THE GOAT PROJECT IS A GO! Long time Farmer to Farmer members Craig Adams and Lucy Altemus’ Goat Project in Ecuador has received total funding. Thanks to everyone that donated. Below is their letter explaining what they plan to do. Farmer to Farmer is talking about a work trip down to Ecuador this winter. Email us if you are interested.
Here’s their letter:

Riobamba, Ecuador
Dear Friends,

Craig and Lucy here in Ecuador. If we haven’t spoken in awhile, We hope you are well and happy much of the time, despite life’s
challenges. Life here as Peace Corps volunteers in our indigenous
Kichwa village, San Bernardo, Chimborazo, has certainly been
challenging. We have made a lot of friends here but of course have
wanted to accomplish more. Being agriculture volunteers, we have
attempted to teach what we have learned about sustainable farming as
farmers in the U.S. One of the sustainable farming projects we
dreamed up, a dairy goat project called “Milk for Kids” has yet to
begin for lack of funding.

Our idea is simple although completely new here: introduce well-bred
dairy goats to 5 motivated families. Then house, feed, care, and
manage the goats as is common in Europe or the Upper Midwest U.S.
With the favorable climate and feed available here, this should
provide each family with a nice supply of fresh and highly digestible
goat milk. Children here are especially lacking in dietary protein.
A knowledgeable cheese maker in our small town would like to make goat
cheese with any surplus. There is a provision that requires
participating families to return the first-born female goat kid to the
project so it can help sustain more families.

“Milk for Kids” needs about $3000 more for us to implement it. The
remaining time needed to complete the project will soon be
insufficient. Sooooo….we are asking for more help now. We know how
bad the U.S. economy is and how that has affected your pocket books.
But if you can give something, even $20, now is the time! To donate
go to the Peace Corps website, www.peacecorps.gov/contribute and
click to donate under the Peace Corps Partnership Program. By
entering my name and/or the project number 518-333, you will be able
to donate by credit card. If a check is preferable there is an
address there somewhere to send it to but be sure to put the project
number in the memo line. If you can contribute, let us know so we can
know whom to be grateful.

I look forward to seeing you on our return to the states in April, 2010.

Con Cariño,
Craig Adams and Lucy Altemus
craigandlucyinecuador.blogspot.com