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Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Environment- Acid Rain
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Environment- Flower Gardens
Different Features of a Garden - Water garden, bog garden and wild garden.
Different features of flower garden explained here.
Water garden
In landscape gardening, use of water in their setting plays a prominent role for many obvious reasons. Garden designers have always produced the most satisfactory results, when they have been able to bring water into their compositions. It is beautiful and attractive at all times and providing a pleasant ever changing surface varying with the change of season and weather.
The murmering streams or a ripping waterfall attract the ears and eyes. The beauty of water-side planting is enhanced by charming reflections. Lovely hybrid of water lilies atld water loving plants are gaining much importance in modern gardening. If in any site of a garden, natural stream, pond or lake exists, water garden is at once assured by planting suitable plants. If no such natural facilities exists, an artificial pool must be formed in a sunny spot. It should fit with the overall garden design. Available space and individual choice well determine the size and shape of the pool.
The success of fountain, however, depends upon obtaining the water at sufficient pressure and skillful plumbing. If surrounded by large basin or pond, upright jets may be adopted. For smaller fountains some simple form of bubbles or jets thrown out from the side of a central arrangement would generally be found most satisfactory.
A sheet of water is not only a welcome feature in the landscape, but also proves useful for boating and fishing in almost all seasons. The beauty of a lake also depends upon reflection of the objects upon the bank. Smoothness and softness of effect have been recommended as the best treatment of the surroundings of the lake. The artificial treatment of water, especially when it is required to form a part of formal scheme, is one of the most costly affairs in the whole practice of garden crafts.
When a rock garden combines with water garden it gives more attractive appearance. A formal garden of this type should be the key note in rock and water gardening. Here, the pool or a series of small pools should combine in an artistic manner surrounded by rock garden.
Bog garden
Though not an important feature in a garden design, bog garden is interesting if facilities to form such type of ground naturally exist at the site. It is not always advisable to level the low lying areas as it creates opportunity for growing some special kind of plants without taking help of any artificial means. Bog garden can be laid out in a marshy spot, partly in sun and in shade and plants can be selected depending upon the moisture of the ground. Deposition of organic matter markedly improves the growth of the plants. It should be specially designed in order to fit the overall plan of the garden.
Wild garden
With the increasing popularity for informal design in gardening, laying out of wild garden is also getting importance in garden planning. It is the desire of man to communicate directly with nature and neutralizing home living with no touch of artificiality.
Combinations of some plants are very attractive in wild garden e.g. fine leaved plants, ferns, climbers, grasses, trailing shrubs and flowers if grown together in informal beds of rough undulated places. A wild garden will show its best when the plants have grown well and this type of garden should be attempted in large garden area. Designing a wild garden requires imagination and careful selection of plants depending on the growth habit of the plants.
Next : features of garden - terrace garden, kichen garden, children garden
Previous : Features of a flower garden
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Environmental- dry landEnvironmental- dry land
Agronomic approaches
The major objective of dry farming programme
is to conserve the soil and moisture and to
achieve maximum production from the dry
farn1ing areas. In the past two decades, we have
been able to' solve many hurdles in the aforesaid
areas but there had been no break through as in
case of irrigated crop production. Now we have
the promising crop varieties and technology
available with us about the maximum soil and
water conservation. Theagronomic
approaches can be dealt with under the
following four heads based on land types.
Agronomic approaches for highly
undulating lands
These lands are confined to the hills of the
locations which have suffered serious soil erosion
problems and have been divided into various
gullies. The soils of these areas are more prone to
further erosion if they are not properly managed.
Therefore, in this category, the crop management
practices are entirely different from other areas.
The object of soil andcrop management under
such situation should be :
a. to stabilize the soil by forestry and pasture
management with a regulated grazing or no
grazing at all.
b. to level the land gradually through contour
bunding, terracing, etc.
c. to practise strip cropping and pitcher farn1ing.
Agronomical approaches for marginal lands
Generally, marginal lands are very poor in fertility.
The crop management in these lands is carried
out in lines of crop management for leveled lands
or flat lands which will be discussed later in this
chapter.
Agronomical approaches for diara lands
Diara lands are located on either side of rivers or
between two rivers and are often flooded by
these rivers. These diara lands are formed due to
flood and may have deposition of fine to coarse
sands.
These areas often lack irrigation and need a
careful crop management. Since the land of this
areas is highly susceptible to floods, kharif
cropping is practically impossible. But certain
fodder crops can easily be grown soon after the
onset of monsoon and harvested depending
upon position of floods. The harvesting or cutting
of crops is started from close to the river beds
and as the water spreads the harvesting is also
advanced. The life saving irrigations can be given
by lifting water from the river or by drilling cavity
wells orbamboo borings. However, in most of
the cases these wells go out of order after a flood
occurs. Therefore, the cavity wells or bamboo
borings are made at a distant location from river
stream.
Agronomical approaches for plain lands
Plain lands form the main dry land tracts of the
country. There has been major emphasis on
finding out ways and means through which the
totalsoil productivity could be increased.
Following recommendations should be followed
on plain lands for an improved crop productivity
and an efficient soil and water conservation.
a. Tillage requirements of the crops
Tillage starts with the seed red preparation and
ends with mulching and control of weeds. Deep
ploughing during summer helps in destroying
weeds and suppressing insect pests and
diseases. It also helps in an efficient root
penetration very deep into soil Placement of seed
at 5 cm and fertilizers at 7.5 cm in the same
furrow followed by soil compaction have resulted
in better germination, plant vigour, extensive root
development and higher crop yields.
b. Selection or crops and varieties
There are a number of improved varieties of
different crops which are drought tolerant or
resistant to water stress. The most commonly
grown crops in dry lands are rice, maize,
sorghum, pearl millet. finger millet, wheat, barley,
pulses, oilseeds, etc. The improved varieties of
these crops have already been described area-
wise.
c. Sowing of crops
Sowing of crops deals with several associated
factors namely sowing time, method of sowing,
depth of sowing etc. It is important in the sense
that once the ideal plant population is achieved.
the crop is bound to give yield.
Sowing time can markedly influence the
production and productivity of dry land crops.
Early sowing of kharif crops results in early crop
maturity and thereby it facilitates early sowing of
succeeding rabi crops. Early sowing of rabi crops
helps in overcoming the moisture stress at later
stages of plant growth, particularly at grain filling
stage.
Broadcasting of seeds should be avoided as it
involves several losses and seed does not
properly come in contact with moisture. Placing
the seeds at about 5 cm depth through pora or
seed drill is desirable.
To get an ideal plant population it is necessary
that about 25% higher than required seed rate
should be applied. Care must be taken to reduce
plant competition for moisture by removing
excess plant population about 2-3 weeks after the
sowing depending upon the crops.
d. Fertilizer management
Use of fertilizers in dry lands is limited as
compared to irrigated areas. Today we use on 'an
average only 60kg/ha fertilizers in dry fanning
areas as against 60 kg/ha national average.
Reasons for application of fertilizers in dry fanning
are as follows: i. poor response because of faulty
method of application; ii. poor financial condition
of fanners to purchase fertilizer; iii. wrong concept
of the fanners that fertilizers will burn the
seedlings, and harm to the soil; and iv.
application of organic manure only, which
can not meet the total nutrient requirement of the
crop.
There are different Schools of thoughts about the
application of fertilizers in thedry lands. Some
people think that application of fertilizers in dry
lands results in a better crop yield than that in
irrigated areas because in the latter case the soil
becomes very poor in residual fertility due to high
intensity of cropping, whereas, the dry lands still
preserve nutrients as they are not depleted badly
due to low cropping intensity. Some people think
that fertilizer application in dry lands aggravates
the moisture problem, but truly speaking deep
placement of fertilizers followed by foliar
application results in extensive rooting up to
deeper soil layers where the plants extract
moisture to meet their demands.
Next :Cropping systems for dryland
agriculture
Previous : Water harvesting systems
Latest updates
Birds of paradise cultivation
Anthurium gardening
Paultry Breeding
Flower Gardening
Hybridization of Amaryllis & Hippeastrum
Agriculture and Environmental Article
topics
Agriculture Bioenergy
Amaryllis & Hippeastrum
Anthurium
Bioenergy
Biomass
Cattle Breeding
Dryland Farming
Flower Garden
Greenhouse
Marketing
Meteorology
Poultry Breeding
Water Buffalo
RSS Feed
World Agriculture artic
The major objective of dry farming programme
is to conserve the soil and moisture and to
achieve maximum production from the dry
farn1ing areas. In the past two decades, we have
been able to' solve many hurdles in the aforesaid
areas but there had been no break through as in
case of irrigated crop production. Now we have
the promising crop varieties and technology
available with us about the maximum soil and
water conservation. Theagronomic
approaches can be dealt with under the
following four heads based on land types.
Agronomic approaches for highly
undulating lands
These lands are confined to the hills of the
locations which have suffered serious soil erosion
problems and have been divided into various
gullies. The soils of these areas are more prone to
further erosion if they are not properly managed.
Therefore, in this category, the crop management
practices are entirely different from other areas.
The object of soil andcrop management under
such situation should be :
a. to stabilize the soil by forestry and pasture
management with a regulated grazing or no
grazing at all.
b. to level the land gradually through contour
bunding, terracing, etc.
c. to practise strip cropping and pitcher farn1ing.
Agronomical approaches for marginal lands
Generally, marginal lands are very poor in fertility.
The crop management in these lands is carried
out in lines of crop management for leveled lands
or flat lands which will be discussed later in this
chapter.
Agronomical approaches for diara lands
Diara lands are located on either side of rivers or
between two rivers and are often flooded by
these rivers. These diara lands are formed due to
flood and may have deposition of fine to coarse
sands.
These areas often lack irrigation and need a
careful crop management. Since the land of this
areas is highly susceptible to floods, kharif
cropping is practically impossible. But certain
fodder crops can easily be grown soon after the
onset of monsoon and harvested depending
upon position of floods. The harvesting or cutting
of crops is started from close to the river beds
and as the water spreads the harvesting is also
advanced. The life saving irrigations can be given
by lifting water from the river or by drilling cavity
wells orbamboo borings. However, in most of
the cases these wells go out of order after a flood
occurs. Therefore, the cavity wells or bamboo
borings are made at a distant location from river
stream.
Agronomical approaches for plain lands
Plain lands form the main dry land tracts of the
country. There has been major emphasis on
finding out ways and means through which the
totalsoil productivity could be increased.
Following recommendations should be followed
on plain lands for an improved crop productivity
and an efficient soil and water conservation.
a. Tillage requirements of the crops
Tillage starts with the seed red preparation and
ends with mulching and control of weeds. Deep
ploughing during summer helps in destroying
weeds and suppressing insect pests and
diseases. It also helps in an efficient root
penetration very deep into soil Placement of seed
at 5 cm and fertilizers at 7.5 cm in the same
furrow followed by soil compaction have resulted
in better germination, plant vigour, extensive root
development and higher crop yields.
b. Selection or crops and varieties
There are a number of improved varieties of
different crops which are drought tolerant or
resistant to water stress. The most commonly
grown crops in dry lands are rice, maize,
sorghum, pearl millet. finger millet, wheat, barley,
pulses, oilseeds, etc. The improved varieties of
these crops have already been described area-
wise.
c. Sowing of crops
Sowing of crops deals with several associated
factors namely sowing time, method of sowing,
depth of sowing etc. It is important in the sense
that once the ideal plant population is achieved.
the crop is bound to give yield.
Sowing time can markedly influence the
production and productivity of dry land crops.
Early sowing of kharif crops results in early crop
maturity and thereby it facilitates early sowing of
succeeding rabi crops. Early sowing of rabi crops
helps in overcoming the moisture stress at later
stages of plant growth, particularly at grain filling
stage.
Broadcasting of seeds should be avoided as it
involves several losses and seed does not
properly come in contact with moisture. Placing
the seeds at about 5 cm depth through pora or
seed drill is desirable.
To get an ideal plant population it is necessary
that about 25% higher than required seed rate
should be applied. Care must be taken to reduce
plant competition for moisture by removing
excess plant population about 2-3 weeks after the
sowing depending upon the crops.
d. Fertilizer management
Use of fertilizers in dry lands is limited as
compared to irrigated areas. Today we use on 'an
average only 60kg/ha fertilizers in dry fanning
areas as against 60 kg/ha national average.
Reasons for application of fertilizers in dry fanning
are as follows: i. poor response because of faulty
method of application; ii. poor financial condition
of fanners to purchase fertilizer; iii. wrong concept
of the fanners that fertilizers will burn the
seedlings, and harm to the soil; and iv.
application of organic manure only, which
can not meet the total nutrient requirement of the
crop.
There are different Schools of thoughts about the
application of fertilizers in thedry lands. Some
people think that application of fertilizers in dry
lands results in a better crop yield than that in
irrigated areas because in the latter case the soil
becomes very poor in residual fertility due to high
intensity of cropping, whereas, the dry lands still
preserve nutrients as they are not depleted badly
due to low cropping intensity. Some people think
that fertilizer application in dry lands aggravates
the moisture problem, but truly speaking deep
placement of fertilizers followed by foliar
application results in extensive rooting up to
deeper soil layers where the plants extract
moisture to meet their demands.
Next :Cropping systems for dryland
agriculture
Previous : Water harvesting systems
Latest updates
Birds of paradise cultivation
Anthurium gardening
Paultry Breeding
Flower Gardening
Hybridization of Amaryllis & Hippeastrum
Agriculture and Environmental Article
topics
Agriculture Bioenergy
Amaryllis & Hippeastrum
Anthurium
Bioenergy
Biomass
Cattle Breeding
Dryland Farming
Flower Garden
Greenhouse
Marketing
Meteorology
Poultry Breeding
Water Buffalo
RSS Feed
World Agriculture artic
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Sun aid- environment
The SolarAid team has just returned from a series of school committee training workshops in Eastern Province. Each school, as recently as last month, was selected to receive a solar installation.
Solar committee members at a training session in Eastern Province.
This week 19 schools from four zones in Chipata District completed thorough training sessions. We covered a variety of topics including system monitoring and maintenance, business planning for income generating activities and reporting. A special emphasis was also placed on how to maximise the effectiveness of solar systems in order to benefit students, teachers and the wider community.
We were consistently impressed by the engagement of the trainees, especially the quality of presentations from committee members and the in-depth discussions that ensued. It was hard work but not without its fun. The role play sessions covering tricky questions that may be asked about the solar system were a particular highlight.
As ever there were many questions about our SunnyMoney initiative during the workshops. The demand for microsolar in the region is very high and as a result many schools handed in long lists of individuals in their communities requesting solar products.
Lunch provided by SolarAid for 60 trainees: 14 chickens, 30kg of mealie meal, 11 cabbages, an armload of tomatoes and onions and 3 litres of oil.
Now that initial training is complete the schools will be busy preparing for the arrival of their solar installations. They will be opening bank accounts to manage funds, developing business plans, creating weekly schedules for system maintenance and educating local people as to the benefits that solar will bring.
We will be returning to the region next week to hold further training sessions for the remaining 30 selected schools. SolarAid is scheduled to begin installing its Eastern Province schools from mid-July.
Projects Manager Steve Woodward conducting a training session in Eastern Province.
More news soon!
Steve
Help SolarAid reach more rural communities with clean and affordable energy by making a donation.
Trainees discuss weekly scheduling of duties upon arrival of the system.
Solar committee members at a training session in Eastern Province.
This week 19 schools from four zones in Chipata District completed thorough training sessions. We covered a variety of topics including system monitoring and maintenance, business planning for income generating activities and reporting. A special emphasis was also placed on how to maximise the effectiveness of solar systems in order to benefit students, teachers and the wider community.
We were consistently impressed by the engagement of the trainees, especially the quality of presentations from committee members and the in-depth discussions that ensued. It was hard work but not without its fun. The role play sessions covering tricky questions that may be asked about the solar system were a particular highlight.
As ever there were many questions about our SunnyMoney initiative during the workshops. The demand for microsolar in the region is very high and as a result many schools handed in long lists of individuals in their communities requesting solar products.
Lunch provided by SolarAid for 60 trainees: 14 chickens, 30kg of mealie meal, 11 cabbages, an armload of tomatoes and onions and 3 litres of oil.
Now that initial training is complete the schools will be busy preparing for the arrival of their solar installations. They will be opening bank accounts to manage funds, developing business plans, creating weekly schedules for system maintenance and educating local people as to the benefits that solar will bring.
We will be returning to the region next week to hold further training sessions for the remaining 30 selected schools. SolarAid is scheduled to begin installing its Eastern Province schools from mid-July.
Projects Manager Steve Woodward conducting a training session in Eastern Province.
More news soon!
Steve
Help SolarAid reach more rural communities with clean and affordable energy by making a donation.
Trainees discuss weekly scheduling of duties upon arrival of the system.
"I felt like I was calling and telling these schools that they had won the lottery!"
SolarAid Administrative Assistant, Karla Kanyanga, had been on the phone all afternoon to head teachers in Chipata, Eastern Province. She was telling them life changing news - they had been successful in their application for solar power. "One teacher simply yelled down the phone, 'Thank you, thank you, thank you!'" Karla said.
Children outside a class room block in Chipata.
Over a period of a hundred days, a small and dedicated Zambian team interviewed and evaluated over a hundred schools for potential solar installation. In all, 49 schools were successful.
The selected schools were shown how solar power generated by their panels can be used to charge mobile phones, laptop computers and televisions. Many schools use the phone charging capacity as a way to generate income by providing a charging service to the local community. SolarAid provides case studies of successful business models for schools interested in using the systems in this way.
A community meeting to discuss the benefits of solar installation in local schools.
SolarAid strives for sustainability and longevity of solar installations, therefore only schools that demonstrate a high level of commitment and understanding are selected. By training teachers and local people in solar maintenance, and by providing ongoing consultation and contact, the units are expected to last many years before batteries need replacing. When they do, SolarAid will support and consult with the school.
Brilliantly, many of the head teachers Karla spoke to asked if they would also be receiving microsolar lights. There is a growing need for portable solar systems as a clean, safe and affordable alternative to the highly toxic and flammable kerosene lamp. When schools and students see the benefit of solar in the classroom it is inevitable that they will seek to reap the same rewards in the home and share this with their family and friends.
The solarAid Landrover tackles a river in Chipata.
Programme Manager, Ellie Higham, said: "This is great news. Access to solar energy will revolutionise the educational opportunities for the students and provide huge benefits to the wider community. Thanks to all the team for their hard work and long hours to enable us to bring such good news to these schools. I'm sure we'll have much to report on when the schools receive their installs later on this year."
To enable SolarAid to provide more schools with solar power please make a donation.
SolarAid Administrative Assistant, Karla Kanyanga, had been on the phone all afternoon to head teachers in Chipata, Eastern Province. She was telling them life changing news - they had been successful in their application for solar power. "One teacher simply yelled down the phone, 'Thank you, thank you, thank you!'" Karla said.
Children outside a class room block in Chipata.
Over a period of a hundred days, a small and dedicated Zambian team interviewed and evaluated over a hundred schools for potential solar installation. In all, 49 schools were successful.
The selected schools were shown how solar power generated by their panels can be used to charge mobile phones, laptop computers and televisions. Many schools use the phone charging capacity as a way to generate income by providing a charging service to the local community. SolarAid provides case studies of successful business models for schools interested in using the systems in this way.
A community meeting to discuss the benefits of solar installation in local schools.
SolarAid strives for sustainability and longevity of solar installations, therefore only schools that demonstrate a high level of commitment and understanding are selected. By training teachers and local people in solar maintenance, and by providing ongoing consultation and contact, the units are expected to last many years before batteries need replacing. When they do, SolarAid will support and consult with the school.
Brilliantly, many of the head teachers Karla spoke to asked if they would also be receiving microsolar lights. There is a growing need for portable solar systems as a clean, safe and affordable alternative to the highly toxic and flammable kerosene lamp. When schools and students see the benefit of solar in the classroom it is inevitable that they will seek to reap the same rewards in the home and share this with their family and friends.
The solarAid Landrover tackles a river in Chipata.
Programme Manager, Ellie Higham, said: "This is great news. Access to solar energy will revolutionise the educational opportunities for the students and provide huge benefits to the wider community. Thanks to all the team for their hard work and long hours to enable us to bring such good news to these schools. I'm sure we'll have much to report on when the schools receive their installs later on this year."
To enable SolarAid to provide more schools with solar power please make a donation.
SolarAid Zambia have been extremely busy in recent months, evaluating schools for macrosolar installation in both Chipata and Chadiza of the Eastern Province.
The past few weeks have seen the team cover 21 of the remotest schools in the region. It has been a time full of critical decisions, but more importantly it has been a journey to achieve our ambitious goals . As I write, staff and volunteers are heading off to cover 12 more schools for evaluation. By September, 50 of these schools will receive life-changing solar power to dramatically improve education. These systems provide clean light, extended learning hours, access to laptop computers, television and DVD players - all brilliant learning resources.
Teachers and local people have maintenance training to ensure system longevity and also are shown how it can be used as an income generating facility. For instance, many schools will use the solar power to charge mobile phones, at a small cost. It's a great way to recoup the 10% of the installation fee that schools are asked to provide.
In two years other SolarAid programme countries such as Kenya have seen exam results improve dramatically. It will be great to see if we can accomplish the same in Chipata and Chadiza over the coming years of solar development.
Below are some photos of Nyakatali Secondary School, one of the latest to qualify for an sustainable solar installation in May.
Please help us reach more schools like Nyakatali my making a donation here.
Students welcome the Zambian team to Nyakatali.
Presenting solar at Nyakatali. From left to right Head Teacher, Mr Kamungu, Project Manager, Steve Woodward, Project Officer, Mary Chileshe.
Head Teacher of Nyakatali, Mr Kamungu.
The past few weeks have seen the team cover 21 of the remotest schools in the region. It has been a time full of critical decisions, but more importantly it has been a journey to achieve our ambitious goals . As I write, staff and volunteers are heading off to cover 12 more schools for evaluation. By September, 50 of these schools will receive life-changing solar power to dramatically improve education. These systems provide clean light, extended learning hours, access to laptop computers, television and DVD players - all brilliant learning resources.
Teachers and local people have maintenance training to ensure system longevity and also are shown how it can be used as an income generating facility. For instance, many schools will use the solar power to charge mobile phones, at a small cost. It's a great way to recoup the 10% of the installation fee that schools are asked to provide.
In two years other SolarAid programme countries such as Kenya have seen exam results improve dramatically. It will be great to see if we can accomplish the same in Chipata and Chadiza over the coming years of solar development.
Below are some photos of Nyakatali Secondary School, one of the latest to qualify for an sustainable solar installation in May.
Please help us reach more schools like Nyakatali my making a donation here.
Students welcome the Zambian team to Nyakatali.
Presenting solar at Nyakatali. From left to right Head Teacher, Mr Kamungu, Project Manager, Steve Woodward, Project Officer, Mary Chileshe.
Head Teacher of Nyakatali, Mr Kamungu.
Last weekend, SolarAid was joined in Lusaka by fundraising superstar Rick de Gaay Fortman. Rick is riding 7000 kilometres from Cape Town to Nairobi in order to raise enough money to provide Zambia with at least 20 solar installations for schools.
Rick leads a group of cycling enthusiasts into Lusaka.
Rick has been on an epic journey, cycling 3000 kilometres through Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. On route to Lusaka, Rick was joined by 30 local cycling enthusiasts at 6:30am on a Saturday, all up early to celebrate his achievements.
The cyclists gather around Rick to show their support.
As Rick and his supporters approached Lusaka, we used our SolarAid vehicle to ensure the riders' safety on the busy Kafue-Lusaka road. We all received lots of car horns, claps and cheers - we even had a few pedestrian cyclists join in the ride!
On arrival in Lusaka, Rick joined SolarAid Country Manager, Trevor Robson, for a press conference to discuss his journey and promote renewable energy to the Zambian media. So far SolarAid has installed 46 systems in Zambia; Rick explained that his ambition is to raise funds for at least another 20 additional school installations.
Rick talking about the importance of renewable energy at a press conference in Lusaka.
After a well deserved rest on Sunday, Rick joined SolarAid for a monitoring and evaluation trip to Chifwema Open Community School. Rick took the opportunity to get to know the students and teachers, and to hear how SolarAid's macrosolar system has benefitted the Chifwema community. These routine trips are to ensure the longevity and sustainability of our programmes.
Rick now has another 4000km before he culminates his journey in Nairobi, mid-December. If you would like to support Rick please make a donation here.
Rick with students from Chifwema Open Community School.
You can follow Rick's adventure on his website, Facebook or on Twitter.
Rick leads a group of cycling enthusiasts into Lusaka.
Rick has been on an epic journey, cycling 3000 kilometres through Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. On route to Lusaka, Rick was joined by 30 local cycling enthusiasts at 6:30am on a Saturday, all up early to celebrate his achievements.
The cyclists gather around Rick to show their support.
As Rick and his supporters approached Lusaka, we used our SolarAid vehicle to ensure the riders' safety on the busy Kafue-Lusaka road. We all received lots of car horns, claps and cheers - we even had a few pedestrian cyclists join in the ride!
On arrival in Lusaka, Rick joined SolarAid Country Manager, Trevor Robson, for a press conference to discuss his journey and promote renewable energy to the Zambian media. So far SolarAid has installed 46 systems in Zambia; Rick explained that his ambition is to raise funds for at least another 20 additional school installations.
Rick talking about the importance of renewable energy at a press conference in Lusaka.
After a well deserved rest on Sunday, Rick joined SolarAid for a monitoring and evaluation trip to Chifwema Open Community School. Rick took the opportunity to get to know the students and teachers, and to hear how SolarAid's macrosolar system has benefitted the Chifwema community. These routine trips are to ensure the longevity and sustainability of our programmes.
Rick now has another 4000km before he culminates his journey in Nairobi, mid-December. If you would like to support Rick please make a donation here.
Rick with students from Chifwema Open Community School.
You can follow Rick's adventure on his website, Facebook or on Twitter.
Four new staff members have joined the Zambian team in the past few months as we scale up operations.
Regina Pelembe joined the team four months ago as the project bookkeeper. Regina has an impressive background, having previously worked for international professional services organisation Deloitte. To support the team in day-to-day operations Karla Kanyanga was hired as Administrative Officer. Karla, a trained nurse who has lived in Zambia for three and a half years, plays a key role in gathering data for our monitoring and evaluations department. Steve Woodward and Ellie Higham, volunteers from the South American pilot project, arrived in Zambia at the start of September to assist the team. Steve will act as the macrosolar coordinator and Ellie will take the role of microsolar coordinator.
Zambia team from left: Robin, Trevor, William, Karla, Regina, Steve and Ellie.
The new recruits join Country Business Manager Trevor Robson and installation team members William Kaitente and Robin Z. Mwanza. All the staff are excited about SolarAid's work and are busy planning and implementing strategies for both macrosolar and microsolar initiatives.
Over the next few months the team plans to install 55 more solar systems in rural Zambian communities. The past year and a half has seen the installation of solar systems on 45 schools and one clinic, helping thousands of students and community members to access clean, affordable and safe energy. For the next phase of installs the team are working with district educational departments to find the poorest rural schools to benefit from our work. Furthermore there are plans to install systems in 20 clinics to improve vaccine storage facilities and develop better working conditions.
We are also expanding our microsolar programme, assisting franchisees build businesses and working with them towards sustainability. The team hopes to recruit, train and work with more entrepreneurs over the coming months. Some of our existing franchisees will soon be opening solar kiosks in Lusaka and Choma (Eastern Province). Boyd Situmbeko, who often works as part of the installation team, has recently opened his own kiosk in Sesheke (Western Province).
More news soon!
Mr Zulu, outside his soon to be opened kiosk in Lusaka.
Regina Pelembe joined the team four months ago as the project bookkeeper. Regina has an impressive background, having previously worked for international professional services organisation Deloitte. To support the team in day-to-day operations Karla Kanyanga was hired as Administrative Officer. Karla, a trained nurse who has lived in Zambia for three and a half years, plays a key role in gathering data for our monitoring and evaluations department. Steve Woodward and Ellie Higham, volunteers from the South American pilot project, arrived in Zambia at the start of September to assist the team. Steve will act as the macrosolar coordinator and Ellie will take the role of microsolar coordinator.
Zambia team from left: Robin, Trevor, William, Karla, Regina, Steve and Ellie.
The new recruits join Country Business Manager Trevor Robson and installation team members William Kaitente and Robin Z. Mwanza. All the staff are excited about SolarAid's work and are busy planning and implementing strategies for both macrosolar and microsolar initiatives.
Over the next few months the team plans to install 55 more solar systems in rural Zambian communities. The past year and a half has seen the installation of solar systems on 45 schools and one clinic, helping thousands of students and community members to access clean, affordable and safe energy. For the next phase of installs the team are working with district educational departments to find the poorest rural schools to benefit from our work. Furthermore there are plans to install systems in 20 clinics to improve vaccine storage facilities and develop better working conditions.
We are also expanding our microsolar programme, assisting franchisees build businesses and working with them towards sustainability. The team hopes to recruit, train and work with more entrepreneurs over the coming months. Some of our existing franchisees will soon be opening solar kiosks in Lusaka and Choma (Eastern Province). Boyd Situmbeko, who often works as part of the installation team, has recently opened his own kiosk in Sesheke (Western Province).
More news soon!
Mr Zulu, outside his soon to be opened kiosk in Lusaka.
As SolarAid's Design and Production Coordinator I have been visiting all four of our programme countries to carry out research on two brand new microsolar prototypes.
Whilst in Zambia, I was delayed on leaving for Lundazi because of car trouble. This meant I was able to get to know the Zambian team a bit better which was great. I was also able to admire the painted wall outside the office, which did a great job to advertise the benefits of solar and of course, SunnyMoney! It definitely works as there was a good stream of people enquiring in the office.
SunnyMoney advertisement painted on the wall outside the office.
In Lundazi I visited new schools to talk to them about our macrosolar programme and to advertise our SunnyMoney products. We arrived at one school as it was getting dark, it was poignant that the teachers had started taking tables outside to make the most of the failing light. I asked them to stop and explained that we had enough solar power to light the room. Once inside we turned on both of our prototypes to full power and hung them in the room, it was fantastic!
After Country Business Manager,Trevor Robson had finished talking about the macrosolar programme (the larger solar panels which are installed to offer solar energy to power an entire school) I asked those in attendance to look above them at the two designs hanging from the rafters. I explained what I was doing out in Zambia and asked them to consider each design carefully. As I said what each design could do the room became very excited. We took the prototypes down and passed them around the room. When asked which one they would prefer if they could only have one it was a 50/50 split! Great to see that both ideas are appealing to people.
The Zambian team. From Left to right: Robin, Klara, Trevor, Regina and William.
Look out for more blogs to come on all our programme blogs.
Marianne
To support our team in Zambia please make a donation here.
Whilst in Zambia, I was delayed on leaving for Lundazi because of car trouble. This meant I was able to get to know the Zambian team a bit better which was great. I was also able to admire the painted wall outside the office, which did a great job to advertise the benefits of solar and of course, SunnyMoney! It definitely works as there was a good stream of people enquiring in the office.
SunnyMoney advertisement painted on the wall outside the office.
In Lundazi I visited new schools to talk to them about our macrosolar programme and to advertise our SunnyMoney products. We arrived at one school as it was getting dark, it was poignant that the teachers had started taking tables outside to make the most of the failing light. I asked them to stop and explained that we had enough solar power to light the room. Once inside we turned on both of our prototypes to full power and hung them in the room, it was fantastic!
After Country Business Manager,Trevor Robson had finished talking about the macrosolar programme (the larger solar panels which are installed to offer solar energy to power an entire school) I asked those in attendance to look above them at the two designs hanging from the rafters. I explained what I was doing out in Zambia and asked them to consider each design carefully. As I said what each design could do the room became very excited. We took the prototypes down and passed them around the room. When asked which one they would prefer if they could only have one it was a 50/50 split! Great to see that both ideas are appealing to people.
The Zambian team. From Left to right: Robin, Klara, Trevor, Regina and William.
Look out for more blogs to come on all our programme blogs.
Marianne
To support our team in Zambia please make a donation here.
I am delighted to announce that we have met our target of 31 macrosolar installations by May 31. Since the Zambian programme began in July 2008 we have been aware that only 2% of rural people have access to the electricity grid. So with every solar installation we provide to schools, health and community centres it makes us very proud to create power where otherwise there would be none.
Success stories in the field are encouraging as are those within our team. Macrosolar Team Leader William, for example, started out as a local handyman. Married with two children, William's obvious talent and hard-working ethos granted us the opportunity to employ him as designer of the Zam Lamp microsolar product in 2009. There are now 200 of these household lights in use across rural Zambia even though newer devices such as the Ravi are now in place.
William's entrepreneurial attitude has helped increase his skill base and he now has a thorough understanding of much larger macrosolar systems. His fast progression means that he now leads our macrosolar team. However William still finds the time to respond to microsolar queries when given the opportunity. Indeed William's quickly acquired working knowledge and experience in both macro and micro solar operations has been vital to our success in meeting targets and bringing light to those who need it most
More news and developments soon.
Trevor
Success stories in the field are encouraging as are those within our team. Macrosolar Team Leader William, for example, started out as a local handyman. Married with two children, William's obvious talent and hard-working ethos granted us the opportunity to employ him as designer of the Zam Lamp microsolar product in 2009. There are now 200 of these household lights in use across rural Zambia even though newer devices such as the Ravi are now in place.
William's entrepreneurial attitude has helped increase his skill base and he now has a thorough understanding of much larger macrosolar systems. His fast progression means that he now leads our macrosolar team. However William still finds the time to respond to microsolar queries when given the opportunity. Indeed William's quickly acquired working knowledge and experience in both macro and micro solar operations has been vital to our success in meeting targets and bringing light to those who need it most
More news and developments soon.
Trevor
The message coming from Simungoma School was clear - "we want light for the future." And we are certainly here to realise that need. Once complete, the installation in Western Zambia will not only benefit the school but also the local community who will have access to a mobile phone charging station. Tomorrow though we'll hit the road again, but as I look to the sky the weather is looking decidedly stubborn.
Councillor and Deputy Head Mrs Florence Sililo Makando of Simungoma School (right) with SolarAid volunteer William Kaitante.
Heading out tomorrow will be tricky, the rains have not yet abated, the thunderstorms are still coming through and the streams and lowlands are flooded. The tracks we'll take en-route to the school site pass the beautiful Mopane Cathedral, before entering fairly treacherous flat and grasslands. We have managed so far though, even with the wheels of the Landrover often submerged in water. Some flatlands however will remain impassable until the water has dried up, even with the Landrover's traction control.
We have sand ladders and ropes at the ready and will manage the few troublesome spots, even if that means some digging and pushing along the way!
Last night we'd just got into our tents when the huge storm that had been threatening us all day finally started with avengeance.
More soon
Trevor
Councillor and Deputy Head Mrs Florence Sililo Makando of Simungoma School (right) with SolarAid volunteer William Kaitante.
Heading out tomorrow will be tricky, the rains have not yet abated, the thunderstorms are still coming through and the streams and lowlands are flooded. The tracks we'll take en-route to the school site pass the beautiful Mopane Cathedral, before entering fairly treacherous flat and grasslands. We have managed so far though, even with the wheels of the Landrover often submerged in water. Some flatlands however will remain impassable until the water has dried up, even with the Landrover's traction control.
We have sand ladders and ropes at the ready and will manage the few troublesome spots, even if that means some digging and pushing along the way!
Last night we'd just got into our tents when the huge storm that had been threatening us all day finally started with avengeance.
More soon
Trevor
The extended rainy season finally appears to be relenting. This is great news for us since many rural roads have been impassable lately. The clinics and schools we evaluate and install with solar power are in the shadow of development and extremely hard to reach at the best of times. Now that the rain has stopped, however, we can hit the road again en-route to Sesheke district 800 kilometres away. Outside I can hear my SolarAid colleagues using the break in the weather to load the jeep in preparation for the first of four school installations this week! Some of these schools can be as far as 30km off the tar road, so we're expecting a bumpy time of it.
The SolarAid team en-route to Sesheke district with five macrosolar panels.
Later this week we will be visiting three schools on the west bank of the Zambezi River, including Lusus, an area famous in the region for the death of a British missionary in 1883. The missionary capsized his dugout canoe while visiting the local leader to request permission for activity. This story is still told 127 years on, and amazingly, in that time the region has hardly changed in terms of development. I am looking forward to a successful installation and to discover more about this famous missionary!
More soon,
Trevor
The SolarAid team en-route to Sesheke district with five macrosolar panels.
Later this week we will be visiting three schools on the west bank of the Zambezi River, including Lusus, an area famous in the region for the death of a British missionary in 1883. The missionary capsized his dugout canoe while visiting the local leader to request permission for activity. This story is still told 127 years on, and amazingly, in that time the region has hardly changed in terms of development. I am looking forward to a successful installation and to discover more about this famous missionary!
More soon,
Trevor
I've been very busy since Christmas evaluating and targeting 17 schools for macrosolar installation. Our macrosolar systems use clean and renewable energy to light schools and allow students to work into the evening in an improved learning environment.
With just two weeks spent in the office since mid-December I have been adapting to life on the road, and with 74 dialects to decipher, this vast country keeps me on my toes. Indeed, as I travel from one location to the next each day offers fresh challenges from basic communication to the installation itself.
I am currently working with colleagues at Imusho School in Sesheke district. With a population of over 200 pupils and set in the heart of Sioma National Park, the lack of farmland and industry means that resources are few and far between. In fact, Imusho is one of the most rural schools I have worked with. A full two days travel from the nearest town Sesheke; this is where they must travel to collect resources such as kerosene for conventional lighting. Solar power will enhance the classroom environment and minimise the need to make this journey.
To put it in perspective, the 40km trip to Sesheke means an Ox cart ride to the Namibian border, hitching a lift to Katima Mulilo and a six to eight hour trip back into Zambia via the Zambezi River. Only then do you reach Sesheke town. The fact that it is the rainy season makes this journey all the more treacherous and exhausting.
We are all hoping to have a macrosolar installation operating in Inusho School very soon. In fact the next few months are going to be even busier, with 30 installations predicted by the end of May. 21 of these in Sesheke district alone.
More news when I have Internet access!
Please support our Zambian project and make a donation here.
With just two weeks spent in the office since mid-December I have been adapting to life on the road, and with 74 dialects to decipher, this vast country keeps me on my toes. Indeed, as I travel from one location to the next each day offers fresh challenges from basic communication to the installation itself.
I am currently working with colleagues at Imusho School in Sesheke district. With a population of over 200 pupils and set in the heart of Sioma National Park, the lack of farmland and industry means that resources are few and far between. In fact, Imusho is one of the most rural schools I have worked with. A full two days travel from the nearest town Sesheke; this is where they must travel to collect resources such as kerosene for conventional lighting. Solar power will enhance the classroom environment and minimise the need to make this journey.
To put it in perspective, the 40km trip to Sesheke means an Ox cart ride to the Namibian border, hitching a lift to Katima Mulilo and a six to eight hour trip back into Zambia via the Zambezi River. Only then do you reach Sesheke town. The fact that it is the rainy season makes this journey all the more treacherous and exhausting.
We are all hoping to have a macrosolar installation operating in Inusho School very soon. In fact the next few months are going to be even busier, with 30 installations predicted by the end of May. 21 of these in Sesheke district alone.
More news when I have Internet access!
Please support our Zambian project and make a donation here.
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