Biggest Surprise (Homework #7)

The biggest surprise I’ve encountered is how close I’ve gotten to all the people I’m surrounded by.  This internship to me is more than just a job I go to everyday; it’s a lifestyle that has a since of community.  Never in my life have I been surrounded by this many friends on a daily basis.  Maybe it’s because we’re all expatriates looking for acceptance, or maybe it’s some other reason.  I go to work with friends, I come home to friends.  Life is good.

            The first week of this assignment I was home doing my sisterly/daughterly duties.  The second week was a time of readjustment and playing catch up.  I went out to the land and looked at my corn plants.  All my plots had emerged.  The ones that had starter fertilizer put on them were greener and healthier looking.  Some needed weeding, so I did that by hand.  I also researched some about coffee and its growth requirements. 

            The agronomic problem for this week deals with the coffee.  There are about 500 plants needed to be put in the ground within the next week and a half.  On day one of planting a coffee farmer came out to see what we were doing and told us our coffee was going to die.  Coffee needs about one meter of good soil for the roots to grow.  About a foot and a half down there is hard clay.  He says the roots won’t be able to penetrate the clay.  They might grow good for the first year or so, but after that they will die.  However, another well trusted Honduran told us that the coffee would be fine.  The decision as of right now is to go ahead and plant all the coffee and see what happens.  It was given to us, so we are not out any money, only time, if this doesn’t work.  This is just another example of how Honduras works; poll 10 people and get 10 different answers. 

Using Coursework (Homework #6)

One way I have used information I learned from my coursework is by developing an experiment plan for the corn plots.  I molded Dr. Klatt’s wheat variety testing methods to my corn management experiments.  These methods include having only one variable per trial and having several random replications per experiment.  I have also researched and written a factsheet while I have been here.  Another main project I am involved in is propagating avocado plants, which I learned how to do in my plant propagation class last spring.

            I wish I had more practical experience before I came here and more general knowledge about specific crops such as corn.  I know a lot of concepts and scientific information about crops, but I lacked the practical information of how to plant and grow corn.

            This past week I have finally finished up the corn production factsheet I have been working on for quite some time.  I have also planted more of my corn plots.  They should all be planted before I leave for Oklahoma.  I will be home visiting for week two of this report.

            I leave for Oklahoma this week which means I leave my project.  While I am gone fertilizer will need to be applied.  This poses a problem.  I am the only one who really knows what is going on with my project.  In order to resolve this issue, I have updated my plot information and written a detailed list of what my supervisor needs to do and when he needs to do it.  I will have a meeting with him later this week to make sure he understands what I need him to do.

Co-workers! (Homework #5)

Only recently have I gotten a colleague other than my supervisor.  He is a native Honduran who was adopted by an American missionary couple when he was young.  Recently he has moved back to Honduras.  He started out just translating for us, but now he helps me on my trial plots.  Our relationship is based on mutual friendship.  He knows more about Honduran culture and even more about corn than I do.  I am constantly learning about traditional farming from him, and I try to teach him the scientific approaches I am taking to growing corn in return.  The first question he asked me was how many corn seeds I was planting together, three for four.  I replied one.

This week I started planting my corn plots!  Right now, I have 18 plots measured out but only 11 planted.  I also conducted an interview with an agronomist this weekend.  I asked him questions about local corn production.  The topics ranged from planting date, fertilizer, weeds, insects, and diseases.  Of course the answers were his opinions, but it was information I could not find on my own.  I also harvested (and ate) some corn that was planted back in May.

The only agronomic problem I can think of is the tiller we were going to use could not be fixed here in Gracias.  We had to end up buying a weed eater to get rid of the weeds and then purchase a hand planter to plant the corn.

Supervisor's Leadership Style (Homework #4)

Shannon’s leadership style is one that I work well under.  He leads more as a partner or co-worker than a supervisor or boss.  He has made it clear from the start that I am free to make mistakes and look like a fool, because that is how we learn.  He asks questions of me only for my benefit in thinking things through.  Never does he make me look or feel like I’m lacking in knowledge.  This leadership style helps me take more chances and not be afraid of failure.  I think this is also how I lead; giving encouragement to others and not making them feel inadequate, because in life no one knows everything.  We can all learn from one another.

These past two weeks have been filled with research and project finalization.  I’ve started research on a corn production factsheet specifically for this region in Honduras.  A lot of the information is general and can be used for corn production anywhere; however some is region specific.  I also finalized my project plan: plot size, specific trials, what I’m measuring, what needs to be the control, etc.

This week, I have also heard about some ‘miracle’ organic fertilizer for El Salvador.  This is not necessarily an agronomic problem, more like a question.  No one really knows what’s in it or what it comes from, but it supposedly increases yield tremendously.  I’m quite intrigued and a little leery, but the resolution is to get some of this organic fertilizer and apply it to a test plot of corn and see what happens.  The other thing is to dig deeper and find out what this really is.

Interview Process (Homework #3)

I came into contact with my supervisor after a great deal of networking.  The actual interview process took place mainly through email.  He asked questions about my background, what I wanted to learn, if I could financially support myself while here.  What I liked most about his responses was the fact he was always honest about the work he is doing.  After we had been emailing for about three months I drove down to Texas to meet him and his family.  It was there they told me more about their vision and how I would fit into what they were doing.  We spoke briefly about projects I might have while in Honduras.  In March I came to Honduras for a few days to make sure I would be okay living here for such a long time. 

The past two weeks have been a little different.  It began at the radio station where the corn is.  I helped turn over some compost piles, take a soil test for the coffee land, and measure out a menzana which is an area unit of land.  Menzana is also the Spanish word or apple, so it gets confusing sometimes.  Later I worked with a mission group from Texas who came to put cement on the outside of a mud brick church.  Being around Hondurans during a specific task (like remodeling the church) is a big help when it comes to learning Spanish.  The same words like cement, ax, shovel, and broom are used repeatedly.

This week I had to deal with more of a professional and cultural resolution of an existing problem.  For the first month I was here, my supervisor’s wife was still back in the states.  In Oklahoma this wouldn’t be much of a problem, but here it limited me on how much I could do with him.  For instance, I couldn’t always go to church if a group of girls did not come along.  I couldn’t go out in the villages if the other missionary team wasn’t with us.  I couldn’t go work on the aquaponic system at his house because no one else was there.  Now his family is back, so it opens more doors for me to do what I came here to do.

Project Plan (Homework #2)

Project

A Christian radio station near Gracias, Honduras sits on the outskirts of some 32 acres of land.  The great majority of the land is uncultivated and grown up in grass, weeds, pine trees, or a combination of all three.  However, there are some areas planted in coffee, plantain, pineapple, corn, and beans. 

Throughout my time here, I will be working directly with all those crops with emphasis on the corn and the beans.  These two crops are planted in small sections on a hill covering a little less than two acres.  This patch of land has not been cultivated for several years, and the lack of management has left the soil void of essential nutrients.

Once I receive the soil test report back from the lab, it will be my responsibility to present a plausible soil fertility recommendation to my supervisor.  The lab provides a recommendation, and I will compare my suggestions to theirs once I come up with a plan.

Another part of my project is to conduct research on the corn and beans already planted as well as a second crop.  The different trials will include fertilizing with water from an aquaponics system, amending soil with compost, and using synthetic fertilizer.  More trials may be added as resources become available.

In the end, I will compare the results of the research trials to use in further studies.  The overall goal of this project is to help integrate scientific and critical thinking skills into crop production in Honduras.  Once that begins, finding actual solutions to agronomic problems can be found and used for long term management instead of fixing problems on a short term basis.  Hopefully this will relieve some extra costs and time.

Progress

A soil sample has been collected and taken into the lab for analysis.  It should be ready to pick up, but the lab is 3 ½ hours away.  In order to save time, money, and overall safety I’ll not actually receive the results until we make a necessary trip to the airport (in the same town as the lab) at the end of July.  This is Honduran life.  I have started to research more about soil fertility and soil recommendations so I will be ready to go when I actually do get the results.

Problem

The beans started to set pods before I got them all weeded out.  I helped make the decision to leave the rest be, harvest them, and start over with a second crop.  There will be enough time after harvest to get another crop in.  The upside is the second batch will be planted after I have results and recommendations for the soil.  It will be nice to see the differences in the two crops.  Another problem is the corn field has weeds in it.  My resolution was to whack the weeds down with a machete.  I don’t yet know what kind of herbicides they have here or how reasonable they are for the average farmer to purchase. 

Experience

This Friday is a celebration called Lempira Day.  Lempira was an Indian chief back when Spain invaded Central America.  He is also the man the department/state is named after and the man the money is named after.  The festivities have only started, but the central park was filled with booths and people last time I walked by.  Apparently there will be a parade. 

Report One

Question: What are your expectations for this internship?

Expectations

Going into college as a freshman, all I knew about plant and soil sciences was that it had something to do with growing food to feed the world.  My background was in horticulture and I wanted to broaden my knowledge about field crops.  I soon realized that the majority of the students in plant and soil already had a plethora of knowledge, practical knowledge, about farming and farm management.  Even if they didn’t know a thing, they pretended they did and I bought it. 

Over the past three years I have accumulated book knowledge, but have had very few opportunities to put what I know to work.  I’m always looking for the practical reason behind the knowledge.  That seems to be the best way I learn. 

One expectation for this internship is that I will gain some of that practical knowledge I’ve been looking for in a laid back environment.  My supervisor and I have come to the understanding that he doesn’t know everything and neither do I.  We’re partners getting through this together.  I like this kind of low intensity learning situation.  I don’t feel pressured to know everything, and I’m free to make mistakes.

My second expectation is that I will make a lasting difference in the ministry I’m a part of and in the lives of the Lenca people.  I like to see results of my labors whether it’s having corn to give away at the end of the season or making deeper relationships with the farmers in the area.

Lastly, I would like to see firsthand the different stages of combining mission work with agriculture.  61 Isaiah Ministries is in the very beginning stages of putting the two together.  I’m looking forward to seeing progress in this area.

Experience

I came to Honduras on Wednesday, a week and a half ago.  Thus far, I have rode in a clunker of a vehicle for 3.5 hours, made friends with an American teacher that literally lives right next door to me, went grocery shopping, picked up a short term mission team from the airport, and had a week of vacation Bible school.  Those are only some main highlights.

Project Progress

My project is coming along.  The first few days I was here I went out to the radio station where the corn and beans are planted.  With the two crops combined, there is about 1.7 acres cultivated.  That might not seem like much, but I have to do everything by hand.  Water by hand, weed by hand, fertilize by hand. 

I did a general soil test with the soil testing kit I bought from Ace Hardware.  In the table below you can see the results.

pH	Neutral
Nitrogen	Depleted
Phosphorus	Deficient
Potassium	Deficient

I thought the pH would be more acidic, and by the look of the plants I could tell they needed nitrogen and phosphorus.  I sent off a soil sample to a lab that looks pretty reputable.  They had several USAID trucks in their parking lot and the attendant was well trained.  The results from soil analysis along with their recommendation should be back in another week.  Until then, we applied DAP.  I would have liked to spread something that had a little more nitrogen.

Agronomic Problem

The agronomic problem this week dealt with the spacing of the corn and beans.  Shannon, my supervisor, was unsure about the viability of the seed he bought.  If I were here when he was making that decision I would have preformed a seed germination test.  Needless to say he planted them way too close together.  By hand I should add.  There wasn’t much we could do except hand pull some corn out of the rows.  We did all the corn in one morning, went back the next day to do the beans.  As of right now, most of the beans are still too close together.  We were both dragging on day two.  It took me a solid week for my muscles to recuperate after weeding an acre of corn.

Picture

I took a picture of a farmer’s corn which is already in the fruiting stage with the intention to take a picture of our corn which is less than knee high and compare the two.  They were planted at the same time.  I’ll have to send the pictures at a different date because my sd card is stuck in my CD drive. I think there is so much difference in the growth stages of the corn because of the fertility of the soil.  Also, the farmer’s corn received more rain.

What to Expect

My coursework while I'm here consists of biweekly reports, pictures, observations, and research.  I won't be putting everything on this blog, but I thought it would be a good way for you to see in more detail what is happening.

I have a few assignments to post to play catch up, but after that this blog will only be updated periodically.

Plan for it to be more scientific and classwork-ish.  All my biweekly reports are answers to specific questions.  You might actually like reading as I start to think critically about certain topics.

Any research findings I post will have correct citations, so if I post anything useful to you please be respectful and give credit where credit is due.  In other words, don't plagiarize.