Kwetu Training Center

In the morning I woke up to go to Kwetu Training Center for Sustainable Developement (kwetu@sollatek.co.ke, pda@africaonline.co.ke). The bus wasn't too long from Kilifi to Mtwapa, but Kwetu was at least 5 km off the main road. The wierd thing is that you go inland, but end up at the ocean. Kwetu is actually on a large mangrove-lined creek that sucks in ocean water with the tides.

Fish Farming

I arrived and met Constance, the project manager. She was finishing a meeting, and I went with one of the workers for a tour. Kwetu has been established for ten years, training people to make a living from local abundance and showing off various technologies. They have many solar panels for electricity and solar driers for all the many fruits and herbs that grow around here. There's plenty of sun. I was anxious to see the aquaculture.

In the Mangroves 1

In addition to making a host of natural food and medicine products, Kwetu trains locals to farm crabs, prawns and fish in symbiosis with the mangrove forests, which provide many useful woods and medicines. They have constructed two large damns that fill up in high tide. They also have a network of boardwalks in the mangrove trees where they cage-farm giant crabs. I couldn't believe how big these crabs were. When I returned to the cages to take a photo the tide had come in and was even covering the boardwalk. But you could still walk on it. It was a trip to hang out in the trees above (wading in) the water. I don't think the photos can do it justice.

In the Mangroves 2

I went for a swim (its close to 100 F daily) and lost my Chinese-Namibian sandals to the tide. I'd buy some rubber ones for 85 cents. We had chapati and beans for lunch, with green coconut milk.

I explained permaculture to Constance and her assistant. She decided that we could run a full design course if she had a month to prepare. We agreed to do it at the end of May, after I return from Ethiopia and before flying back to Atlanta. We'll have just five days, but I think it will be good.

I also met an Amerikan student named Maggie Quinn studying abroad and interning at Kwetu. She invited me to stay with her host family in Mtwapa. It sounded better than staying alone out at Kwetu. Her host family was a mama and her four daughters. Mama cooked up a storm with coconut rice and fish. I had a king size bed to myself again.

Into the Mangroves

Little Mud Crabs

Reflection

Sleepy Sistren

Solar Electric

Solar Food Driers

Species Labels