What A Week!

This week started out very slowly. In fact, on Tuesday I was getting worried about accomplishing everything that I wanted to before I leave. Wednesday changed everything. Wednesday was going to be a normal day but turned out to be much more. We hired a fundi to renovate the cow shed. I went to several different farms to look at cows. I even went out to Malava (about an hour away) to view a cow in a small countryside village. Turns out that is the cow we ended up buying. I spent that evening running back and forth from school and home to discuss purchasing that cow on Thursday. We needed to act fast because they were going to sell her at the market the next morning. We decided to leave early and purchase her on Thursday.
Thursday morning came around and we headed to Labao. We found our friends and bought the cow. We walked 12km back to Kakamega in the hot sun. It was quite the experience. We arrived just in time for Parent's Day.
The Parent's got to see our new cow. I gave a brief presentation on my project and my hopes for the school. They were all very appreciative. I asked them to encourage their students and to continue the program through their financial investments once I am gone.
On Friday, I gave the same short speech to the Board of Governors who are definitely happy about the program. They will be there to support it when I leave. Everyone is very pleased!
These next two weeks will be full of meetings and signing documents. I will wrap up my work on the garden and then leave it in the hands of Daisy. They will do great!

It has been requested that I show where the fundraised money is going. Here is a breakdown of cost so far. The money that I have left will go to purchase a few remaining items for the garden. The remaining money I am trying to encourage the school to use to pay the groundsman extra. He will now have to come in 7 days a week to care for the cow, versus his usual 5 days. Unfortunately, because this is seen as his "duty" as a groundsman, he will not get a salary increase. I want to change that. I will let you know if it works out.

Animal Keeping
Cow	$440
Stock Sale Fee	$6.67
Permit to Move Fee	$0.67
Market Fee (Entry)	$0.40
Spray	$36.67
Spray Pump	$62.67
High Phosphous Salt	$19.73
Multivitamin Injection	$3.33
Milking Jelly (500g)	$18
Desmodium	$2.66
Dairy Meal (3 bags/1@1300)	$156.00
Sweet Potato Vines	$1.33
Grass	$20
Medicine (Adamiacine)	$3.73
Vet Bill	$4
	$789
Cow Shed Renovation
Materials (see breakdown)	$60.00
Transportation of materials	$5.33
Labor	$32.00
	$97.33
Materials (Cow Shed)
Nails	$5.33
Cement	$36.00
Waterproof Cement	$6.67
PVC Pipe	$12.00
	$60.00
Garden Planting
Labor	$40
Panga	$3.47
Watering Can	$4.93
Rake	$2.66
Slasher	$1.87
Fertilizer (DAP)	$39.47
Pesticides	$19.73
Collards	$4.80
Cow Peas	$6.67
Spring Onions	$2.13
Avocado	$2.66
Green Grams (6kg)	$11.60
Irish Potatoes	$6.80
Sutza	$4.00
Saga	$4.00
	$155
Transportation
Cow Research	$40.00
Fertilizer Transport	$0.40
Napier Grass Seed Transport/Cutting	$8.67
Desmodium Transport	$1.33
Seed Transport	$3.73
Grass Transport	$72
Transportation	$22.67
	$148.80
Other
Log Book	$2
	$2
TOTAL	$1,179.13

Didn't get a chance to contribute??? You still can!

The tailoring program at Daisy is selling bags and aprons. They are tailored by the vocational students and their teacher. Please help support this program and get a nice bag and/or apron too!
Apron: $10.00











Large Bag: $25.00
Small Bag: $18.00









These pictures show two varieties of larger bags, but a smaller one can be made as well.
I am taking orders. Let me know what you want and I will pass it on. I will bring your item home with me. Email me: jackie.mroz@gmail.com

Meet Jacqueline Maua

Our cow has made it to Daisy. I left early this morning to head to Labao with our groundsman and Minyade. I walked around the market a bit, then we arranged finances with the guys we had negotiated with yesterday, and then headed to Kakamega. After a 13km walk in the hot sun, we made it to Daisy. Her name was originally Maua, but they wanted to give it a new name. She is now called Jacqueline Maua...Jackie for short.

Cow Research

Today is not over for me. It was the busiest day I have had since arriving in Kenya. I just want to give a brief update before I get back to work. Today I went into the field with KARI (Kenya Agricultural Research Institute). We had sourced some cows from local farmers and wanted to check them out. Our first stop was unsuccessful. The farmer was asking way out of our price range.
We then headed to Malava, a neighboring town. After hiking up a hill a bit, we arrived at a small farm. A cow was brought out. After a long negotiation, we think we have found our cow. Tomorrow we will go to a nearby town market to pick her up. If all is successful, she will be at Daisy by the afternoon. Good news is: tomorrow is Parent's Day. Maybe they will have a chance to see the fruits of our labor!
We are having the cow shed renovated Thursday and Friday, so she will have to sleep outside for two nights, nothing she isn't used too.
Wish me luck!

Another day in the 'shamba'

This week was much different than the previous. The beginning of the week was filled with meetings about the budget and investment from Daisy. On Wednesday we celebrated Mashujaa (Heros) Day, so no school. I also celebrated far surpassing my fundraising goal. On Thursday I did some research on cow sheds in the area by visiting some local schools and homes that keep multiple cows. It gave me a better perspective on exactly how well constructed Daisy’s shed is.

Today I held a meeting with the administration and we have cut the cow shed renovation costs in more than half! I am very excited. Our grounds man has started making some repairs to the sleeping area. Next week, once the ‘Farming Contract’ that I am constructing is signed by Daisy and FSD staff, we will hire a fundi to make the final preparations for a cow. I am currently researching the best available cows in the area. We want to keep it local, so I will be contacting several farmers next week, looking at their record, and bargaining a price. We hope to have a cow by my final week.

Also, today we spent about an hour with Standards 7 and 8 in the shamba. They did great work. They learned how to plant napier grass that will soon feed the cow. They always have so much fun, it is enjoyable just to watch them learn and engage. I am afraid of safari ants, so I can’t say I am digging in so much…maybe next week!

WE DID IT!

The fundraising campaign has come to an end. The total amount raised was $1,003.40! A HUGE ASANTE SANA to everyone that was involved. Daisy will really benefit from these donations. I will hold a meeting with the staff today to discuss implementation. You are all awesome! Thank you for believing in this project.

A shout out to St. Luke Parish for coming together and raising $536.21. Wow!

More updates to come.

Week 5 at Daisy

This week I will be holding many meetings with the Administration to finalize our plans for the garden and farming programs. I will be creating documents including sustainability plans and contracts with Daisy to ensure transparency and accountability in the future.

As far as progress on the garden, we will do what we can as the seeds are available and if the rains hold off.

By the end of the week, I hope to have an update on the farming project.

Fundraising ENDS TOMORROW 10/19, which we are all very excited about, because that means funds will be available to use for progress. Get the word out!