We were invited to the home and farm of a young man, Zenebe Minale, who I met while visiting the Museum. He had put together a 22 page proposal to develop his land into what he referred to as a modern farm and he shared his dream with me - to develop a farm inclusive of livestock and agriculture. He was born a rural farmer and his father had taught him in the organic natural way to grow the seasonal crops - barley, wheat, lentils, chic peas. He had been a Cow boy as a child and loved the animals. He saw how important it was to have a farm that included the fertilisation of the earth by the manure of the cow, to have chickens and sheep and bees. he wanted too to grow mango, avocado, paw paw, banana, lemons, as well as onion, potato and garlic and flowers for the bees to produce honey. And of course the Eucalyptus tree. His wish is for this farm to be a model farm where young people can learn how to farm and heal the earth.
We climbed the 7 kilometre hike to the top of the mountain, Ashetemmarium.- up into the clouds - only attainable by footpath and up on the plateau walked through the eucalyptus forests to his home. Here the Eucalyptus tree was being planted for its many uses. Building material, branches to keep the home fires burning and the leaves to be boiled for steam bath healing as a medicine.
While Bernadette filmed the interview sensitively, he told us again of his wishes, though it was difficult for him in front of a camera.
We had the honour of meeting his ageing, yet nimble as a goat, father and his brother and family.
Father had been down the mountain to Lalibela that morning and passed us on the way up. On our return down the mountain he accompanied us part of the way then continued down ahead as he had the ability to fly down "like an Angel" Zenebe, his son, said to us. He would return up to the farm in a few hours again.
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