Volunteer Stories
Sequoia Ireland
Senegal
Senegal
"I learned that you have family everywhere you go."
Photo by Yaguemar Diop, NCBA CLUSA's Farmer-to-Farmer Program Country Director in Senegal
Profession: Organic Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Expertise: organic farming, sustainable agriculture, swine research, advocacy, teaching
Education: Master of Science from North Carolina A & T State University in Animal Health Sciences
ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW
Country: Senegal
Core Implementer: ACDI/VOCA and NCBA CLUSA
Volunteer and Assignment and Impact: In May of 2016, Sequoia, an organic vegetable and animal health specialist, traveled to the Koalack region of Senegal to help four women's vegetable cooperatives further improve their production methods. Sequoia helped the women decide which vegetables to grow including how to use complementary vegetables, crop rotation, inter-cropping, and under-cropping. These complementary vegetables help to ensure nutrient dense soil, prevent evaporation, prevent erosion, and keep pests under control. She also helped the women learn how to test soil fertility with baking soda and vinegar, products easily obtained at their local market. Sequoia also taught the women about water management, the soil food web, energy transfers, mulching, record keeping, and much more.
Community members had a very positive response to learning that Sequoia was volunteering her time and expertise to help them, which contributed to the wonderful relationships Sequoia developed with the women she worked with.