July 3, 2012
Greetings from Grenada!
Since our arrival, things have been
slowly but surely coming together. We took the first few days to explore a bit
of the island and become acquainted with the local philosophy and culture and
finally, we are starting to really make moves towards projects, which will help
connect CFFI’s name into local communities. Some of these projects include
working on obtaining rabies vaccines so farmers can have animals for
fertilizer, outreach projects into schools in efforts to reconnect children to
farming practices, making wheel barrows to give the locals, and researching on
fermentation and the distribution of cocoa varieties around the island.
I think while we are down here it
is most imperative to remember to create change from a bottom-up approach, as
well as, on a small spatial and temporal scale which can be scaled out with
time and new interns. The best we can do is to make connections, building trust
and confidence within the locals. I feel
the worst we can do is impose assumptions about a culture until we learn it in
and out.
Aside from these esteemed endeavors
that we have developed, time here has been great for me! Kim has been more than
welcoming and given us a great deal of insight to the local happenings. I feel
much at home, taking in the beauty this country has to offer. A side project
Kim has introduced me to for my free time is exploring my interest of floral
arrangements. I am fortunate that the man who wins the Chelsea Flower show
every year lives right here on the island. Kim has set me up with him so I can
learn some about that, which I must say I’m excited about. Other than that we
have just been soaking up the sun and enjoying ourselves. Yesterday, we went to
work on a 30-acre farm belonging to a man named Kenneth Bell. It felt good to
lend a hand.
Cheers!
Sarah
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