Working Villages Blog

Well, it’s been quite a summer, but it’s officially fall now and things are as busy as ever! Harvest season is always an exciting time for WVI, and it looks like this autumn is shaping up to be a great one.

Our great news from Ruzizi is that, due to some amazing supporters in the US, we will finally be able to buy a truck! As many of you know, the need for a truck has been a major impediment to construction progress, and having one will drastically increase the speed with which we can build houses and storage space. Our record-breaking crop yields of more than 150 tons of food per month have been overflowing our storage capacity, so the increased infrastructure will allow the project to grow in a much more stable and efficient manner. The truck will also enable us to transport more food to market, which will act as a further stabilizing force on the region. Everyone in the Ruzizi Valley is glad to have a reliable source of food and employment during these uncertain times, and the incredible community support has protected our crops and buildings better than any fence ever could. Fiston, our project manager in Ruzizi, has been watching the truck markets carefully, and expects to buy one soon. You can see our most recent pictures from Ruzizi at our community webshots page.

The exciting news on the US end of things is that we moved offices, and are now officially operating out of Fort Andross, just over the bridge in Brunswick. We are in the lovely and sunny Suite 216E, and once we’re unpacked I’ll be here about 11-5 every day if you’d like to drop in. It’s exciting to finally have a more permanent home, and we hope all of you in the area get a chance to come by.

We’ll be tabling at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine on September 25-27. This is an incredible annual event that has an array of games, rides, events, speakers, crafts, food, produce and livestock, and I would highly recommend you come up for at least one day. You can find directions and information on their website at www.mofga.org. We’ll keep you posted about other events as we head boldly forth into October!