Day on the Farm

Stephen took us to one of his many farms to work. This particular farm was corn. He was called to a two day meeting for various officials in the Atiwa District and was unable to get out there as he wanted and he needed to harvest the corn. We wanted to help him out so we all went. I have not bought my own machete yet so I borrowed an old one from Stephen. We would strip the corn off the stalk and then chop it down. As we progressed along we would throw the corn into piles which workers would later come to collect. The workers are all students of ours. Stephen pays his male workers (the ones doing the chopping and stripping) 10 Ghana Cedis’s a day (about $5) and the women 5 Ghana Cedi’s a day (about $2.50-$3). It is hard for me to even fathom working for so little. Definitely gives a better perspective of minimum wage, that is for sure.

 

 

This is the shop Nate got his machete’s and where I will be getting mine.

 

This is what it looks like on the way to the farm. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!

 

That small bush/tree Chloee is pointing at is a marker plant. That marks the line between Stephen’s farm and the next guys farm. There are no fences anywhere and everything just runs together.

 

This was a large tree which feel and was then harvested for wood. As you can see it is wider than I am tall.

 

 

Arrival at the farm.

 

Maddie and Nick hard at work. (Nick was out here last summer with the interns and flew out for a few more weeks with us to start up some snail farms)

 

There is something therapeutic about chopping down corn stalks with a machete.

 

 

 

Chloee found the “trinity corn stalk”

 

This is Maddie tossing me an ear of corn.

 

This is Chloee and Maddie watching the corn drop quickly right below my belt almost taking me down.

 

Working hard…or hardly working?

 

This was a random little pond I ran into in the middle of all the corn.

 

Job well done!

 

 

This was a cute little special needs girl that ran up and jumped at me for a hug. She has the best smile and a warm little spirit. She followed me for quite some time holding my hand.

 

A bit messy and blistery, but had a great time. We started early and finished before it was even lunchtime.

 

 

 

  

 

I am told my hands are too soft anyway, so this is the start to true Ghanaian hands!