Rupununi Gardening

This post is especially for all my "Dirt Digger" friends. 

I have always liked the open feel of the Compound at Karanambu.  The terracotta gravel is part of the base laterite ridge that  runs across the North Savannahs and is the Watershed between the Amazon and the Essequibo rivers.  So, when a friend offered some neighborly advice, and said that I needed to plant up the whole thing, I knew he was wrong.  Then he went on to say that he no longer planted Bougainvillea, as they were too unruly and hard to keep in shape.  But that is exactly what I liked about them; and of course they are native to northern Brazil, close enough to be native here too.  I would create Islands of Bougainvillea next to cabins, in as many colors as I could collect and underplant them with reseeding flowers that I would find around the Savannah.  Eventually they will ramble against the cabins.

Now, that sounds all well and good, but it is a process to plant in laterite.  There is no soil, just gravel with yellow mud that is soft in some places when wet, but hard as concrete when dry.  Each time, I have to dig out a good sized hole and backfill with a mixture of mud from the swamp down the road, and manure from the Corall by the "Out Station", three miles away.  We bring in a landrover full at a time,  on a huge tarp.

These pictures will show you the story

 

A splash of color around each cabin.  This hot pink was the only Bougainvillea here.  I add a few more and underplanted with Purple Vinca which has spread nicely,

The Coral Bougainvillea with Sorrell (red hibiscus), my new favorite color because it goes from pink to dark orange, all mixed together.

Hot Pink Bougainvillea with Light Purple Vinca

A hole ready to plant next to the Yellow Bougainvillea.  Note the laterite that I have dug out of the hole and banked around it.

 Bright Pink Vinca with Sorrell and Lighter Pink  Bougainvillea being watered with "gray water" from the shower.

This is the Dark Purple Bougainvillea. It is less rangy and more compact than the other colors.  In the nearby town of Lethem, there is one that is over 20 feet high.  I can't wait for this one to grow! Behind it is the upright form of the White Frangipani.

This Dendrobium Orchid belonged to my Grandmother and then my Mother and now it is here at Karanambu.

Cattleya Superba

This is one of our native Orchids and one of the most beautiful.  They are all flowering right now. Richard Schomburgk, the famous naturalist, traveling through this area with his brother Robert, in 1839-1842 called it "Superba".  I see it called "Violacea", but since it is the original, I continue to call it "Superba".

 

I found this one on the Savannah. I have no idea what the name is, but it is a ground Orchid, which has already bloomed profusely, twice! 

Trees of these magnificent fragrant flower, called Monkey Cup, surround Maricuba Pond near by.

I rescued these Pineapples from the near by Village of Yupakari.

6 months later, they are starting to fruit, several of them!

This Watermelon Vine gets only one fruit at a time!  It's very big, but only one!

Eschallots growing in bed of mud & manure.  We used the offcuts from the tree, which we chainsawed to make boards, to raise up the sides of the bed.

These are Dwarf Bananas, which only get to about 5 feet, so the wind doesn't knock them over.

Bed of Pak Choy and Purple Mustard Greens growing in the planting mixture of mud & manure.

4 O'Clocks and Purple Peruvian Pepper with Jump up and Kiss (Portulacca), which is also Native to the Savannahs

Amaranths in the Kitchen Garden.  I collected a few of these seeds from a near by Village and they are reseeding all over the place. Perfect!

Even on a rainy day this is still my favorite color.  Beautiful!

 I picked my Sorrell today! Hope I get some sun to dry it. It makes a wonderful drink!

Gardening in the Rupununi is a challenge...

but I love it!

Karanambu Trust meets at Karanambu!

For the very first time, the members of the Karanambu Trust held their meeting at Karanambu. There was great excitement in the air as we greeted Dr. Lucy when she arrived from the States.  Dr. Lucy Spelman is the Secretary of the Karanambu Trust, she is also an internationally renowned wildlife veterinarian, but most importantly, she is our very dear friend.  Lucy has been coming to Karanambu to help Diane with the wildlife for the last 15 years.

Diane & Dr. Lucy

Major General (retired) Joseph Singh, the Chairman of the Karanambu Trust arrived the day before the meeting. To many here, he is not only a role model, he is a hero. Rarely do you meet someone whose kindness matches his intelligence, whose commitment and work ethic set the bar for others to follow. We are so fortunate to have Joe leading our team!

Major General Joseph Singh addressing the communities

Sydney Allicock is the liaison for the local communities in the North Rupununi.  He is also the Chairman of the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB). Sydney too is recognized as an extraordinary leader and example of true commitment and dedication to his community, his heritage and to a sustainable future.   He recently was named the 2010 Anthony Sabga Public and Civil Contributions laureate.

Sydney Allicock

The other distinguished members of the Karanambu Trust who were unable to attend in person, Dr. Godfrey Bourne, Father Malcolm Rodrigues, Patrick McTurk, Michael McTurk and Mary Stefanini joined us by skype. 

We began with a briefing to the local communities on the mission of the Karanambu Trust and the progress that has been made in the last 5 months since we arrived on site.

We discussed how to preserve and protect these beautiful Wetlands and the Savannah of the North Rupununi.  We called upon both the Elders and the Youth to work closely together.  Uncle Fred Allicock, one of the original pioneers in conservation in  the Rupununi, attended the meeting and spoke directly to the youth about the need to protect and care for the 125 square miles of Karanambu.

Diane & Uncle Fred

 We toured Salvador's Garden and very proudly showed off our produce!

Then we went on to the Volunteer Housing which is  being completed in preparation for the arrival of the Peace Corps Volunteers.

As we waved goodbye to our guests, 

we were energized, filled with  pride, enthusiasm 

and optimism; committed even more deeply to the preservation of the North Rupununi Wetlands, Savannahs and the Wildlife that live here.

2 Jabiru Storks on the Sandbank

Jabiru in Flight

 Our two orphaned Giant River Otters at play

Philip & Belle

And our very own Hero

DIANE

"The Best Cherisher of the Beloved Beasts"

 

Our Orphaned Giant River Otters

Karanambu has always been well known for its wildlife and spectacular fishing, and has always been a welcome rest stop for unexpected visitors.  Diane has also always offered refuge to injured or orphaned wildlife.  The animal that appeared most often was also one of the most endangered: the Giant River Otter.  By necessity, Diane has become a world expert on the care and rehabilitation of this species.  She has raised over 50 orphaned otter cubs, returning most of them to the wild for a chance at freedom.

Please click the Karanambu Trust  Logo Button to the right to learn more:

A year ago, when we arrived at Karanambu, Diane had two tiny baby otters.  They arrived about a week apart.  One, Belle, a female, was found in the river.  It appeared that her family left her behind when they moved from one holt (otter den) to the next.  The second one, Philip, a male, was brought to Diane…we are still unsure as to how and why he became orphaned.

 

At first, we had to skin and bone their fish and cut it up into little strips, so that they could easily chew and digest it.  We would carry them in our arms across the compound, because the laterite gravel was too hot in the sun for their little feet.  Diane would dig a hole in the sand and we would fill it with water so they could swim.  And always, always, she would dry their bellies so that they would not develop pneumonia.

As they got older, we started taking the babies down to the river for a daily swim.  First they were carried in a pet carrier, but because of the weight, the carrier was placed in a wheel barrel and wheeled to the river. They would play, jumping in and out of the river.  By the time they would get back to their pen, they would be exhausted.  Even though Belle and Philip are not siblings, because they are growing up together, they think they are.

We have two "Waterdog Cabatash", Jasper and Devern, who spend most of each day caring for the otters.  We also have two full time fisherman who must catch a sufficient amount of fish needed to calm the babies voracious appetites.  Red Belly Piranha are their favorite food!!

Soon they became more accustomed to the river and both Belle and Philip were able to go down to the riverbank both morning and afternoon for long stretches of time.  2-1/2 hours at a time.  The "Waterdog Cabatashes" would put pre-caught fish in the river so that Belle and Philip could find the fish and begin to learn to catch their own. 

Philip and Belle are both over 1 year now.  They have been nurtured and cared for and loved by Diane. They have had their bellies rubbed dry lovingly every day & every night.  They're growing fast and will grow to be well over 6 feet from tip of nose to tip of tail.  They are mischievous and on occasion very dangerous.  They have sharp, sharp teeth.   

We want the babies to continue to be afraid or cautious when it comes to boats and people.  It will give them a better chance to make it back in the wild.  I am keenly aware if this, but one day when I went down to the landing to see the guests off, I lost my focus ....as the boat pulled out, one of the otters came up behind me as I was waving good-bye, he took one hot bite out of the back of my ankle...blood everywhere.  I took off up the path in a mad rush, knowing I had only minutes before the pain would follow...Diane trailing behind me. I could hear her say "Oh, but it looks bad, Love."  I got back to the cabin and Salvador came to my rescue, together we cleaned it up, bandaged me good and I collapsed into the hammock to recover.

They are very cute...but do not be fooled by their cuddly appearance, they are  indeed WILD animals and can be very vicious if they feel threatened in any way or even just approached by a stranger. Caring for them is painstakingly hard work, but when they are successfully reintroduced to the wild it is most gratifing.  

In these most recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the numbers of the endangered Giant River Otters in the Rupununi River due to the efforts of Diane McTurk

Peace Corps comes to Karnamabu

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship.  The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the United States federal government devoted to world peace and friendship.

Salvador, Diane and Dr. Lucy

Last August when Dr. Lucy visited Karanambu shortly after we arrived, we met with Jermaine Clark who is the Peace Corps Response Volunteer Coordinator.  Together with Jermaine’s guidance we discussed the possibilities for the Karanambu Trust to work with the Peace Corps to help the neighboring villages develop more self-sustaining skills. An example of which was the village of Kwaimatta who had been without the use of their solar panels because they did not have the technology to service them when they weren’t functioning properly.  Again, because Kwaimatta is located in such a remote area, it is very expensive and time consuming to have someone come in to service the equipment. Well actually getting here is time consuming, the fixing could be five minutes  when you know what you are doing.  If we could receive help in the form of solar training from the Peace Corps it would have a tremendous impact on the surrounding communities of Karanambu. The number one goal of the Peace Corps is:  "Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women."  These volunteers will provide exactly that, training which will  then provide a service which would produce income and also allow them to become more self sufficient.  This idea was met with great enthusiasm by the communities.  

Jermaine Clark discussing the possibilities with Toshao Clive of Kwaimatta

The second need we were able to identify was the need to dispose of the plastic, especially the bottles, ecologically and of course water purification. How can we turn the plastic bottles into fence posts which the wood ants [termites] won’t eat.  Again, we found the response to be very enthusiastic.  

Together we wrote the job description requests and put in the formal application.  Once the process began, we had our job to do.  The Karanambu Trust had to build new housing for the new volunteers! With the tremendous assistance of friends of the Trust, money was raised to build the new volunteer housing.  Salvador and the crew have been working to finish the building.

Jermaine brought Eric Duncan, the new administrative officer for the Peace Corps, to visit and check on our progress. 

Diane - Salvador - Jermaine - Eric

 It is very important that we comply with their specific requirements. So far, so good! He and Jermaine had a great visit!  And with fingers crossed and a lot of hard work, working together, we will make the deadline.

NEW STAFF HOUSING!!!

When we arrived at Karanambu in August, one of the very first projects that Salvador had in mind was new staff housing.  He wanted to improve the existing housing and add on a new house.  Salvador and Diane walked and talked and sketched and designed the placement of this new house.  Together, they dreamed a little and made plans for future projects too!  The next step was to meet with the Board of Directors.  THEN the building began and so did the excitement   The goal was to get it finished in time for Christmas! 

 Built in the same Karanambu style with bricks made and fired right here!

Harold arrived! Harold is a longtime worker and friend of Karanambu from the village of Massara who has helped Diane in the past build buildings at Karanambu!  The excitement continued to build…just as the house did.

Everyday you could see the progress!!!
And each day Christmas was getting closer!

We decided to have the staff party in the new Staff house!  

AND
1 - 2 - 3 the house was completed!

WE DID IT!
And it was such fun!  We hung Christmas lights, which Salvador and I had brought from the States. We gave out funny awards!
Diane’s read: “The Best Cherisher of the Beloved Beasts”
She promptly hung it up in the main house!
Everyone received one….one funnier than the next.  We exchanged Christmas presents and hugs and joy.
It was all Good Fun!

And we officially opened the New Staff Housing!

Just in time for CHRISTMAS!