Ever wonder what it’s like to farm and garden in a place with simple hand tools, no rain for 9 months, poor sandy soil and daily highs of 125°F? If so, come learn how the men and women of the Gambia do it in this talk on West African farming and culture. The Gambia is a country in West Africa known for its friendly people, large river and diverse cultural practices, including peanut, cashew and rice cultivation. Stephen spent 2 years 2 months there for his Peace Corps service and was able to learn local farm and garden techniques, Mandinka language, cultural beliefs and the opportunities and challenges local farmers face in food production.

Attendees will be able to see tools used by West African farmers, sample food from the region and learn local language (Mandinka) proverbs.