Chabbobboma Banana Plantation

Yesterday we traveled the three hour trip (two hours on dirt washboard roads, up and around mountains) to the edge of Lake Kariba where one of the churches has a banana plantation that they have been working together. It has tripled in size since they first opened it about six years ago, and is supporting the community - including orphans and others living with AIDS. We stopped partway there, for our first glimpse of Lake Kariba.

Keri, Alicia, Lisa and Lauren

Pam and Phil Leslie

Here are the most recently planted tree's, just starting to grow!

Once they flower, the bananas start to grow!

AND GROW!

And grow, until the tree needs help holding up all the fruit!!

They use sawdust around the base of the tree's, to help keep weeds from growing and as it decomposes, as compost as well!

We didn't see any banana spiders (BECKY!!!!), but we did see this cool chameleon!!

We ate a delicious lunch (cooked over open fire by the women of the village) - YUM YUM YUM - under this amazing tree. Here's Lauren and Meagan smiling away! We ate Nshima, green veggies stew and chicken! With our fingers of course! The photo below is of the whole tree - the trunk was just amazing though, the roots seem to grow down around the trunk and expand the trunk over time! It was under this tree that the women first greeted us - with singing and dancing as they shook each of our hands!

What an memorable day!!