This was another day of teams dispersed about the area pursuing their tasks.
Gaynor went in to Nanyuki with Jonathan to buy fresh provisions and then worked on the logistics and planning for the next few days.
Laurence and the Video team continued to work on five separate video projects, which once edited will probably reduce to two or three short films.
Mike and Laura went out filming at local farms to capture an example of the drip-feed irrigation system in use. They found an excellent example on a farm with its own well. The farmer had dug the 173 ft well himself with a pick and shovel, then laid out the drip feed hoses out into his fields. It takes roughly 20 minutes to fill a 20 litre bucket with water from the bottom of the well. The bucket is then carried to a nearby header tank from which hoses take water out to the fields for the drip irrigation.
Mike and Laura were very surprised to discover that they were the first white people the children on the farm had ever seen. The seven or eight children aged between one and ten, were initially shocked and anxious at seeing people with white skins, until they saw their parents happily shake hands and chat comfortably.
Harriet and Emily filmed various different chimpanzees at the sanctuary.
Rosie and Victoria carried out filming and interviews with three staff at Ol Pejeta: Sandra the PR & Marketing Manager; David the Sanctuary Supervisor; Charles, a Keeper. These interviews covered all aspects of the history, rationale and purpose of Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, and will form the introduction to a film about the sanctuary itself and the chimpanzee conservation programme.
The Anthropology team had a busy day visiting a couple of farmers who were members of a 25 strong group encouraged to work on a major experiment promoted by Ol Pejeta. They were working to a model designed to compare three different styles of farming:
Traditional – sowing their seeds 6” into the ground
Ripping – sowing seeds deeper to a depth of 9”
Conservation agriculture – promoted by Ol Pejeta as a more efficient method. This involves rotating two crops annually eg maize and deep-rooted sorgam, on an acre-sized field, and at seeding time sowing the seeds in a shallow scrape (approx 2” deep), covering over with soil and then covering the row with dried grasses, maize leaves and other natural materials, to reduce moisture evaporation. This method improves retention of natural nutrients and moisture in the soil, production of stronger crops, reduced weeding, disease resistance and an unexpected benefit was that the farmers found they had more time on their hands to do other things.
The team also visited a school which was part day/part boarding, that had received help with their building programme. It was noted that the school had a computer lab, but not enough electricity from the solar panels to run it. This was because there were other more basic priorities for the limited power.
The Geek team continued their reorganisation of various web plans leading in to creation of the new website which Al wants up and running in the next few weeks. One major frustration is the occasional interruption to service with our satellite communications because of stormy weather over Turin.
The evening started with a birthday party as Lisa set up Alasdair with a fun treasure hunt involving every member of the expedition. His prize at the end was a birthday cake…not for sharing, and then we all ate the delicious supper…with Baboon hunger. To celebrate, Al was going to show his film Wall-e…but had deleted it off his laptop. Mega disappointment.
So instead we held a showcase session, converting Nox into a cinema inside. Each team gave a resume of it’s activities to bring everyone up to date. George read out the first week’s blogs as Laurence set up the cinema. Team leaders gave their updates; Jocelyn talked about the interviews the Anthropology had conducted; David talked about the Community Office programme; Laurence talked about the Video team. We saw several short and terrific film clips. The top billing however, went to Rosie’s video blog which was amazing. She got a standing ovation as a natural presenter.
It was late and had been a long day, and eye lids were dropping rapidly. The show case ended and everyone sleepwalked to their tents.
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