a towering floral stalk, reminiscent of a bolting head of lettuce. Below are both the landscape view and a close up, also including our resident trekking guides!

Visiting Afghan Agricultural Faculties

The autumn months brought about in-country travel to three destinations, Mazar-e-Sharif, Bamiyan, and Herat. At each of these locations, the A4 project has personnel working in the universities' Agriculture Faculty. This circuit trip was made by Joern, Hussain, and a visiting soil science consultant, who was assessing the faculty laboratories, instructing students on various topics, and helping to construct composte sites.


In Mazar-e-Sharif, the visit began with a tour of our cooperator's farm trials, as seen above. The production system of vegetables is largely on these 1m beds with furrow irrigation.

Once settled in the faculty, seminars on soil erosion and composting were held, with Matt presenting and Hussain offering translation. The seminars in Mazar-e-Sharif were very well attended, with the majority of the faculty students interested and interactive.

After the seminar on composting, the students were instructed by Matt & Hussain in constructing and maintaining composte heaps. They collected material from obliging ditches & fields. By the end of the autumn, the students announced that their project was a success and were looking for places to use the composte.

The most interesting stop was in Bamiyan, a province known for its high desert environment, a bit like the area to the south of Bend, Oregon, but with less native vegetation. It is less accessible than other provinces, and therefore, most farmers employ traditional methods of agricultural production. An oxen driven plow is a common site.

In 2001, Bamiyan was made known to the world when the ancient Buddha statues in man-made caves were blown up. Currently, UNESCO and other organizations are attempting to restore the sites, as evident behind Matt & Hussain. The smaller caves were dwellings for monks and other religiously significant statues.

The visit to the Faculty of Agriculture at Bamiyan was similarly rewarding. Students were eager to participate in the seminars at took to the fields with vigor to collect the initial batch of greens for the composte pit. Yes, Matt got quite a workout during these visits!

Two of last year's graduates of Kabul University's Faculty of Agriculture are now working in the Horticulture Department of Bamiyan University; they are pictured above between Matt & Joern. The other two are also professors in the Faculty of Agriculture.

Herat is undeniably a city with a living history. Much effort has been taken in recent years to rehabilitate & restore the ancient sites, such as this fortress, from which a view of the entire city can be taken, as seen behind Joern.

Herat University's Faculty of Agriculture is promising, with a motivated Dean, a new building under construction, and a new site for the development of a student farm. Surprisingly, the local PRT has also taken an interest in developing the farm, and has helped to prepare the land & construct a greenhouse. Before these were under way, one of the prides of the faculty was a large farm 20 km outside of the city. The greenhouse and the once flower gardens are in the picture above.

Because of its distance from Herat University, the historic faculty farm has been under-utilized and neglected. Added to this, the environment of Herat, as throughout most of Afghanistan, is semi-arid to desert. Surface water, though abundant seasonally & regionally, is largely not captured. Subterranean water is deep (and deepening), and takes significant energy to pump. Hence, many, if not most, cropland is under-irrigated, and therefore, lacks the bright verdant hues of truly productive croplands.