This is a picture of one of the many Moringa plants that was harvested just two weeks ago. Already it has put on numerous sprouts. I suspect it will grow slowly for a while as this is the beginning of Zimbabwe winter. Moringa does not like temperatures below 70 degrees F. Mornings have been cool lately and the local people are putting on their winter coats. It will be the first of August before the weather begins to warm.
Since we do not have any place to dry and process the Moringa, Chris is chipping the Moringa and using it for compost. It is sad to not have a place to dry the Moringa in a sanitary facility. However, building such a building is going to require significant funding. I have several people working on getting funding but, so far nothing has developed. Our goal had been to make our first shipment by the end of April 2015. This won’t happen if we can’t get a building in place for processing.
I have been juggling figures and trying to come up with enough money to buy a truck load of cement. At the moment it doesn’t look like that will be possible. A truck load of cement will equal 600 bags and would cost about $8,000.00 when purchased a few bags at a time. More than a $1,000.00 would be saved by buying in large quantity. Albert needs cement to finish two small offices for himself, Godfrey and Chris, the Agri-tech person in charge of Moringa. The builders need a lot more cement to complete the poultry run.
My main focus, however, is the processing building for the Moringa. With cement HCOC could get the foundation in place and the floor poured for a small building as well as walls bricked up. Buildings here are primarily brick and mortar. Additional expenses would be doors, windows, roof rafters and sheeting. The community makes the brick. Effort like this might encourage some funders to give some support. I am working here in Zimbabwe on that possibility. In fact I have a meeting scheduled for Friday with a potential funder.
Albert has really sold the Moringa project to Rotary here in Zimbabwe. He attended the District Rotary Conference held in Mutare last week. This Rotary District includes several neighboring countries. Albert had everyone talking about Moringa. Albert is talking now about making up packets of ground maize, ground soy beans and powdered Moringa to give to child headed households. This would really be a nutritional pack. It is figured that it would cost less than $.05 a serving to produce. The maize and Moringa is grown right here on site. Soya beans can be grown between the rows of Moringa as an alley crop. 
The women above are volunteers from the community who come when they can to help with the weeding of the Moringa. Note that a baby comes along, riding on Mother’s back. My concern is for the baby. The position the mother is in when hoeing, leaves the baby exposed to the sun.
Some days, as many as 20 people will show up to help with whatever is happening that day. Other days there may be very few volunteers. As the Moringa fields expanded it will require more and more workers.
The Drill Rig and crew arrived late on Thursday night the 22nd. The crew camped out near the entrance to HCOC property. The drilling began early Friday morning. The first well drilled is the one near the Moringa. The prospects for that well were not encouraging. As it turns out, it may prove to be the best of the three wells drilled. The flow tests will give the final analysis. The tests will be done beginning June 1. Finally some progress is being made on the many things that I had planned to get accomplished while I am here. There is never enough time.
Winter has arrived here earlier than I expected. I brought very few warm clothes with me. I wasn’t expecting it to get cold until about the middle of June. Not so this year. The days have been pleasant but at night it really cools off. I have added an extra blanket to my bed. This is a warning to those from Denver who will soon be coming. Bring some warm things with you. In the Bulawayo area and near Victoria Falls it will be some warmer; but, Harare is cold. Harare is at a higher elevation. Remember there is not heat in most houses. The houses are largely masonry and so when they get cold they don’t warm up easily.
I will be leaving soon; much sooner than I would like. Most projects will not be totally complete. I tried to extend my stay but the cost to change my ticket was going to be almost as much as the original round trip ticket. So I will be coming home as scheduled. Trevor, the pump and irrigation contractor is very reliable. Ralph used him way back in the beginning. I have also had good results from using Samsco solar people. So when I leave, it will be in their hands to finish up.
Please keep the Moringa Project in your prayers. It is making progress slowly but has huge potential. With God’s guidance, this mission could become self-sustainable.
In His Service, Roberta