Trying to Develop a "Green Thumb"

I haven't had much luck with growing plants in the past, so I'm trying to change a few things this year. I enjoy buying up a few new plants for the compound from time to time, but I'd also love to grow something from seed. Despite undergoing a lot of neglect, some Agapanthus that I started growing around March last year is probably big enough for me to transplant. Unfortunately, all the bauhinias that I had planted are no longer with us, but I might just try them once again. They weren't that difficult to tend (truthfully speaking).

This time I'm going for something a little different. I'm setting my sights on growing something exotic. My time at Messiah College exposed me to

1. Redbud (I still remember the beautiful specimen that sat to the left of the back door to the Jordan Science Centre!). 
2. Cherry Blossoms: we didn't have many at Messiah, but right in front of the Climenhaga Building there was a beautiful specimen (Yeoshino Cherry, I believe) which some students had given to the school as a gift.
3. Oaks and Maples 

And then there're inspiration from my Dad's books. Thus, I recently purchased a few seeds online (Redbud, Yulan Magnolia, Japanese Cherry, Crape Myrtle and Creeping Thyme). My very first experiment was with Creeping Thyme, but that didn't work out so well. The seed was so tiny and I sowed about half of it on an embankment close to a fence. In fact, I sowed it over the whole length of the embankment, but it only managed to sprout in one secluded spot.

Creeping Thyme

Creeping Myrtle

Round about the same time, I also tried my hand at planting the Crape Myrtle. I decided to get some planting trays, and even put some potting mix together; unfortunately, it seems like the potting mix is a bit too light, and water drains through it a bit too quickly; in addition, the potting mix is likely to be washed out of the trays. This combination of factors will prove disastrous if I try to have this stuff out in the open to take advantage of the oncoming rains.

Soil Test

Therefore, I'm running a bit of an experiment with regards to finding the right blend of soil-to-potting mix. The soil by itself dries out quickly, and ends up hardening and becoming caked up. It's seems like the sweet spot exists between either a 1:1 blend or perhaps a 1:2 blend.

All this will be necessary very soon, because I am busy preparing for the Redbud, Sakura and Magnolia seeds. I've basically been stratifying them (exposing them to a pseudo-winter) in the confines of my fridge, so I can stimulate them to germinate. By mid-October, I should be ready to plant the Redbud and Magnolia seed. 

Seed Stratification

I really am hoping for something special. At this point, I'm just concerned about getting them to germinate and thrive. I have something special up my sleeve for when they need to be transplanted, but I'll need to have some things come through before that happens.

Anyways, wish me luck!

God Bless

P.S: Finished the "soil test" and the winner came as a surprise to me! The 1:4 (Soil:Potting Mix) was the undisputed winner. The 1:1, which initially showed an much promise, ended up being a groggy mess.

I figured out that it is essential to pre-wet the soil mix before putting it into the seed trays...and that's exactly what I did while sowing some Fountain Grass (pink and green). Lesson learned!

Some Observations about China

African Leaders in China (Gado)

I've had it on my mind to discuss some of my Chinese memories for a while; this has been pushed to the forefront lately because, as far as many people are concerned, China pretty much seems on course to colonize some of the world's lesser developed countries. In my opinion, it's a pretty harsh way to judge China because as experience shows, our politicians pretty much lay our lives on the line every time by making thoughtless and fiscally irresponsible decisions any chance they can.

But anyway, let's tone things down. Before we get into the heavy stuff, I'd like to share a memory from my first year in China (2007).

Randomly, the price of instant noodles had shot up. It wasn't by much really: just a couple of cents. (My memory fails me, but it definitely hadn't crossed the "1 Yuan" mark). Seeing as it was such a small price hike (a move usually sprung on us back home), I didn't think much of it at the time. However, from the eventual buzz that ended up being generated, it was quite a big deal! Instant noodles have never been something I've found particularly palatable, but I am aware that a lot of people (particularly college students) survive on a quick meal of Ramen. People were not happy! I remember the matter eventually escalated to the point that the government got involved; in fact, there was a news report in which the government clarified that there was no clear justification for the increase in the price of instant noodles, and that all shops were required to revert back to the previous prices or risk having their businesses closed! After the proclamation, swift reversion to previous prices ensued, and that was the end of that matter.

It was a small gesture, but it made a world of difference to me; practically earth-shattering to think that the government would actually intervene positively in something that affected the common individual. Back home in Kenya, my mind thinks back to that time when Energy Minister, Kiraitu Murungi, made veiled threats to petroleum companies due to the steep prices that we were subjected to. Then he changed his tone and began to advise the petroleum companies, and in the end he ended up imploring them to reduce prices; his words carried no weight and the petroleum companies continued to run roughshod over ordinary Kenyans, and sadly, things have never changed.

So let's get back to current events:

1. Zambia's broke and is basically handing over strategic state resources to China (covertly).
2. Kenya is up to her eyeballs in debt (mostly Chinese), and is still saddled with projects of questionable economic feasibility.
3. African leaders moved en masse to China seeking further aid for Lord knows what kind of development projects
4. The Chinese staff at the Standard Gauge Railway have been highlighted as being vindictive to the native staff, denying them opportunities for advancement or even menial jobs (in favour of Chinese workers).
5. The leaders in Kenya have come up with an idea to supposedly tax the country into prosperity

Truthfully speaking (for Kenya), everything that's happening now is a culmination of all our preceding actions. I remember during the Kibaki-era when politicians were basically saying that they were tired of the stringent conditions tied to loans from Western countries/organizations, so they were basically looking East (read China).

In my opinion, China has always been a bad option for Kenya when it comes to lending. This is not to be taken as a condemnation on my part for the Chinese people/government; rather, one should delve into their collective psyche to understand this. Despite where China appears to be currently positioned globally, they've gone through a lot in their past. Many people in China would tell you that they have some 1st world areas, but then 3rd world areas still majorly abound in the country. They've seen their fair bit of humiliations (Hong Kong, Japanese attempts at colonization), famine and starvation, etc., and of course alienation and clashing of heads resulting from the Communism-Capitalism divide. They have weathered most of these storms to become the current nation that they are today, but deep beneath the surface you can still see the influences of their past experiences. I'll consider the concept of LENDING for one: the Chinese (government) looks at those it's lending money to as "brothers" who are merely in need of money; they are regarded as having responsibly considered how they intend to spend that money, thus the Chinese see no reason in placing extra requirements upon them. They only require that the money be returned according to agreed upon conditions at the end of a stipulated period.

If Kenya were a responsible borrower, this would have been a perfect option; however, Kenya's track record proves otherwise. "White Elephant" projects, extreme corruption, and a bloated political setup means that we've basically reached the point where we're borrowing to fund recurrent expenditure and pie-in-the-sky ideals; not to mention funding our own politicians' opulent lifestyles and personal accumulation of wealth.

The likelihood that Kenya ends up reneging on agreements is very very high. As such, in my opinion, they should have stuck to the likes of Western Donors. These donors may reek of questionable "benevolent" ideals, but at least they still have to maintain the illusion that they are helping lesser developed countries, even going to the extremes of placing stringent measures (mandating that some of the aid be directed towards projects that directly benefit the common man) in essence protecting the common man from the very predatory governments at the helm of the lesser developed countries. In addition, western donors are answerable to their people, and thus can be implored upon to consider debt forgiveness as an option to help out lesser developed countries. As usual the lesser developed countries stand ever ready to lay out how they've been encumbered by their past colonial histories.

Guilt trips might work on the western donors; none of this will work on the Chinese. They've pretty much suffered an equal measure of the very things all lesser developed countries underwent, but they DO NOT go around parading those things as badges of honour. I find a befitting parallel in the conversation I once had with a (South) Korean friend of mine about the drive of Koreans. He basically said,

"We strive so hard because we are ashamed of the things that happened to us in the past"

Despite being innocent victims in the past, they strive towards a level of excellence that will ensure that they will never face that humiliation again. I see that same spirit in the Chinese people. I wish it was a sentiment that Kenyans (especially their leaders) would adopt.

Thus, at the end of the day, Kenyans should really be annoyed when our leaders send such big delegations to beg for aid. Not only do they waste so much on unnecessary expense, but as most pictures prove, none of them appears to be taking any sort of notes about the things they discuss. I remember when we used to complain about the Chinese people who are settling down in Kenya after their road-building jobs are done, some of whom even end up hawking goods and doing things like roasting maize. Our gutless leaders hide behind the banner of "bilateral agreements" to excuse such lapses, forgetting the fact that China would very quickly deport a Kenyan for purporting to do a simple job that a Chinese citizen could do; it would basically amount to taking jobs away from the Chinese people (Renmin), and the Chinese government wouldn't tolerate that. No one's going into bilateral agreements hoping for you to import Kiosk proprietors and menial labourers! (no offence to the aforementioned groups mentioned); rather, they hope to benefit from far deep-seated signs of investment or unique opportunities for that matter. Even in China, they wouldn't want you as a Kenyan to open a mere Kiosk (to sell groceries and other daily consumables); but, if you were to sell uniquely Kenyan product in that small store, you'd actually be adding something of value to their setup.

That the Chinese Embassy in Kenya would be the first authority to speak about the matter of railway employees being mistreated speaks volumes. Can we really seriously go around touting the sovereignty of our country when our leaders treat us as something to be expediently ignored until election season comes knocking? In the interest of this very specific entity that is entirely a bilateral agreement conception, our government should have had people on site liaising and getting to the root cause of the issues; and those people should indeed be a permanent fixture on the project sites. This isn't a case of some Kenyan domestic workers being mistreated in some distant Arabian country - these are Kenyan citizens facing dubious treatment in the heart of their own country!

What it all comes down to is a respect for the laws of the land. Chinese people are traversing the lands looking for many opportunities for themselves. In my experience, they will respect the rules of the land. None of them considers a tango with law enforcement while back home in their native China worthwhile, so mind you they're also hoping to avoid being on the wrong side of things. I am not claiming that China is corruption-free and that all Chinese people's scruples are above board, but the Chinese authorities take their role in punishment very seriously. Thus, set against the backdrop of their experience back home, imagine what they feel like in Kenya once they learn that the law is quite "malleable"? That police enforcement is very lax and dropping a few shillings will basically get major charges dropped? They are basically having a field day out here and it's all our fault!

Again, for reference sake, in my first year in China, my mother sent me a newspaper article detailing how about 54 - 57 Kenyans had been hang in China for drug-related offences (gotta love that "Zero-Tolerance" policy); and I also had that experience of seeing the case of one Kenyan lady who was also indicted for drug-trafficking - only, in her case, due to some lobbying by the Kenyan government, her death sentence was commuted down to life imprisonment in a Chinese prison which probably isn't a better alternative. (Personally, if it was me getting the short end of the stick and I was given a choice, I would've picked an execution by firing squad). And let's not forget that the Chinese government can also mete out death sentences for things like Panda poaching. There is no lopsided bilateral agreement that states that China has the right to severely punish Kenyan citizens whilst their Kenyan counterparts have to treat Chinese citizens with "kiddie gloves": we can definitely enforce the same measures on Chinese nationals reveling in the Ivory trade, or even those mistreating Kenyans (not just the one idiot who gets caught insulting our president!)

The day that we learn that there is nothing exceedingly exceptional about all these people that we look up to for donor aid, that's when we start to progress as a nation. Hard work, excellence, discipline and compassion for the situation of the common man with equitable distribution of resources will help us come alive as a nation. Let's hope that in the time it takes us to collectively realize that we won't wake up to discover that our leaders have already sold off our nation to the highest bidder.

God help us all