So, survived Mulanje if anyone was wondering. Its a really, really, REALLY tall mountain! The most physically challenging thing I've EVER done. Decided that its ok to be the last person as long as you make it up! Anyways... its absolutely beautiful. The way we went up is this really cool forest. Its on the rainer side of the mountain, so super green and very picteresque. There were some areas at the beginning of the trail where encroachers had cleared land to farm... lots of PINEAPPLES! which grow from a bush! It sucks, but with the huge increase in population over the last few decades, plus the tea companies buying more community land, space for farming is limited... One of those situations where its hard to be mad at people for encroaching on forest reserve land when its how they can grow food and get money for thier families... Anyways... top of the plateau was completely different. Lots of super grassy open areas and a few smaller forested places. And the infamous MULANGE CEDAR! Its beautiful in a really wierd way. They are very unique looking trees. And the wood smells great.
The past couple of weeks have been super busy with actual work. I'm "financing" mushroom farming for my women's mushroom group. They have only been able to get one batch of spawn to produce mushrooms under the previous volunteer, Jenni. But, everyone assures me they have the technique down and if it does work, the condition is that they pay me back (if they make a profit), and they have to put aside the same amount of money for the next batch. Theoretically, they should be able to do both and make a few thousand kwatcha. If not, I'm only out ~$30.
I've also been scrambling to get supplies together for a few tree nurseries in my area. Two village Natural Resource Management Commmittees (VNRMC) have started construction. And, last but not least... the Phwera peanut butter group has made a shit ton of peanut butter!!!! They are such a fun group. The chairwoman is AWESOME and kind of intimidates me. I don't think she likes me much at times... or she's just annoyed that I don't speak Chichewa well yet. Dunno... either way, she is really cool and also is on the VNRMC for the my village and under my TA. So, she rocks.
Off to Mzuzu and then the lake. Mel, a PCV, has a tradefair going on Saturday... so I'm selling the PB. A lot of it. When i told Phwera I'd sell it for them, they were excited and said they'd make a ton. Did not anticipate how much that would be. They sent me with 69 bottles (typical batch is 18). And my box is falling apart. Literally being held together with duct tape. But I've sold a bunch already (which is good b/c the box is also slowly getting lighter)! Maybe I should have gone into business! :) And for the record. Jelly is actually pretty expensive here. So just peanut butter sandwiches. :)
