Chagcharan, Ghor Province

Today we attended a meeting with a local shura (community council) to discuss the potential of doing watershed restoration work in their community. They fed us a lunch of whole wheat bread (huge flat rounds), sheep fat soup, and fresh, locally-made yogurt, then tea and crystallized sugar. The meal was served on a long tablecloth laid on the floor and each group of three people shared a bowl of soup, yogurt and bread. After lunch CRS watershed lead, Biparwa, discussed the project with the group, answered their questions, and assessed their interest. Negotiations went on for awhile before the group decided they wanted to move forward with the resource mapping and site selection. The resource mapping involved this group of 10 turbaned men and a few kids crowding around paper on the floor and using markers to designate springs, streams, ridges, canals, households, irrigated land, and rain-fed ag land. It was amazing to listen to them discuss and debate the details of the map. Mid-map making, a group a 6 large impressive men (more turbans, prayer beads, shalwar kameez, etc) entered the room. It turns out they were there to discuss a marriage proposal with the owner of the house. We wrapped up the mapping and the group chose two potential sites in need of restoration work. As they began the marriage proposal discussions we headed out to look at the sites with a few of the shura members. As we walked the watershed, we tasted numerous edible plants that the men showed us and I accepted bouquets of wild cumin and yarrow flowers (I could have never imagined this). The walk was beautiful, still some patches of snow in the mountains, brilliant green valleys, and hills that are reminiscent of the Missouri River breaks country. We finished the walk around 5pm and had to turn down two offers to come back to people’s houses to eat and sleep so that we could get back to Chagcharan. What a day.

We’ve also spent our time here visiting 3 completed watershed restoration projects. We’re learning a ton and are very impressed with the projects and staff of CRS. We’ll continue to spend the next few days in the field before flying to Herat on Sunday.