A short trip away

Packing the seeds
Funwe Farm grows and buys in from 'outgrowers'. Following certification by the Seed Services Unit seeds are packed in bags of  2, 3, 5 or 8kgs clearly labelled with the weight, certification number and logo.

Bagging dressed seed

Weight sensitive packaging machine

Trip away After 9 months in Malawi we decided to take a short holiday. Driving through Northern Region, Nkhata Bay District, we passed through a rubber plantation.

Rubber
The Malawi rubber trees originated from Brazil via Kew in the late 19C.  When the trees are 6-7 years old, the latex is harvested by tapping through an incision in the bark, a tree may produce 5kg of rubber per year. Latex is processed and some sold to shoe manufacturers  The trees are felled after 25 years, treated and sold as an attractive pale coloured timber. 
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Tapped tree

Saw mill

Livingstonia
Our destination was Livingstonia, perching on the edge of the Nyika Plateau at 1350m, a settlement founded in 1894 to the memory of Dr David Livingstone (died 1873) by Dr Robert Laws.  Access is challenging on dirt roads and series of 20  hairpin bends. The village now comprises a hospital, schools, churches and a university.

Mission Church, Livingstonia

Ian at our Eco tent, Livingstonia

View from our Eco tent East towards Lake Malawi and Tanzania

Michael, Ian's brother, spent a few busy days absorbing the problems and delights of farming in Malawi, he has returned to the challenges of farming in the UK!

T, I and Michael at our favourite viewpoint on the Escarpment.

T and I

Processing the seeds

Our factory is in full swing, the seeds are being shelled, threshed, winnowed, cleaned and graded ready for  packing.

Shelling groundnuts

Winnowing groundnuts

Grading, cleaning and dressing maize seed

Threshing pigeon peas

Ox cart loaded with groundnut shells used for cattle fodder

                                      



Coffee
Our neighbours in the South of the country grow coffee, which they are harvesting at present.  The succulent red flesh is removed from the green beans which are subsequently fermented, washed, dried, exported and roasted to taste.

Red coffee berries ready to pick

Green beans from inside the flesh

Mount Mulanje
At 3000 metres, shrouded in mist and legend, Mount Mulanje, (southern Malawi), is the highest mountain in Central Africa.   The mountain, a granite intrusion, is a landmark for agile tourists who, with the assistance of porters hike and climb.  In mid July the porters race 25km up the mountain on rocky terrain, many in bare feet and the girls in skirts as Malawian women don't wear shorts or trousers.  Following the race there is great entertainment in the form of music and dance throughout the day.

The winning porter

Visitors
Terri's brother and his wife spent almost 3 weeks sharing our life on the Lakeshore.  They, along with the remainder of our a family, have funded the repair of the local school  roof.
 Roger and Hannah are mathematicians and computer scientists and shared their knowledge with 200 learners at the local secondary school.

Roger and Hannah conducting a robot workshop at Lisumbwe Secondary School, Monkey Bay.

 Fixing the roof

Work in progress

Almost complete

Locally trained carpenters working on the roof beams

During our remaining time in Malawi we will see the growing season through and  explore the northern plateau, following the trail of the C19th missionaries including David Livingstone!

T and I