Stuart Barden in Kenya

Friday, September 11, 2015

Barley Eating Baboons

This troop of baboon are enjoying the little bit of spilt barley on the road, they run off whenever someone comes along then back in a few minutes.

Nature Opening the Door for the Rains

There is a lot of talk of El Nino recently, which in many parts of Australia's eastern side is related to below average rainfall, the converse is true in Kenya and the region, it is more often than not above average rainfall when an El Nino event is occurring, with greater volatility as well.
In Spanish the term "El Nino" refers to "the Christ child" or "the male child" whilst "La Nina" means "female or girl child"
Heavy black cracking soils (called "Black cotton" soils in east Africa) like we farm in Kenya crack open due to the clay particles contracting as they dry, this then effectively opens the "Door" to filling up the soil with moisture, it also allows for some recycling of shallow nutrients and organic matter to fall and reduce a "Stratification"  of nutrients on the surface.
Nature is the ultimate zero till system!!

Now that is well used

Saw this little hammer in the industrial area, notice my boot beside it, nice repairs (click for better view)

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Manitou Loader blows a head Gasket

Am in the industrial are of Nairobi, the fellow is about to pressure test the head off the engine.
He is cutting "bungs" or stoppers out of wood then hitting them in to seal the inlet and outlet ports to pressure test.
Then they will shave the head to get perfectly level.
Looks crazy but it works.