Awarding of Pigs

6/13/11
We just returned from the hottest place in the Philippines, tromping through the fields in 100 degree heat checking up on the harvest from the nutrition and food production project I blogged about on April 21st. This is our churches plan to hedge up against potential food shortages. Through a series of classes and practical training these people now have the skills and knowledge to compost with worms and grow food in small backyard plots independent of their work situation. Their obligation now is to mentor and teach another family and then supply them with worms and seed. The church supplies the families with hollow block and cement for the composting worm beds. The first participants who fulfilled their mentoring responsibilities, and had a successful harvest were awarded with a male and female piglet. We got there just in time for the baby pig distribution. The piglets were so cute (remember Babe?). The families were so happy, and some of them treated their pigs so lovingly. Of course the piglets were agitated and upset and it was so sweet to see these skinny rough looking old men petting and stroking their two pigs to calm them down. The pigs responded to kindness like dogs do. They even wagged their little piggy tails. It is sad at the same time to know the final outcome and purpose of these pigs. I am told that by May of next year each female should have had a litter (average of 12), the adult male will be killed, and perhaps the female also after the piglets are weaned. From these litters two babies will be given to the successful mentored families to fulfill the “pay it forward” agreement. Excess pigs will be sold to finance feed for the next generation and the process will be repeated.