Harvest

 We had a reasonably good rice harvest this year, but unfortunately no profit was gained.  After working the field this past year we saw a number of problems that will need to be slowly worked on over the next few years.  The ground is uneven and needs to be leveled out and cleared in several areas.  We started this task this year to obtain better boundaries with one side of the field, and will try to do a bit more each year.  As we are able to clear and level off more area, our crop production will improve.  Below are two photos from the rice field.

Beautiful grains of rice

The rice field

We have had a good fruit harvest this year.  Sophan has been working with the land behind the ministry center to improve the soil and improve the condition of the fruit trees.  It yielded an increased fruit crop this year for "lemut" or sappadillo trees.  

Sopheap washing and sorting sappadillos

We have had an increasing problem with snails at the ministry center making it difficult to plant any vegetables.  We have tried a number of different natural methods to try to get rid of them, but they have taken over!!  Sophan decided to see if he could grow vegetables using a simple hydroponic method he had seen used.  

Various vegetables newly planted and suspended from bamboo poles.

Sophan also recycled some broken water filters and is using them to try growing vegetables in pots.

Farming isn't easy, so we are constantly seeking new ways to improve production.  Poor soil, huge problems with pests, masses of weeds that are difficult to get under control....are all challenges Sophan and our farmer, Ra, continually work with.