Fire

On Thursday afternoon there was a wild fire on the land adjacent to Harmony Farm. Sam, three of the boys, and the monks from the nearby pagoda fought the fire and were able to keep it, for the most part, off Harmony Farm's land. David and I arrived at the farm for our afternoon's work very soon after the fire passed. It had burned right up to the fence on three sides of the land, but only burned a few square meters of the farm. When we arrived the land around the farm was still smoldering and the fire flared up in several places.

Marli surveying the damage

The neighbours lost everything but their houses. Their banana trees should grow back, but they have lost this season's crop. I imagine that they do not have any savings to see their family through this time and it will be a very difficult year for them.

The following afternoon the fire flared up again and this time it burned part of Harmony Farm. The chicken house was completely lost, and many of the chickens died. Many young fruit trees were burned as well. The fire came within a few meters of the house, but thankfully it was not burned.

The chicken house

If anyone would like to donate some money towards rebuilding after the fire, or for any of Harmony Farm's other programs, you could set that up by emailing Marli at marli@harmonyfarmcambodia.org