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We’ve had little rain at the field station this year. So far, the field station has mostly been visited by the Sahara dust storms.
Copyright Eden Foundation
Sometimes in Niger, the rainy season starts late.
Copyright Eden Foundation
Other times, the rainy season is just too short, making it hard for the millet to grow.
Copyright Eden Foundation
The farmers of Niger are subject to one of the harshest climates of the world, but their way of life has not always been this difficult. Only a few generations ago, this denuded area was covered with a forest of ancient trees, which housed numerous wild animals and offered food and shelter to its human inhabitants. The ancestors of the Eden families in the Tanout area were proud hunters and gatherers who lived off the bounty of nature’s pantry. With colonization, the Savannah forest was destroyed in order to make room for the cultivation of cash crops, which would finance the colonial administration. The Tanout environment, robbed of its protecting trees, was left at the mercy of the ravaging Sahara storms.
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Relying solely on the cultivation of annuals leaves a farmer in Niger vulnerable to erratic weather conditions. The Eden trees, however, offer an entirely different way of life.
Copyright Eden Foundation
The Eden trees are perennials with deep roots, allowing them to live through long periods of drought and produce food, regardless of how the rainy season turns out. They also shield the annual crops against the ravaging winds which destroy the harvest.
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Today, the Eden families rely on their gardens of Eden trees. As every species has its own harvest period, the Eden Garden offers each member of the family activity all year round, reviving their traditional way of life.
Copyright Eden Foundation
Like their ancestors, the Eden families are proudly living off the bounty of nature’s pantry. The Eden fruits and leaves are consumed within the household or sold at the market, offering every member of the family a unique purchasing power that was previously unheard of in the region.
Copyright Eden Foundation
We know we cannot control the weather, but we can adapt our lifestyle to a sustainable one, which is exactly what Eden is helping the farmers of Tanout to do.
For other skies around the world, visit Skywatch!
19 users commented in " Sustainable Living in Unpredictable Conditions "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThat last one was a mean vicious sight. I wonder how much time there is left to run for cover when it´s that close.
Wow, those are mean dust storms. I can probably look forward to some of the same in Khartoum. Oh Esther, what man and especially greed has done to Africa. Eden foundation and the Tanout farmers are to be commended for practicing these sustainable methods. Well done. (((Hugs))) Jo
I can just about feel the grit in my teeth from those storms! I’m so glad your family has helped restore what colonization took away.
yes…this is so true. a wonderful post esther. so liked the captures of the coming sandstorm.
have a most wonderful weekend.
Stunning photos – and a good reminder of our ability to both harm and heal!
Very nice!
Wow those skies look violent!
Amazing photos Esther! Also a stark warning of the consequences of clear cutting on a grand scale.
The dust storm seems violent !!
Looks a bit scary.
Sydney – City and Suburbs
Beautiful post about the conditions caused by climate and human devastation. The last photo of the approaching sandstorm is frightening.
Awesome captures of the dust storms. It’s been raining here how I wish to blow it over there.
That is one spooky looking sand storm. And I thought it blew in southern Arizona.
Whenever we totally remove the navtive plants that land is screwed up.
Great post and captures.
I enjoy seeing your eye view of another world from mine. Thank you.
I’ve mentioned your blog for an honest scrap award. Do what you like with it, carry it on or ignore it.
http://www.akalranch.com/2009/08/honestscrap/
Oh what nasty duststorm, but stunning pictures!
Great photographs. It reminds me of stories my Father has told me about dust storms that would blow through South Dakota, USA when he was a kid back during the 1930′s.
Interesting series of photos. Thanks.
The dust storms look awful. I didn’t realize it was the European colonizers who cut down the forests. How terrible for the native people.
We all need to look at more sustainable ways of living, as Eden is helping Niger to do.
What a fine series of shots….well done!
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