Tofu, Farming & Always Surprises

The past month has been filled with great work, the ending of the school year, and the lines of corn growing in the fields. Some farmers have already planted some crops (corn and groundnut mostly), but now the farmers are preparing the fields for soy. Soy needs to dry before it can be harvested; therefore, it is important to plant in June so that the mature soy can dry when the rains stop around September/October.  We had the Overview of Soy class for the Soy Project participants; which was well attended. There were even a few people there who were not project participants. One man is interested in planting soy and also learning about beekeeping. I gave him information on starting a colony and where to find an already built top-bar hive. Another person to add to my list of “hopefuls” who have the potential to succeed but I have to wait to see if they really have the motivation to work.

Overview of Soy Class

Last week we had the Soy Transformation class for the Soy Project. Not everyone could attend but the group had a great time learning how to make soy milk, tofu, and bouillie (sort of like porridge with many nutritional ingredients including soy).  Now that the Soy Project is in its 3^rd year, we try to learn from our previous mistakes when it comes to planning the classes. We decided to give the participants their soy seeds at this class instead of having them return again in June for the seeds. This plan worked well although there are two people who have not paid the fee; therefore, they will not receive seeds. We cannot force people to pay but we have to have a fee otherwise if something is free, people do not appreciate it. Of course with Cameroon there are always problems no matter how much you plan. (This is true in the US as well but I promise, not to the extent as in Cameroon) We planned our class for Thursday at 9am. By 9:30, a couple people had showed up and after cleaning the soybeans, they needed to be taken to the market to get crushed. Well, all of us forgot that every Thursday morning, the market is closed so the streets can be cleaned (well no one cleans the streets but the idea is there). While Rachel waited for the market to open at 10am to crush the seeds in the grinder, we found out that one of our big tubs of water was leaking. A participant went out to buy super glue to fix it and then we waited…and waited. Finally by 11am, the rest of the participants arrived, Rachel came back with the crushed soybeans and we started. Nothing is ever on time in Cameroon but you can surely count on Cameroonians to work hard. The rest of the day, the participants asked good questions and worked together to transform soy while the project leaders sat in the back and watched. Funny how men in leadership positions just don’t want to get their hands dirty.

Men & Women working together to transform soy (improving gender equality in Cameroon little by little)

  

I'm always amazed how well Christians & Muslims get along here despite their religious differences

Want to learn how to transform soy? Here are the instructions!

Soy Milk

Ingredients

- 3 cups of soybeans (1 kilo)

- 3 liters of water (1 liter for each cup of soybeans)

- Sugar

Preparation 

1. Wash the soybeans and soak the seeds in water for 10 to 12 hours (maximum)

2. Remove the seeds and mash in grinder

3. Add 3 liters of water and mix well in a bucket

4. Place the mixture in a tissue and press well to remove all the water and collect the liquid in a large pot

5. Cook liquid until boiling and continue cooking for 10 minutes minimum

6. Add sugar and let it dissolve well. Put a pinch of salt if you want.

7. Optional: add vanilla, cocoa, coffee or other flavors at your taste

Tofu

Ingredients

- 3 cups of soybeans (1 kilo)

- 3 liters of water (1 liter for each cup of soybeans)

- Distilled vinegar (4-8% acidity)

Preparation

1. Do the same 1-5 steps as for soy milk

2. Remove the pot from the fire and quickly add vinegar while slowly and gently rotating to mix well

3. Cover for 15 minutes. (After 5 minutes, we can look to see if we have to add a little more vinegar if the milk is not coagulated well.)

4. Place the tofu on a fine sieve to withdraw water

5. Put the remaining tofu in a bowl and mix with the crushed spices such as pepper, onion, garlic, salt

6. Place the mixed tofu on the tissue and pour the remaining liquid, squeezing all liquid from tofu

7. Put a heavy object on the fabric with the tofu for 15-20 minutes.

8. When tofu is firm, unwrap from fabric and cut into small pieces. Cook the tofu in oil until brown.

 

Bouillie (porridge)-mix and crush together soybeans, corn, groundnuts, sesame, and freshwater fish to make soy flour which is then boiled for a long time in water with lemon and milk

Making tofu

Now that the participants know how to transform soy and start a business, it is time for them to practice growing soy. They will plant in the beginning of June and then we will begin visiting their fields. We just found out that a few participants from last year’s project are planting soy again and even have some to sell. Also we took some German friends to see a farmer’s field that he was preparing for soy. The Germans were here to perform surgeries for people with cleft palates and goiters. One of the Germans even helped me with volleyball club and then we visited the center for orphaned/abandoned children. The center is doing well and just installed screens on all the windows to keep out mosquitos carrying malaria. The German friend is going to help us set up a website for the center so it is easier to inform the public and raise funds.
Also I found out that after having surgery, a woman returned to her village to find that her children did not recognize her. They were so used to her face being deformed and they had loved her no matter how she looked. It is unique for a person like this to get married, but sometimes Cameroon surprises me with its heart.

Famers preparing their fields (the holes are where they will plant), example of no-till farming which is becoming popular since renting a tractor is expensive

 

Farmers use live fencing to keep cattle out of fields (these are fig trees & a mango tree to the right of them)

May 20^th was National Day for Cameroon. After years of being ruled by other countries, this day was chosen by the government in 1972 to celebrate the abolishment of the federal system of government in favor of a unitary country. The day is celebrated with parades and marches especially the march of the military (which can be cool to watch but the school children also march with the high steps and swinging arms, too much of this reminds me of some dictatorship militaries). Technically no one is allowed to take pictures of the military without permission from the government. Things were going well and surprisingly it started on time! We had talked our way into being able to stand under a tent with all the “grands”. Then it started to rain. We looked behind us to see a crowd of people cutting through the rope (which blocked the general public from the tents of important people) and rushing towards our tent. We had a moment of fear that we might get trampled. They all crammed under the tent causing the tent to start rocking from people pulling on it. I was sure either we would get pushed down or the tent would fall upon us. After I finally got to see the fire truck (yea!) go by in the parade, we got out of there. Oh Cameroon, you always have to keep it interesting.

Fire truck!!!

I was recently interviewed for a podcast called “Abroad Life”. It is an hour long but if you have a chance to listen to it, it isn’t too bad for my first podcast. The interviewer is an American living in Brazil so there is some good conversation in comparing Cameroon to Brazil. The podcast is also free on ITunes if you want to download it.

http://abroadlife.us/episode-list/2016/5/9/episode-063

One of my friends just gave me two ducklings about 2 weeks old. We named them Donald and Daisy. The children are fascinated by the ducklings. It reminded me of how people are excited to pet animals at the fair. The children in Cameroon see animals every day but they never get to touch them and really appreciate them. They crowded around me, trying to pet the ducklings…gently…as I told them over and over again. Then the children just sat watching the ducklings eat and play in the water. Funny how life here is really not so different from home sometimes.

The children watching Daisy duckling :)

For a last thought and slight giggle, check out these pictures:

Best way to transport wood...moto. Also check out the sheep on the truck.

We found out quickly that those gutters don't work during rainstorms. My postmate had been sitting in the chair when the waterfall occurred. :) oh Cameroon