To end this week (the first of April) Palesa and I had a potato storage demonstration in one of KMA's villages. This is a pretty neat and inexpensive method of storing produce people have before winter. Though it didn't seem like the farmers were too keen—I think their minds were elsewhere—but the staff and others have expressed interest. We are going to do some tests this winter to see how the potatoes store and for how long they seem to last. With success I hope farmers can use this method to store their own potato seed for the next year which will give them a huge advantage.
The technology is pretty low-tech. It uses basic concepts regarding air circulation, insulation, moisture, and base temperature levels. Because it is so simple, hopefully locals will use the idea to store not just potatoes but cabbage, carrots, beets, and other hearty late fall produce. If they do it right then by September—the end of Lesotho's winter—people will still have food when most are hungry and can't grow anything.
In honor of a good and busy week I am taking it easy Saturday. I'm going to hang out, workout, drink some coffee and read some. Sunday I hope to increase my run by heading out to Ha Phallang which will be a 13 mile run.
I hope everybody is doing alright back home. I would love to hear from you guys. What's new with everyone?