So on July 30, Hatua’s staff and gap year students spent the day harvesting maize we planted four months ago on our farm in Kwale County. Most of us had never harvested before, but at Hatua we love learning as many skills, and as they say, ‘there is a first time for everything’.
Hatua’s farm manager, Richard Mukanyika, explained how to pull corn cobbs of the stalk and then break the stalk so it can decompose and return nutrients into the soil. We also learned that in farming timing is everything. It is important to wait for the maize to dry, but if you wait
too long the maize can either germinate or spoil.
After Richard walked us through the techniques of harvesting, we started working the field. We chatted and sang together.
After a full day of work we slaughtered a goat ate a big meal of stew with ugali. As the Swahili saying goes, mchumia juani hulia kivulini, those who work in the sun eat in the shade.
Painting by Hatua Students, 2011
Hatua’s volunteer, Chris Szeremeta, joined us for the harvest. “It was a great day for me. My own family farms, but I personally have never participated in a harvest,” said Chris. By six in the evening we left the field tired and proud, having successfully harvested 654kgs of maize.
Click here to view more photos on our Facebook page.