This week at Luyengo Fresh Produce: The dam

We planted 5000 cabbage seedlings and harvested cabbage and carrots this week.

The beans and butternuts recovered well after the treatment Tiekie gave them after the hail damage.

Average max temp this week on the farm: 24°C

Average min temp this week on the farm: 7°C

Rainfall Averages 2013 to Date

January     169mm 270mm

February 140mm 180mm

March 100mm 167mm

April 70mm 140mm

May          24mm 110mm

June 10mm

“We finished the dam wall this week and we only have to do the concrete structures inside the dam. I was very worried one morning when I found water inside the dam. My argument is if water can leak in it can also leak out. I had a professional geologist on site and he assured me that that was not too much of a problem. The material that I used for the wall is more of a worry to him, however he feels that I over compensated with the thickness of the dam wall and the compaction and that is reassuring to him,” says Tiekie. 

If you are filled with pride, then you will have no room for wisdom. ~ An African proverb

This week at Luyengo Farm

We planted 4000 cabbage seedlings and beetroot this week and harvested cabbage and green mealies. We are looking forward to harvesting our carrots next week.

The Luyengo area was hit by a storm that brought us 110mm of rain over the past weekend. The heavy rain was accompanied by some hail which damaged some of our crop, mostly the beans and butternuts.

Average max temp this week on the farm: 25°C

Average min temp this week on the farm: 8°C

Rainfall Averages 2013 to Date

January 169mm 270mm

February        140mm 180mm

March         100mm 167mm

April           70mm 140mm

May          24mm 110mm

June          10mm

The dam building is in full swing but the unusually heavy rain of 110mm in one weekend in a month when the average rainfall is 24mm, has delayed our dam building. No work on the dam was possible this week. 

However towards the end of the week the 12 ton compact roller was able to do some work and from next week we will bring in the heavy equipment like the excavator and 10 ton tipper truck.

While we were debating whether we could save the paw-paw / papaya tree that stood on the brim of the new dam or not, nature came along and made that decision for us. The Swazi’s consider a fruit tree food and always wish to keep it but it would have been difficult given its position. Then last weekend the storm and hail came past and knocked that tree down. 

Wise words from Southern Africa: Money can’t talk, yet it can make lies look true.

Heloise