The Rains Are Here!

Written Tuesday, October 31st

For several weeks now we have been hearing repeatedly, “The rains are coming” and today they came in full force! It was a beautiful thing. It’s my understanding that for the past two years there has been a drought, so there was some concern that this year would be drought also. When those first big rain drops came belting down there was indeed much rejoicing, especially in the farm department. Right now there are fields and fields planted with French bean seeds, but the only way they can grow is if they receive rain. The MCF irrigation system isn’t equipped to be able to provide the quantity of water needed for that many hectares.

Not only MCF needed the water. All of the farmers in this area has been waiting for the raining season so that they can at last have a good harvest. You see, in Kenya it scarcely rains but for two short seasons out of the year. The rest of the time the only way crops will grow is if they are irrigated and the only way you can irrigate is if you have continued access to a large body of water, such as a lake or river. MCF is very blessed because the property here has a good river flowing through it. Water for the irrigation system is taken from the river and also from reserves that hold runoff water.

Now the little French beans that we’ve worked so hard to plant will be able to grow. In early December we will begin the massive harvest that continues into the New Year. The increased bean production is just in time for the increased holiday demand in Europe for the product. So look forward to bean mania coming this December!