xx

In between buying African Trade Beads throughout West Africa, using The Gambia as my base ..
in the Autumn of 2006, I started a small project on some land I have bought in the Gambian bush.

Despite having lived in The Gambia during the 90's, I have never ventured into any type of construction or land management there .. so this is a fascinating learning experience with a view to building a house in a few years time and returning to live amongst many good friends,
in the superb climate of a country in which I feel very much at home. 

A pictorial record follows of the early days of land clearance, planting a tropical fruit orchard in the 2006 rainy season, digging a well and building a small garden hut during the following Winter. Onwards through 2007 into 2008 with continued planting, experimenting and becoming a 'farmer'.
-
Clicking on The Gambian Project logo at the top of each page will bring you back to this page.
-
Hopefully it will be of interest for you to see how things get done 'African-style' !
Its name: Dawda Kunda ( Wolof for David's Home )

November 2005 .. the neatly cleared foreground is my neighbour's .. my land starts at the jungle

My neighbour's drive marking the left hand side border of my land

March 2006 - Some clearance has been carried out .. prior to the onset of the rainy season

August 2006 - The rains have started .. sacks of cow manure from the local cattle farmer in readiness for planting a tropical fruit orchard. The majority of the short green bushes to the rear are an indigenous plant of little practical use .. called Mankanassa .. of which more later.

A neighbour arrives with his four-legged friends to find something unusual amongst the manure.

These as yet unknown but somewhat large larvae ( I am told they look very similar to
Witchetty Grubs that are found in Australia ) had obviously been gorging themselves !