Bomalang'ombe Secondary School-Trinity, Stillwater

2009 CVP
2nd visit, September 30, 2009

Place
Bomalang’ombe Secondary School
Supervisors
Headmaster, Self reliance teacher and other 3 teachers
Companion
Trinity Lutheran, Stillwater, MN
Attendees
About 300 students

The meeting started with an introduction followed by the discussion about the performance of the last year plots in the headmaster’s office. Their partner congregation provided them with fertilizers and seed. They had 1.5 acres of corn and they end up getting 8 bags. The school was not timely in taking care of the plots because the school schedule conflicted with the need for work in the field. This year the ag teacher is working to have the group of students taking care of the plot instead of depending on all the students for labor. Question; will they have a 1.5 acre plot like last year? (Support?)
The meeting with the whole gathering of students was conducted in the classroom

Review
The handouts were reviewed
· DIRA – Institute of agriculture agreement
· CVP Plot record of events
· CVP plot management FAQs.
Demonstration
It was demonstrated how to measure an acre using actual length measurements (63.5m by 63.5m) instead of using pacing (70 by 70). The Rain gauge and a recording sheet were given to the ag teacher, It was explained the advantages of having rain records, where to place the rain gauge and how and when to read it (after every 24hours). Students had many questions; time was not enough to get all of them! They wanted to know if they are not going to burn the crop residues how are they going to control the pests. Why is not advised to use more than once some kind of improved seeds, where the results of the soil analysis from their soil we took and what will be the use of that. After answering their questions, the headmaster stood up asked them to save their next questions for the next visit. Since the school had a demonstration plot last year, there was no need of measuring the new one.