Blog: Valley of Ali

Valley of Ali, Afghanistan

Every year we prepare to distribute hybrid Poplar cuttings in March. If the ground is not wet, we go to check the trees, cut the branches, and make the cuttings. 

As I spoke with a  local staffer, he said three farmers had already approached him and were interested in getting cuttings. The distribution starts in the Spring. We hope to distribute Poplar cuttings to more local farmers. 

Valley of Ali, Afghanistan

Ahmad* is a hardworking man in Yakawlang who plants various vegetables in a “kitchen garden” on our tree farm. He has lots of experience in cultivating gardens. Last year, he made some good money by selling garlic and onions.

Valley of Ali, Afghanistan

After a very cold winter in the city where the trees are located, we are planning to distribute vegetable seeds to local farmers. Last year, we had a good harvest from our seed distribution. The ground is now ploughed to plant different kinds of vegetable seeds.

Valley of Ali*, Afghanistan

Despite COVID-19, we distributed 30,400 poplar cuttings to about 45 farmers. We also gave vegetable seeds to nearly 200 families in 2020, and we hope to share more in the spring.

Valley of Ali*, Afghanistan

As in years past, our demonstration kitchen garden looks so good, especially at the time of harvest!  It provides families and our staff with a variety of crops such as cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, etc.  in the summer and early autumn.

We also invite villagers to show them that it is possible to plant vegetables in their fields and give them some fresh onions and lettuce as a gift, so that we can make friends with them.

*Valley of Ali, Afghanistan

We had a cold winter in Yakawlang this year, and even though it is springtime, the trees haven't budded, yet.  Presently, we have distributed more than 16,000 poplar cuttings! As we give the cuttings to the local farmers, we also teach them how to plant hybrid poplars. So far, 20 farmers have been trained this year.
 

*Valley of Ali, Afghanistan

It is autumn in Yakawlang, so the trees look yellow and very beautiful. We had almost 17,000 hybrid poplar cuttings distributed so far this year. The trees have had a good impact on the local climate.

Valley of Ali, Afghanistan

Yakawlang has cold weather, but some of our kitchen garden vegetables like radishes and lettuce are harvested twice a year without need of a greenhouse. The local people like to eat these two kinds of vegetables more than other vegetables.

*Valley of Ali, Afghanistan

Recently, I visited our poplar tree project in Yakawlang. The trees are still growing taller, but they currently lack leaves.