In the farm land near my house

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On the weekend I took a long hike up into the hills surrounding the village. This is the location of the villagers' farms, many a small plot of land where they can get in a couple of crops a year if the rain is sufficient. Currently corn, tomatoes and cassavas and we are getting rain in abundance. Not certain how they tell the boundaries of their farm, but I am told all the land belongs to the Chief and he not only parcels it out, but records the area. Interesting that what is grown here is a mix of what you can find in Florida and Virginia: peanuts, oranges, papayas, corn, beans, okra, watermelon, pineapple, mangoes, onions, tomatoes , cucumbers, red hot peppers, green peppers and of course yams and cassavas. I am anxious to get my kitchen set up so that I may enjoy more of these wonderful vegetables and fruits. The road up to the farms and around the farms reminds me so much of some of the terrain in South Vietnam. The road is of red clay, laterite, and there is no bare land. All is covered with crops or tall grass. It is peaceful here and since it was Sunday saw mostly women and children bringing home fire wood and the occasional bunch of bananas and some yams. However, if you want to see cashews on the tree come to Ghana. I am standing in a grove of cashew trees that are very common in this part of Brong Ahafo and are a significant export along with cocoa for chocolate. I could use some of the finished product, but most leaves the country.

I experience new things each day and although I miss the familiar, I continue to be grateful for the opportunity.