The farm becoming sustainable

Dave's update:

"I have just returned from Malawi.  Trip went well – farm is totally ready for the rains.  The guys have worked really hard again to be ready.

Maize mill is running and making some money – should pick up nicely after the next harvest.
Mushroom house is working well and sales are taking place almost daily.
Honey – we are down to 12 hives but do hope to harvest honey early in the new year.
Pigs – 35 died.  Foster suspects sabotage :(  We brought in our last 5 pigs now to try again.

I have sent you some pics of the latest.  We are fairly close to being sustainable now, in terms of our security and staff costs, and basic maintenance and electricity etc."

The pictures from the top: Black mamba on the farm; the maize mill in operation; planting maize 

Hill Top Farm's first crops

The farm has had some good rains and the crops are growing !!!


Beans ...

Soya ...

This is wonderful news and we're hopeful for a great harvest in a few weeks.

Malawi Farm

Finally managed to reach Foster at the farm yesterday - they have been experiencing very heavy rains and his phone fell into a pool of water in the fields (eish) - so he has not been able to chat for a few days :)

All the crops i.e. maize, beans, ground nuts, Soya have been planted and are doing well. Weeds are growing even faster than the crops and this is the major challenge at present - to be expected as this season we have turned bush / grass into farmland. Our township folk are struggling to contain the weeds as they cannot afford to hire extra labour. The "farm" 10 acres are more or less under control from weeds.

We have purchased a trailer to go with our small tractor. This will be delivered soon from a small-holder estate near Mulanje.

We are looking to get a backup generator and solar geyser soonest.

Looks like I will be in Malawi 21 March - 4 April.

Thanks for your interest, prayers and support

Chat soon

Dave