It really sounds crazy: fibers from the banana plant made into threads, even into so-called “Banana Silk”! The banana – we’ve loved it as a fruit since the 17th century. That it also produces fiber applicable to the textile industry was unknown for quite awhile. Rolf Heimann, our head of Innovation and Ecology, surprised us with a “souvenir” from Nepal, a woven scarf made out of the fibers by the leprosy association New SADLE, which we have been supporting for years with your help.

That’s where the precious Pashmina scarves come from, which, because of their high quality as well as their social commitment, are so popular. Rolf Heimann is a founding member of Nepra, a leprosy aid organization, and travels regularly to Kathmandu. Leprosy patients, healed victims, invalids, and the healthy all work together in the New SADLE workshops. The leprosy patients no longer feel shut out of their community, and demonstrate with their products how worthwhile their existence is to society.

The banana fibers are reminiscent of wild silk. After the banana harvest, the long, hair-like fibers are washed out of the stem of the plant, which can then be spun into a fine yarn. This essentially exploits what would otherwise be a waste product – garbage – as the banana plant is cut back after harvest. Causing no further on the ecosystem, this added value in the plant is especially good for the environment. The potential of this plant fiber remains virtually undiscovered – wearing it, and joining in the discovery of its qualities, is quite ground breaking. The leprosy association’s idea of processing local materials, and thereby giving those living on society’s edge a valued purpose, goes hand-in-hand with hessnatur’s philosophy. An increasing demand for banana silk would mean securing the livelihoods of the villagers, as well as the New SADLE association. And that lies in our own hands. I’m looking forward to how the scarf is received, and also to reading your comments about it.

By the way, you can order the scarf right here!

I’ve really pushed myself again. This morning, we were with Ramesh, the dyer. Everything for New SADLE is dyed here, including the products for hessnatur. Bit by bit, I have converted his dyes from “local dye stuff” to European varieties, which are produced under more transparent criteria. From the European producers, I receive reliable framework conditions. After extensive tests for heavy metals, formaldehyde, etc. we were able to approve the dyes. Today we were once again able to optimize a dye, as Ramesh has access to a new dyeing apparatus.

Then we had a really crazy appointment: I toured a wool felt production center. Deliciously colorful, wonderful products! I found just tons of great stuff there, from felt hats and crazy handbags to felt-ball necklaces. We’ll see what our designers have to say about this assortment. Speaking of designers: Anette Hoffman, our designer for women’s fashions, is looking for embroidered cotton fabrics. Hari introduced me to a few samples made from organic cotton, and I was impressed. And scores of cartons full of organic cotton are loitering around New SADLE’s office as we speak! Let’s get a move on!

This afternoon I had a meeting with Dr. Massmann, of the GLS- Foundations for the Future. I set upon her with all the charm I could muster and spoke with her about the urgent need for a well to be dug in Kapan near New SADLE. There was no further need to stress the necessity of an ultrasound with her, as we have, dear readers, already talked about that.

This evening, we had a general meeting to wrap up the whole visit. That’s always important after being inundated with new information and ideas. After that, diner in the company of my friends here, and a heartfelt farewell. I’m off to India, where I will meet with a partner in our Burkina Faso project. It’s a small world. “Namaste” merely becomes “Namaska”.

Driving 3 hours to Dhandkhola with Dr. Komal in his 27 year old motorcar eliminates any and all need to go bungee jumping!

We started our trip to the Roadside-Clinic yesterday, taking the “Highway” towards Tibet (whatever you might be imagining, well, it’s worse). But the region is gorgeous. In the early hours I could see the Himalayas in the distance. Fantastic! Because medical attention is particularly sparse in rural areas, the Roadside Clinics are specially important. People in need sometimes have a 2 day foot march through the mountains before they reach a facility. At the clinics, which are quite new to the area, a full-time nurse is stationed there permanently, while the doctor (my Kamikaze-Driver for the day) comes twice a week.

This particular clinic has five beds, a small laboratory, an x-ray unit, and a store of medicines. What’s still needed are an ultrasound unit for pregnant women, and a dental chair – just in case you have something of the sort hanging around in the garage…

Had I known how one comes to the small school New SADLE built nearby, I might have answered differently when asked if I wanted to see it. You’re not going to believe me, of course, because right then my camera decided that a nap was in order until I found electricity again. All we had to do was just cross the river … on a 150 foot high suspension bridge in good old “Indiana Jones” fashion. Great, just don’t let on that you’re scared!

Well, I survived. In the late afternoon I met with another agronomist who is developing an organic certification program for Nepal, and is also – very interesting! – an expert in reforestation. I spoke with him about the possibilities of reforesting clear-cut woodlands near a very remote village. Nepra e.V. maintains a small clinic in this village, which I have yet to see, as it lays a day away on foot from the nearest road. I’d like to visit it someday, though.

Maheswar Ghimire has some exciting concepts in the field of reforestation. But we also spoke about the prospect of cultivating organic cotton in Nepal, which would fulfill an old dream of mine. We agreed to look into it, in any case. It could really work, as the region has experience in cotton cultivation.

I’m tired from the drive, but I also feel fulfilled. It is a beautiful country and I am always meeting new people here who struggle through such adverse conditions and still manage to keep a good sense of humor about it. A drive with Dr. Komal is an adventure fit for Hollywood. A load of fun with the sweat of pure terror pearling on your brow! And how does the good doctor so aptly describe his own driving style? “Here comes Komal!”

There’s been a great song roaming the airwaves for awhile in Germany from the Fanta 4. The chorus hips and hops, ‘It could all be so easy – but it isn’t’. Just like real life. I was talking to a guy from Switzerland on the flight over to Nepal, who has known Kathmandu since 1969 and lives there now. According to his own recollections, barely 40 automobiles rambled through the Kathmandu Valley back in the day (now it feels like 40 cars per square meter). I wish I had a time machine. That must have been paradise. And now, here I am in the middle of the city, up to my ankles in filth and dust, not wondering at all where my headaches are coming from in the midst of all the exhaust.

But the guy from Switzerland still keeps coming back, and I do as well. In this country full of contradiction, people live unwilling to take responsibility for others, or even themselves. And yet the same people are capable of living with the adversity around them with surprising serenity. I could use a slice of their patience, take it with me as a souvenir. Hari, the production coordinator at New SADLE, told me on the way top the project that the Nepalese would be better off with no government at all (like the short time between the end of the monarchy and the forming of the government which replaced it). The political conditions, in other words, the government’s complete incapacity for action, is impressive to say the least.

Extremely adverse conditions, as well as considerable lack of individual initiative, pull this country ever deeper into poverty. But then the more refreshing it is when I do see initiative. Like the formidable strength of spirit of Meera Batarai, who has been successfully coordinating women’s cooperatives here for years.

Or like my friends at New SADLE, with whom I had an intensive conversation about numbers today. New SADLE’s concept is cyclic. From its own workshops, products are made which are, for the most part, sold overseas. The income finances the nursing home, kindergarten, and roadside clinic (I’ll get to that one later). The cycle would be complete if the workshop’s profits were enough to pay the running costs of the project (which our colleague Steffi Karl would point out to be an ideal example of Social Business).

There is a considerable deficit, however, which a German development association covers by soliciting donations and sending monthly to contributions to Kathmandu for medicine and medical professionals, among other things. I have worked with this association, Nepra e.V., for years. It started for me when I was flown over as a consultant to work on optimizing their dyes ecologically. Since then we have worked together continually, improving quality, as well as implementing respectable quality assurance systems. I’m really proud of how my colleagues in Nepal have applied these systems. With this level of quality, they could also produce Pashmina shawls, silk scarves, top quality pillow cases, and other goods for hessnatur.

Today I’m quite satisfied. Perhaps you’ve noticed, I’ve hardly moaned at all. Hari and I have met with a producer of banana fiber! Brilliant! The fiber is mechanically gleaned from the stumps of the banana plants, which no longer grow after harvest. Then it is boiled, conditioned, and spun into a yarn resembling wild silk. It looks very promising. Knit and crochet tests are in the works. Who knows, maybe it’ll work, and hessnatur would have yet another innovation to offer (and my boss could give me a Sunday off  )

Do you know what it’s like to be in a garage where the thermometer has just slipped past 90 degrees, next to a car with a running motor? I do. I’m in Kathmandu at the moment, and that is exactly what it feels like here. It’s madness! I’ll admit that what you’re reading is not completely politically correct, but indulge me. I’m allowed, and I’ll tell you why. I’ve been involved in the project New SADLE for many years. It’s an impressive undertaking, working with former leprocy victims on the edge of the Kathmandu Valley.

Before I tell you about the project, though, I want to wade into my Love-Hate relationship with Nepal. This country leaves an emotional mark on you. The filth, the complete chaos in the streets, the smog – it’s unimaginable. Okay, I haven’t been to Mexico City, but I’ve been around, just the same. The airport was chaos, and my ride seemed to have evaporated into the hot air. Then I promptly fled my hotel for another. I know, it’s all ‘business as usual’ if you’ve been to Kathmandu. But that doesn’t make it any less annoying.

But then, of course, there are the things I love: I’m at New SADLE today. And I’m surrounded by people whom I have known for as long as 14 years. People who tirelessly commit themselves to helping “their people”, under the hardest of conditions in this impoverished country. And I know again now, why I am here.

For years, New SADLE has made hessnatur’s wonderful Pashmina-Scarf. But New SADLE is also a nursing home, caring for aged, former victims of leprocy. These people are healed, but frankly, what’s gone is gone. With sometimes massive loss of extremities, the people here need assistance, and support. These people would otherwise be on the streets, begging, and wasting away under wretched conditions. It is always impressive how these people now live in their home at the edge of the Kathmandu Valley. The air polution is noticably less here, by the way, as the New SADLE compound perches high on the slope leading into the valley.

If it doesn’t bore you, and if I can manage to get on-line again soon, I’ll write some more. Until then, Nahmaste (I greet the God in you). Nice, isn’t it? God, I love this place!