VILLAGE CO-OP ORCHARD STAKING

An easy concept but difficult procedure is to stake out an orchard with a planting distance of 8m, in straight rows. If successful in establishing right angles, then one can efficiently place 169 trees in a one hectare square (13 trees by 13 trees). Random planting is OK to use if land is not a limiting factor, but if one wants to get the maximum production out a plot of land, one must use the 3-4-5 triangle to get your first right angle, then proceed to measure out your 8m distances in every direction. CEFA staff assists the newly created co-op at Ndumba in establishing its first one hectare orchard that will be planted in oil palm, cola nuts, and various other fruit trees once the rains start (within a month's time). Having been taught how to do this method of spacing, this co-op can extend its orchard in any direction and add more trees to its orchard at any time. This demonstration empowered this co-op to seek long-term solutions to its quest for reaching self-sufficiency in food production plus taking into consideration crops that will generate income. 

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Roy & Aleta Danforth
 Covenant missionaries to the Central African Republic 
 cell phones: cell phones: Aleta 011 237 67529 5071 or 011 236 7744 8621

 Roy 011 236 7754 9176011 or 011 237 66171 7808
 email: roy-aleta.danforth@covchurch.org
 for us personally:   http://blogs.covchurch.org/danforth/
for the ag project, CEFA:  http://car-cefa.blogspot.com

Vanilla vine in bloom!

We are excited, finally a bloom on a vanilla vine! Vanilla is actually
an orchid, as you can see from the blossom. Now we wait for the vanilla
pod, which looks like a dark brown skinny dried up green bean when it's
ready for harvest. We have a few pods that we purchased, soaking in a
bottle of alcohol in our pantry, which after a couple of months should
result in wonderful full strength pure vanilla extract. After just one
month it already has lost the smell of the original vodka and the
vanilla has taken over.


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Palm Oil Produces Profits

The most common cooking oil used in CEFA's part of Central Africa is
palm oil, a native of the area and it is in very high demand. CEFA has
connected with ag research stations that have selected very high
yielding varieties and planted 20 hectares (45 acres) on CEFA property.
The trees are starting to come into production and the traditional way
of extracting the oil is squeezing by hand. But in neighboring Cameroon,
they have come up with body powered presses that CEFA is using that can
produce 100 litres (or quarts) in a week's time. But even that press is
not keeping up with the harvest, so CEFA is researching a new model that
is driven by electricity. Thanks to a timely donation from the
Evangelical Covenant Church in Davis, California, CEFA will be able to
establish an agricultural products processing center. Construction of
the building will start soon. CEFA is truly blessed so that it can be a
blessing to others! More on this project later.

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Dry Season Hits Hard Again!

We, the Danforths, had an amazing time in South Africa the last 3 months, especially in establishing a new ministry there in teaching about agroforestry and setting up a nursery of various different fruit trees. On our return to the Central African Republic and engaging in CEFA once again for the next 9 months, we immediately saw that the land has dried up severely, much like last year. Watering crews are very busy transporting water and hitting all of the young trees, especially the ones planted last year. It does not help to have 2 of the 3 trucks in the shop, but CEFA is doing its best to keep trees alive!