Timothy's photos Aug. 17th

Photos from the week 8/17/2014

Posted: 17 Aug 2014 07:35 AM PDT
    Last week was the first time Roy and I have been able to get out and go do a seminar with some of our cooperatives. We went east last and this week we went south. 8 of our cooperatives meet up at a town called Dede for a seminar on fruit trees. Despite getting stuck in the mud, and it raining a bunch during the day, we had a great turn out (about 85) and a fun time.


The truck got stuck in the mud coming off the ferry. After about an hour we were able to free it.


A group shot after the practical part of the seminar where we planted fruit trees.

     This week we had lightning strike our generator house at Somongue. Thankfully the generator seems to be ok, so work can continue at the garage. The bad news is that despite grounding rods and breakers, it blew up our electrical and water systems including; large inverter, battery bank, and water pump. Roy and I spent a day rewiring our houses with a whole new 12 volt system that is specific to each house. At this point neither the farm nor our two houses have water. This is the latest in a series of electrical setbacks/frustrations we have had during the last year. 


One of the 6 exploded batteries.


The same storm that brought the lighting that hit the farm also brought hail. A rare sight in these parts.

Timothy's photos Aug. 10th

Photos from the week 8/10/2014

Posted: 10 Aug 2014 12:56 AM PDT

One of my does gave birth to 9 babies! Today almost all of them have opened their eyes.

Another army ant nest went up in flames this week. There are still scouting parties that are paying visits to Danforths and me, so there might still be another nest somewhere.


Before the flames discovered a chamber full of gas within the ant nest.


One of the explosions when the fire made it to a chamber.

Timothy's photos Aug. 4th

Photos from the week 8/3/2014

Posted: 02 Aug 2014 12:04 PM PDT

This week Roy and I had our first opportunity to go do a seminar at a village. Three cooperatives came together to learn about fruit trees.


After theory, we went out in the field and planted 19 different kinds of fruit trees in one of the cooperatives fields. 

      I found the army ant nest that has been sending waves of soldiers to invade Danforths� and my house. Roy and I dug into the nest, poured gasoline into a few of the tunnels and lit them on fire. The gas must have gotten all the way into the main chamber, because there were a few nice explosions. I went back later in the day and dug into the center of their mound, and found a huge hole about a meter deep and wide. 


Roy pouring gas down one of the army ant holes.


Four fires going, one at each major entrance. From time to time there would be an explosion and a big puff of fire would fly out of one or more of these holes. I was unable to get a photo of that though.



It looks like it is that time of year again. Mangosteens and Rambutans.