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VOLUNTEER BLOG

Bees, Coffee and Other Adventures in Ethiopia

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Stephen Peterson

Thank you to volunteer Stephen Peterson for his blog entry from his recent assignment in Ethiopia! (Read below):


August 2013

Ethiopia, and specifically the Kaffe district in the SW, is the genetic home to Coffea arabica colloquially known, at home, as a “cuppa joe”. I learned a bit about beekeeping (local bees are VERY aggressive), a little about coffee and saw some incredible scenery. It’s the rainy season now and, other than lots of mud, no problem at all – except there are few flowers and honey stores are low; both of which increase the aggressive nature of the bees. I brought a full bee suit but nobody here had one and nobody would, or let me, open a beehive. Regardless I got stung twice, much to the amusement of the flock of kids that accompanied us to the apiary, once on the end of the nose (instant sinus decongestion) and another atop the head.

I gave five lecture/seminars while in Bonga, based on my observations on their weak points or, on what they mentioned the day before they’d like to learn more about. I had 47 participants (4 women 43 men).

I asked the group, “How many of you have actually seen bee eggs?” Two hands were raised; so bee biology was put on the list of subjects to be covered. This is where the coffee comes in –

The local “forest coffee” is picked wild in the surrounding forest off of trees; yes, I too was surprised, but they grow 4-5 meters tall (12-15 feet for you non-metrics). It is sun dried; then the pulp washed off leaving “green” beans which store longer than roasted. The coffee is roasted as demand warrants; culture dictates three demitasse-sized cups should be taken – believe me each one is the caffeine equivalent of a triple espresso.

Making coffee, the traditional way

Making coffee, the traditional way

[Later], as we meandered along the well-paved road SW to Jimma and Bonga, Endeshaw, my excellent colleague and translator was able to answer every question I had (and I was full of them).“What are they selling?”, I asked as we passed young boys along the road holding the arms apart as if to indicate, “I caught a fish this big!” “Charcoal”, Endeshaw replied, I guess just the gesture was better than holding up a bunch of carbonized sticks. Almost everybody (91 million people) cooks on wood! We did see wildlife– some roadside Olive baboons (Papio anubus – named after the Egyptian god Anubis) who looked like furry gangsters, some beautiful white-tail and mane colobus monkeys (Colobus guereza) who seem to be well adapted to disturbed environments, and the real scary looking hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). Evidently they are not commonly seen in daylight hours as it was the first time any of the 3 locals with me had seen them during daylight. They quickly scattered back into the bushes when we stopped for photos.

ethiopia-monkey

ethiopia-hyena

In Ethiopia, with about a 2.5% population growth annually, there is tremendous pressure on the remaining virgin forests (I had a mental picture of Ethiopia as a marginal desert environment – wrong!) through clearing for agriculture, charcoal production and logging – in about that order. I have a mantra I picked up in Cambodia: “No forest no bees (a concept, which everybody seems to grasp)” but the corollary “No bees no forest” is a bit more difficult to swallow (even educated Westerners struggle with the concept of bees beneficiating the environment). Bees, being a keystone species, are vital to the health of the forest; Ethiopia claims to have on the order of 5.15 million colonies wild and “managed,” and over one million households have bees.

Fellow Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer Jerry and I went out to a cultural restaurant for his last night here and shared a bottle of tej [local honey wine]. My souvenir tej is coming home in a recycled water bottle- if it makes it in the luggage. Also on the souvenir list is 2 kg of local honey (finely crystallized), some beeswax, 2 kg of forest coffee and a cool knit cap for my granddaughter.

Posted in Africa, Ethiopia | Tagged beekeeping, cultural experiences, Ethiopia, international travel, international volunteer

Volunteers in Action in Ethiopia

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Jen Snow

Here are some photos from Dr. Dale ZoBell’s assignment in Ethiopia, focused on improving animal feed. His training brought together representatives from numerous feed associations, feed companies, and government regulatory institutions from across the country. The participants were very engaged and eager to learn from him!


Feedlot demonstrations

Feedlot demonstrations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analyzing feed

Analyzing feed

Examining Feed Samples

Examining feed samples

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviewing feed formulations

Reviewing feed formulations

[Thank you, Dr. ZoBell!]

Posted in Africa, Ethiopia | Tagged agriculture, Ethiopia, international volunteer, livestock, people-to-people exchange

Volunteers Learn Too

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Jen Snow

“I have learned a lot of new information from each of the local populations I interact with during the [Farmer-to-Farmer] assignments. It is interesting how local people are able to devise simple solutions suitable for local conditions. Such information is helpful to me in teaching and research efforts. The stories I carry with me are wholesome, as although they are science related, they are closely connected to the society and their norms and beliefs. The experiences are great case studies in interdisciplinary courses. I am able to explore the farming practices with a commonality as well as regional differences.”

-from Ken Ayers, upon his return from his volunteer assignment in Ethiopia

Posted in Africa, Ethiopia, Volunteer Feedback | Tagged Ethiopia, international volunteer, knowledge transfer, people-to-people exchange

Taking Time to Smell the Coffee in Ethiopia

Posted on March 17, 2013

Here’s another personal blog entry from volunteer Dave Pearce from his trip to Ethiopia. Taking a moment to soak in the culture is always an important part of every volunteer trip. Sometimes, the simplest things are the most memorable!


One of my biggest joys and memories while volunteering in Ethiopia was the Saturday / Sunday notion of the Traditional Coffee Ceremony. It’s tremendous– It’s wonderful– If you like coffee!

Preparing coffee, the traditional way

Preparing coffee, the traditional way

Close to noon, the platform is prepared– ladies scatter freshly cut grass and add beautiful flower petals- as they add both color and class. Atop the grass sets the small coffee table holding little cups, sugar, saucers, spoons, spice, and service for 8 or more.

Add a small, but HOT fired stove, the Ethiopian Jebena (round clay) Coffee Pot, a special settling stand, a popcorn dish, Mulu and our ceremony can begin.

Fresh green coffee beans are poured into a dish-like skillet. The mokecha (a hooked metal stir) to roll back and forth each bean for proper roasting. The wonderful coffee aroma begins to rise from the roasting beans–ummmmm um! The beans are popping and Mulu rakes and stirs constantly. The aroma intensifies.

At just the right moment, Mulu sweeps the beans from the hot plate to the cooler saucer. I get the first full whiff! Ohhhh la la! What a wonderful aroma! The next step involves a mortar and pestle like tool to grind and ready the beans for the jebena pot. At the same time, Mulu starts the popcorn in an aluminum kettle much like used in America.

The freshly roasted and ground beans are poured into the jebena and placed back on the fire and brought to boil. Once boiling, the pot is then removed and set aside to allow the grounds time to settle.

Enjoying the freshly popped popcorn–Mulu carefully pours the rich coffee into the cups, avoiding any grounds from pouring from the jebena into the cups. Mulu adds a little sugar, a sprig of Hyssop (as a stir)– and the service begins. WOW oh WOW Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Gevalis…. None of these hold a candle to Mulu’s Ethiopian Coffee!

Posted in Africa, Ethiopia | Tagged cultural experiences, Ethiopia, people-to-people exchange, travel

Valentine’s Day in Ethiopia

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Jen Snow

Last week, we received a blog post from one of our Farmer-to-Farmer volunteers, Dave Pearce, in Ethiopia. Here’s a snapshot of his trip, in his own words:

Thursday, Valentines Day in Lera, Ethiopia (Lera is a small ((mostly Muslim)) community of 15,000, 260 KM south and west of Addis Ababa. 2600 meters above sea level, cooler mountainous air, in the dry season of the year– the rains come in June, July and August– and the people are ready!).

In nearly 20 years of overseas volunteering– this time to meet and work with small growing and emerging agricultural coops– I am always fascinated with community participation at the Marketplace. Thursday’s and Sunday’s provide that opportunity for any and all. Today, (a Thursday) seems to me 1 in 3 of the population are here! 5000 of the 15,000!

Everything to anything is available– goats, shoes, sewing machines, butter, wrenches, hats, hand tools. The market place is a social and economic standard for Ethiopian people as for ALL PEOPLE. The American/Caucasian is “obviously” a standout at today’s market– and “not for sale.” Groups of children gathering to see and hear this different being. …..Mostly fascinated with the pictures and the Ipad!

Specifically, I take this as opportunity to meet and greet members of the cooperatives I will be working with– the chance to walk, and talk, and hear the sights and sounds– provides the context of life experience I need to do my best at teaching and training– to meld my education and experience with theirs….. and ready my learning experience as they will “teach me how they see.”

These two women are cooperative members who will participate in Dave’s training on management, marketing, and accountability

These two women are cooperative members who will participate in Dave’s training on management, marketing, and accountability

I have learned that much tradition and wisdom is taught through parables and proverbs. One African proverb I love is “He or she who teaches — learns twice.” I think it more than doubles the value of this experience!

[Thanks so much, Dave!]

Posted in Africa, Ethiopia, Volunteer Feedback | Tagged cultural experiences, Ethiopia, international travel, international volunteer, people-to-people exchange
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