Zambia Bound

In less than three weeks I will begin the long journey to Zambia, where the days are warm and the evenings silky soft. How good it will be to see the Zambian friends I have come to know over the last 20 years.

During my stay I plan to:

• Create art with the Mama Bakhita children, using clay from the nearby Nansazu River and bright tempera paint.

• Walk around Zambezi Farm with the Zambezi women and Sydney Mwamba, our Zambian manager, to see the progress that has been made and share ideas for the future.

• Travel to Shesheke, a rural area 2 hours drive east of Livingstone, where a Zambian friend I met in 2005 has founded a school for local children, with support from the AACDP and a private family foundation.

• Eat the fruits of the season: guava, pineapple and masawa, which is sweet with yellow-orange flesh, and tastes like a very ripe apricot.

• Revisit the roaring water, swirling mist and rainbows of the mighty Mosi y Tunya, Smoke that Thunders, Victoria Falls.

I will keep you all abreast of the news while I'm in Zambia. Thank you for coming with me in this way.

Holiday Craft Sales

I'll be selling African crafts on my porch on Martha's Vineyard to benefit the Mama Bakhita Cheshire Home community. Carvings, basketry, fabric, jewelry, dolls, masks and more! Zambezi Dolls are also available online.

Gifts starting at $15

SUNDAY, 12/10 • 12pm - 3pm

SATURDAY, 12/16 - SUNDAY, 12/17 • 11am - 3pm

SATURDAY, 12/23 - SUNDAY, 12/24 • 11am - 3pm

Please follow the African Craft signs that begin at New Lane in West Tisbury to 20 Road to Great Neck, West Tisbury

A large selection of ZAMBEZI DOLLS are also available ONLINE

Zambezi Farm update

The fields at Zambezi Farm are producing eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, kale, okra, carrots and more. We're particularly excited by the new tomatoes. They've just begun to "blush", the beginning of ripening.

The goat herd is increasing, with 3 new babies in the last month. And the free range chicken run is currently housing 23 local hens and 3 roosters. The first eggs have been laid!

The rainy season is approaching, and with it blessings as well as some obstacles. Hopefully there will be enough rain to water the large new planting of corn seed without having to rely on irrigation. On the other hand, the rainy season brings much higher risk of disease for the goats. To help prevent infection, the goat shelter must be enlarged to give them more air and room to move.