About food pt 1

Taste ‘em once! Mopani worms


Mopani worms are normally seen at Ebenezer between March/April and now December/January. See a butterfly and you think of a worm! The metamorphic process is quite incredible!

Everywhere in the world people are interested in tasting new dishes and delicacies and that includes crickets, ants, scorpions etc. So why not try the Mopani worm? Now I’m told by Mopani worm lovers that this is truly a delicacy. I’ll take them at their word! There are many Mopani trees around Ebenezer and the worms can either be picked from the trees or from the ground. Mopani worms are like caterpillars. You hand pick them by the tail and squeeze out the insides like how you squeeze toothpaste. Slimy green contents from the gut come out. This doesn’t sound great but again, I’m assured that once sun dried, roasted or smoked, they taste divine. Mopani worms are highly nutritious and a good source of protein. Many folk in the rural areas eat Mopani worms.

It was quite fascinating watching one of the first year apprentices rolling a Mopani worm in her hand and letting it crawl on her arm.

By Molly Manhanga

Meet Mbusiso Ndlovu

Mbusiso is employed at Ebenezer doing farming as well as teaching the apprentices how to farm. This is what he had to say:

“My work is good. The tomatoes we planted did well. We were picking 1½ tonnes per day which is 9 tonnes a week. We picked 52 tonnes of tomatoes in the first year apprentice’s fields and our main target was 60 tonnes (a shortfall of 8 tonnes). I think we did well. We are now preparing to plant cabbages and broccoli in 2 hectares at the beginning of February.
Our main challenge has been water.....the crops have suffered from water stress due to the size of the irrigation pipes at Ebenezer (too small). Spraying the crops has also been a challenge because using a knapsack sprayer is time consuming for the number of plots we have. I have been given a spray-blower but getting petrol is the challenge. I hope things will improve in 2012.
It has been easy teaching and working with some of the apprentices because they listen and implement what they are taught. I also do some discipleship as I minister God through farming – God is at the centre of everything. I find discipling the boys easier than as a whole group because the ladies need a woman to discuss some issues.
I enjoy my job and give God all the glory. I’m hoping to teach more people in the next 2 years and not only those at Ebenezer. I feel this is what God would have me do.”

Fantastic! Mbusiso and his family attend Crossroads Community Church. He is one of the emerging leaders who are working closely with Stephen Manhanga.

By Molly Manhanga

Hello 2012

Well, hello 2012! Another year begins but in the agricultural world, work doesn't stop......

Honest Mushandirwa, a second year apprentice picked LARGE butternuts from his field this week. Totally impressive! His butternut crop is certainly an example of what can be produced at Ebenezer.

To add to the excitement of picking this excellent crop, a farm employee spotted a two and a half metre cobra in Honest's field. Needless to say, it quickly attracted many apprentices as they rallied round to "kill" the snake - and kill it they did! The excitement of the butternut outweighed the distraction of the snake. Well done Honest! Let's hope this is a sign of great crop production in 2012.

Previously picked butternut at Ebenezer

By Molly Manhanga