Good Fences Make for Good Neighbors

Gary splitting bamboo for fencing.

free-range chickens

The variety of greens and vegetables are so few in the village life of rural Tanzania, we’ve opted to “attempt” gardening in this harsh environment. There are drawbacks to having a spoiled American pallet, I guess.

free-range chickens

Actually, by the time the garden begins to produce, we’ll be half way through our tour, but having fresh Swiss chard, carrots, summer squash, green beans and the like will hopefully be worth the effort.

neighbors goats

As most of you know, the climate here is either wet or dry and hot or hotter. As a result, you are either carrying water to your garden or digging ditches to carry the flood waters away from your garden. The saying, “Timing is everything” is certainly true in the planting of our garden.

free-range cattle

Too early in the rainy season and the hard rains will wash the seeds right out of the soil. Too late and the dry season will make it almost impossible to keep enough water on the plants for them to develop fruit. The trick is to get them established in stages to both survive and benefit from the rains.

flowers before goats

Sad experiences have taught us that gardens in the midst of free-ranging chickens and goats don’t mix. So, for the fourth year now, we’ll try to build fences that are high and close-knit to keep the chickens out and strong enough to keep the goats and strong winds from breaking them down.

flower before goats

With termites active from underground, there is the added challenge of finding materials they don’t eat or treating the posts with chemicals. Although we’ve always gone the organic route in the past, we’re trying the alternative this year.

Last year was such a blessing in not having goats on the campus.

flower before goats

Sadly, a couple of the teachers have chosen to raise goats as a means of accumulating additional funds for college. You can’t blame them, but the result is the devastation of the environment.

flower bed after goats

(See the before and after pictures of our front flower beds.)

We’ve found decorative plants that chickens and goats don’t eat.

goat proof planting

As volunteer teachers, we can only make suggestions. For an economically struggling, national teacher, the cost of fencing the animals is prohibitive, as is the hiring of a child to herd them.

fencing bamboo cut to length

So, we build fences. The purchase of bamboo is minimal and benefits the students who cut them for us.

fence under construction

Hopefully, the protected garden will provide an abundance of vegetables that we will be able to share with our neighbors.

finished fence

Not only do fences keep peace, but shared food promotes good will in the cause of Christ.

In His love and contentment,

Gary and Joanne Grenell