The seeds are swelling

The rain was late arriving and seems to have finished early, there is great concern for the subsistence maize farmers.

Despite the difficulties of the climate, our seed crops have matured well. The maize foliage is showing signs of stress but the cobs have swollen.  Harvesting the cow peas, has started and the pigeon peas, the last crop to be planted, are in flower

Maize crop drying out

Good full cobs for seed

A proud farmer

These racks are used to dry fish or maize cobs

Creative and inventive neighbours

The lake sand is used as a medium for writing and drawing lessons, the children create gardens using wild flowers which are many and various.

                                                                              

School children learning in the sand

Children making a 'garden'

Music is an important part of life.

        

Bottle tops on wire, a percussion instrument

Some fishing boats travel into deeper water with the help of sails.

Sail made from old sacks

Likoma Island

An early birthday treat for Ian was a trip to Likoma Island, situated in the  Mozambican waters of Lake Malawi.  The Island is the site of an Anglican mission dating from 1886, the legacy of which is St Peters's Cathedral built of local granite in 1903.  We visited on Palm Sunday enjoyed part of the service and checked the bells which resembled upturned saucepans.

Transport to Likoma

Airport transfer, Ian in the back

Children at Likoma Mission,  St Peter's Cathedral, waving palms

There were only 2 other tourists on the island.

Easter is fast approaching, Easter eggs are not an option here but we will celebrate with boiled eggs for breakfast.

Happy Easter
T and I

Picking the first green maize

Our neighbours grow tobacco and cotton as cash crops. The tobacco leaves are picked and dried under thatched shelters and sold from April onward; the cotton is beginning to flower.

Brown tobacco leaves drying with cotton in the foreground

Moisture is necessary to ensure pollen grains stick to the silks of the maize cobs, if the weather is dry, the silk is hand sprayed with water.

In addition to maize Funwe produces a variety of legume seeds including cow peas and pigeon peas; both fix nitrogen and provide a source of protein which is eaten fresh, dried and sprouted.  These varieties are drought resistant and grow on marginal soils

We enjoyed this cob for dinner

Cow peas ripening fast

Village walk

Our cottage is in Mwanyama Village situated on the lake shore at Nkhudzi Bay.  It is a busy fishing village with a selection of community buildings, bars and several churches.  There is always great activity, mending nets, weaving mats and new builds.

The floats on this fishing net are discarded flip flops

There is little regard for health and safety

Christina taught Terri to weave grass into a very serviceable mat

Sunday morning

There are few tourists in Malawi as there are no direct flights from Europe, however there are a number of resorts along the lake shore which boast quality facilities including pools, tennis courts and golf courses.

Ian and Jon at Club Makokola Resort

We look forward to visitors over the next few weeks, Richard from Edinburgh followed by Jonny and Jody in mid April, we will enjoy their company.

T and I