SPRING HAS SPRUNG

The first garden workshop where they showed us how to prepare the soil and how to run the rototiller and we were able to wear jeans all day long.

The Navajo Hopi Food Initiative Program started a year ago to help people help themselves by growing their own garden produce. It was started by an inspired Bishop and Stake president in Tuba City. After a year of efforts on their own they enlisted the help of the Benson Institute for financial help in 2011. Last year there were over 300 hundred gardens. Here in Pinon there were 18 gardens, of which about six were very successful and the rest in varying degrees of success. This year we have 30 gardens and are hopeful our success rate is much higher.

The program is very organized or at least we try. The particpants are required to attend three training meetings in order to receive a garden. The gardens consist of wire and posts for a 30 ft. square garden, windscreen, fertilizer, seeds and hose for an irrigation drip system.

 In our mission there are about six couples who come for the summer as service missionaries to help with the project. Here  in Pinon it is up to us to help out. We have a demo garden that we are responsible for. In this area they grow watermellon, cantalope, squash, cucs, corn and the usual root vegtables so we are looking forward to our garden.

Elder Lybbert spreading the sheep manure on our demo garden. The Young missionaries help out by hauling manure which is very appreciated.

Spring has sprung, our lawn is green but not much grass can be seen.

We went on a shopping trip to Farmington this week. The mission office is in Farmington and we had not been there so we decided it was a good choice. Its a nice city with the necessary stores like Sams Club, Walmart and Pennys. On the way we drove over a mountain pass and then by Shiprock so we were able to see some more Arizona landscape.

Shiprock

There is also a town named Shiprock.This was Elder Lybbert's first area when he was on a mission 50 years ago. 

This is a stand of rock with Shiprock in the background. It is a natural formation but looks like the ruins of a great wall. I guess its the great wall of New Mexico.

Going over the pass we drove through these trees and there were aspens also. It seemed so nice to see big trees and mountains. There was also snow which Elder Lybbert calls sadistic beauty.

This week was spring break for the school so most everyone was busy with family but we were able to do our usual service projects etc. The weather was beautiful all week which was great but today the wind is blowing and there is snow and rain forcast for the next few days. We do need the moisture but could do without the wind. If you have ever lived in a trailer with a tin roof you would understand why

Love to all

Elder and Sister Lybbert