Pictures to come, but first the recap.

Amaranth, Moringa, Canistel, Neem, Black sapote, Pigeon Peas, Cassava,...

These are a few of the tropical plants, I knew nothing about before I stepped foot onto ECHO. A week ago I arrived in South Florida to spend two and a half weeks learning about agricultural development in preparation for my time in West Africa. Little did I know that it would be cold and I would feel overwhelmed by the amount of ag. knowledge I do not possess. Before coming I did not understand what I did not know, but now I am beginning to...

The staff and interns live and work on the farm and have been a wonderful group of people to get to know. Although I have only been here a week, I am starting to settle in and understand farm life. I don't think I realized how much of a city girl I am, until now, spending a solid week on a farm will clue you in. Before I went to church this morning, I had only left the farm to go for a run.

Work/Study Schedule

I am here under their independent study program where you work in the morning around the farm and in the afternoon you study in their library. Last week each morning was a little different, but I mostly helped the interns out in their various tasks. There are six interns who spend a year on the farm to gain practical experience in working in a tropical climate in one of the six demo areas (semi-arid, monsoon, low-lands tropics, rain forest, high altitude, and urban roof-top). They also are responsible for helping out in the nursery and seed bank, cooking occassionally, giving tours, working the bookstore, and taking care of farm animals (rabbits, chickens, goats, ducks, and geese). I have a high respect for each of them. I have helped harvest, forage for goat food, prune grapes vines, dig a small trench for irrigation, weed, feed squawking geese, etc.
In the afternoon I research on different topics I think will be relevant for me in my time in West Africa. I am learning about all sorts of interesting plants and gardening techniques. I'll post some pictures this week to give you a better idea.