Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Diamonds in the Rockpile - Class of 2009: Esther Garvi (aka Ishtar News)


Another lovely Swedish blogger (I swear I'm not collecting them!) Esther is actually an expatriate Swede working for a unique organization on a highly acclaimed and unique project. She works for Eden Foundation in Niger, one of the poorest and least arable countries on the African continent. (The highly oversimplified version of) Eden's mission is to make the local populations self supporting by teaching them to grow enough food to feed themselves (among other things) with enough surplus to store or trade and grow the local economy. Most efforts like this one start with the crops necessary for subsistence farming and then try to figure out how to make them grow in the local environment. This one-size-fits-all approach rarely works in harsher climates like Niger's, and this is where Eden differs from other programs. Eden's model begins with the environment and then figures out what will actually grow there.

But you knew there had to be pictures, right? Yes, there are wondrous pictures, most provided by Esther's friend and colleague Annette. If you have any doubt about the beauty of he desert, you need to stop by Esther's on Sky Watch Fridays.

One look at the West African sunset from atop a leather tough Barb horse, and you'll be a convert. Want to learn how to cook with a solar oven? Make your own goat cheese? These are just a few of the things you can find out about here. Every week Esther takes us into the Zinder bush, or around the Eden compound introducing us to the locals, as well as her four-legged friends, the Nigerian goats, the Barb horses and of course, Sheba the Rhodesian Ridgeback that provides herding services and security for the compound, and no end of amusement for us. Go. Visit. Learn.
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10 comments:

Daryl said...

Congrats .. another super blog find!

Pat said...

I agree...Esther's blog is wonderful. I've been a fan for almost two years. What great work en Foundation does

snowelf said...

Hand up's are always a thousand percent more helpful than hand outs.

I love this project. Kinda like Heifer, but with crops and not animals. :)

--snow

Amanda Moore said...

I'll go check it out!

Anonymous said...

Don't you just love Esther! Found her several months ago on WW. You're great for sharing!

SandyCarlson said...

I see we have the same taste in blogs, generally. Very cool.

Cloudia said...

Love Mumbai Eye - now I'm off to see your new find, Mojo




Aloha, Friend!


Comfort Spiral

magiceye said...

always a pleasure to visit her blog!

Maude Lynn said...

What a cool blog!

Esther Garvi said...

Aw, thanks Mojo!