Item list for trip

We are trying to put together a list of items that we need for our trip and who is going to be bringing them. Let us know if you can contribute by commenting! I will check the comments and edit the post as necessary. Also, feel free to make suggestions as well.

Items in bold are the ones that are still needed.

Camping/health
Tent - Ashley
Sleeping bags (3) - Erin(1), Ashley(1), Kari(1)
Sleeping pads(3) - Erin(2), Kari(1)
headlamps (3) - Erin(1), Ashley(1), Kari(1)
small lantern-Ashley
cookstove-Erin possibly
Pot, utensils, cups, bowls-Erin
Water filter with Pump and UV-Erin(pump), Amelia(UV)
Iodine tablets-Kari
Water Bottles (3)-Erin(1), Ashley(1), Kari(1)
First Aid Kit - Caroline
Mosquito nets/tents for the hotels(3)-Ashley(1), Kari(1)

Water Quality Test Kit
Sample bottles - Paul Moore and MDE
Written note from lab/EWB -Kari?

Soil Test Kit
Jars- in country

Flow/Head Measurement Kit
Small Tape Measures(3) -Ashley(1)
String-Erin
Floats(rubber duckys, boats, etc)-purchase
Carpenter's level- Ashley possibly
100 FT Tape measure-
Timer- Erin
Surveyor's tape-
Slope/Angle Measurement tool-

Energy Kit
Voltage Meter-Ashley(compliments of McDonald Miller:)
Multi-headed screwdriver - Ashley
Good pair of Gloves(2 or 3)-Ashley(1)

Documenting supplies
Calculators (2)- Ashley(1), Erin(1)
Pencils-
Graph Paper- Erin, Paul
Sharpie Markers- Paul
Laser Pointer-
Cameras-Erin(1), Ashley(1)

Team Meeting Agenda for 3/30/09

Meeting will be at Erin's house again.

856 NW 60th St.
Seattle, 98107

Agenda:

Ashley
- updates to project
-check on action items from last week's meeting

Attendees to Sunday's field testing
- results, thoughts, etc.

Lolly
-water task and supply checklist - should be posted to EWB-PSP or the blog by Monday's meeting, but just give a quick overview

Erin
-pumping task and supply checklist- should be posted to EWB-PSP or the blog by Monday's meeting, but just give a quick overview

Working Group Discussion
We mainly need to have a discussion about how to present materials to the community, how to be thorough in our findings, etc. Erin has been asking for this as well and I think it is good to go in with some ideas so that we are not flustered and throwing things together.
-how to discuss our intentions/expectations with the community
-what to say
-how to make sure we are getting input from all parts of the community, not just a select few
-what we need to document as far as results, concerns, etc
-extra things to pay attention to...

Ashley
-talk about a possible meeting for next monday just to be sure we are ready to go

energy/pumping team meeting canceled 3/29/09

Hi everyone,

The energy/pumping meeting for this Thursday, March 26th is canceled (diverted is a better word).

Instead, please consider attending a field day on Sunday March 29th at 9am at Matthews Beach in Seattle. We will meet at the very central and easy to spot bathroom/lifeguard building. Population at the park should be low this weekend so I doubt you'd have trouble finding the group.

We are estimating that this event will last approximately 3-4 hours if one stayed for the duration. It should be interesting to look at practice rather than just theory of some of the things we have been discussing (but hopefully not TOO interesting!).

Matthews Beach Map link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=matthews+beach+seattle&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=us&ei=auPKSfvBF5HItQPkm4W8Cg&t=h&z=14

I will lead a practice session of measuring stream flow rate and head (elevation change) of a slope. The water team will be testing water quality and evaluating soil types. There should be opportunity to observe and/or participate in all of these as we are trying not to overlap them.

Pardon the late notice on the cancellation of Thursday's meeting. My how time flies.

Thanks,
Erin

Team Meeting Minutes From 3/16/09

Ashley-Project Updates

• Updates available on the blog
• Documents now posted on EWB-PSP
  
• EWB-PSP is now streaming the blog as well

Amelia-Projects/Sustainability Meeting

• EWB-USA closing new program applications for chapters that already have programs
• Tanzania, Nicaragua, Susadel, and Ethiopia are all open programs for EWB-PSP
• Action Item: Amelia will post her project status production on the blog/EWB-PSP
• Action Item: Ashley needs to tell Will about the Agros staff involvement with the team in Nicaragua

Caroline-Health Assessment Update

• Summarized final documents for health assessment - posted on EWB-PSP
• Documents sent to Laurie and Mario (Nicaragua Agros Director)
• Action Item: Caroline to set a meeting time with the three travelers to discuss travel health forms, etc
• Action Item: Ashley to talk to Tanzania team about first aid kit
  

Lolly/Erich-Water Update

• Task and materials lists developing
• March 29 for soil/water quality testing
• Action Item: Lolly to talk to Carmen Cejudo about logo
• Action Item: Kari to check on a possibility of stream gauge testing and a letter from either EWB or a lab to bring back water samples from Nicaragua
• Action Item: Lolly/Erich/team to finish up materials and task lists and to post on blog
  

Erin-Energy/Pumping Update

• Task and materials lists developing
• Might coincide metering and hydro testing with soil and water quality testing
• Next energy/pumping meeting Thursday March 26th 7pm
• Action Item: Erin/team to finalize task and materials lists and post on blog.
  

Ashley - Travel items/fundraising

• Action Item: Ashley to make a list of travel items and post on the blog so everyone can comment and say what they might be willing to contribute to the team
• Fundraising is going to become a bigger part of our group when we get back from assessment- looking for someone to take this on...

Next Team Meeting: March 30, 2009

Nicaragua Team Meeting Agenda March 16, 2009

We will be meeting at a new location! We will be having our meeting at the Fremont Dock. It is located here: http://www.fremontdock.com/map.htm.
- there is a small parking lot and if that is full there should be street parking.

There is a lot to cover at this meeting, so I am hoping that we all come to the meeting prepared for concise, informative de-breifings.:) Looking forward to meeting with you all on Monday!

Agenda:

Ashley

• Project Status Update
• Blog/EWB-PSP website intertwining

Amelia -

• News from Projects/Sustainabilty meeting?
• Project layout graphic for present and future use
  

Caroline -

• Summary of final documents for health assessment.
  
• Sent to Laurie and Nicaraguan Agros staff.

Lolly/Erich -

• Report status of task and materials list
• Talk about soil/water testing date
  
• Next meeting?

Erin -

• Report status of task and materials list
• Talk about possible metering and hydro testing date
  
• Next meeting?

Ashley -

• Travel item list - do you have anything the travel team can borrow?
• Fundraising opportunities - Cameras (Erin), restaurant (Erin), liason for end of year EWB fundraiser, EWB-PSP Nicaragua Pub crawl?, etc. - keep the ideas coming!
• Next Meeting, last meeting before trip - all lists to be finalized. (March 30, 2009)
  

Answers to questions for Agros

Here are the answers we received for the questions that we sent to Laurie and Mario at the Seattle and Managua Agros offices respecitively:

PUMPING

1. What is the name of the Brazilian water pump that you were telling us about? We can't seem to track it down just by searching for it online; is there any way to get information on it?

The pump is an Ariete ZM, Brazilian technology.

2. Where was said pump installed? Was it in one of your villages? Which one? Do you have data on how it is working?

It’s installed and working well in San José. It is propelling the water a total distance of 2km (3.2 mi) from where it is installed in the river. It is also important to note that it is also being used to irrigate crops along its 2 km route.

IRRIGATION

3. Does Agros have any documents describing the farming techniques they promote?

There is an irrigation instruction manual that is accessible to the whole community but there isn’t a manual about agricultural techniques.

4. What acreage/square footage is intended for development of agriculture?

There is a capacity to irrigate 5 mz (8.6 acres), but this would be through drip irrigation.

5. Will this entire site require irrigation from EWB?

Yes.

6. What is the topography of the areas requiring irrigation? Benched? Sloped? Flat? Terraced? Steep?

The topography varies from 10 to 30% incline.

7. Is the crop rotation/harvest cycle known at this time? What is it?

At the moment we are using it to for Tabasco chili peppers in the community, and from December-April the land is used for growing different types of vegetables.

8. Does the village presently have flooding issues?

There are no flooding issues.

9. Is there any data on soil type?

The soil is clay loam.

10. How are the acres we are going to irrigate currently being used? What is the desire in the future- crop types, etc.?

Currently, the acres we hope to irrigate with help from EWB are only cultivatable during the rainy season. It sits unused the rest of the year (or just for corn and beans). With irrigation we hope to grow different vegetables such as tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, cucumbers, squash, and others.

11. Also, do you know if anyone in Agros or a nearby university has rain gauges and data regarding rain fall for the area that El Eden is in?

Only INETER (Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoriales) or possibly the Mayor’s office in San Ramón has this information.

Documents Available on EWB-PSP Website!

The following documents are now posted on the EWB-PSP website in the Projects; Nicaragua area (http://www.ewb-pugetsound.org/?q=projects/nicaragua)

• 501 New Program Application (Approved)
  
• 507A&B Project Design Compendium (Site Assessment Pre-paperwork) (Approved)
  
• Health Assessment Final Document (Translated to Spanish by Juan Lara and sent to Laurie Werner of Agros to send down to the El Eden community)
  

Project Status Update 03-10-09

• Received travel approval letter from EWB-USA - all hoops are now cleared! - Travel team to depart April 16
• Received answers to questions about community from Laurie Werner and Mario at Agros
• Team leads working on perfecting task and material lists
• Health assessment being translated by Juan Lara - to be sent to Agros/El Eden in the next couple of days
• Great work team! We are really on our way!
  

Soil Website and Field Testing Schedule

Irrigation Team!

Here's the address of the soils testing site that I keep promising to send:
ftp://ftp.fao.org/FI/CDrom/FAO_Training/FAO_Training/General/x6706e/x6706e06.htm
The trick is to open the ftp.fao.org site and then click through the folders as shown in the address..the link does not appear to work directly.
Also you should have all received the excel file of site assessment tasks/tools. Cleary, this document is a work in progress, but I think it may help us work through the site assessment trip goals AND how we will reasonably achieve them. In addition, they can be used to add to the mind map created by Erin.
I will continue working on the doc, go ahead and make your edits as well, we can merge them all before next week's meeting. At that time we can presen the doc to the team and hammer out more/or less details as necessary. We don't want it to be wordy, but we want it to be clear.

How does Sunday March 29th suit everyone for a field testing date? 10:00 at Evans pool on Greenlake? It's a little farther down the road, but it seems the only time that most people are available. Kari, can you get a water kit before then?

Shoot me an email if you have any questions!
Lolly

Health Assessment Meeting Minutes, March 1

In attendance: Erin, Ashley, Allan, and Caroline

During this meeting, we worked on the initial health assessment survey which was originally submitted by Caroline. Going through the survey question by question, we added clarifications where needed and added/ deleted questions as appropriate. We decided some questions were better answered by the census and/or Ernesto and decided to separate those questions out from the general survey.

We also discussed the letter which would be given to Ernesto to help explain the logistics of the survey process.

Ashley will take this draft of the survey and format it as appropriate. She will also write an initial draft of the letter to Ernesto. She plans to forward both of these documents to the above mentioned members as well as Juan (as he has been involved with the health assessment). They will have until Saturday to add comments or corrections and then the documents will be forwarded to Juan for translation. The final documents will be sent to Laurie on Wednesday morning (March 11th) for review and to give to Ernesto. Ashley also plans to put the documents on the blog for everyone to view prior to our next general meeting.

Energy/Pumping Meeting Minutes, February 26

In attendance: Erin Jenkins, Goldah Moore, Ashley Giesa

Topics of discussion:

- Goldah presented her continuing research on two pumping system types – grid-tied conventional pump, and a pump powered by a dedicated solar module. She handed over packets of materials for each type including sizing criteria and price estimates from colleagues in the US. We discussed three possible methods of obtaining either of these systems: importing from the US, purchasing through a Central American dealer, or looking for similar substitutes readily available in Nicaragua while on the assessment trip.

- We discussed that another option to add to the pump types is in fact not a pump, but exploring the possibility of a gravity fed system by looking at any water sources above the land to be irrigated.

- Erin presented the mind-map she has been working on for the assessment trip and everyone contributed to its development.

Action Items:

- Goldah will continue to expand the information she has gathered to include supply lists for checking availability and pricing of components during assessment trip.

- Erin will attempt to catch up with Goldah on research of other possible pumping stategies (non-electric, and combining with a future micro-hydro system).

- Erin will thoroughly read the information packet presented by Goldah.

- Erin will add items to mind map that were discussed as well as following out other bullets to their end. Hopefully these culminate in questions that need to be answered before or during the assessment trip. Deliverable is deligatable action items for many more people the next meeting.

- Someone PLEASE come up with a good name for this subcommittee!

Next meeting:

-March 12

-7 pm

-856 NW 60^th St. Seattle, 98107

-Corner of 9^th and 60^th in Ballard

-Enter through back door.

Irrigation/Water Resources Meeting Wednesday February 18th

• Erich reviewed documentation for evaporations calcs
• Kari will be able to perform evap calcs (this wil not be necessary prior to assessment trip)
• Lolly introduced field soil test that can be used
• Lolly to forward soil test website to irrigation team
• Lolly to review with Kari applicable soil tests for irrigation project
• Team to construct/provide necessary testing equipment to Kari for soil investigation during site assessment trip. some materials may be available in matagalpa
• Kari to investigate possible pH testing, Lolly lives by brew shop, can get pH strips if necessary
• Erich has a lot of experience with drip irrigation installation, will inform of opportunities to do pea patch vist
• Irrigation team to compile questions for Laurie
• Ashley will forward questions to Laurie
• Assessment team to do a bacteria test of the drinking water. Seattle U has a really easy procedure. we need to get the bacteria strips and bring a Pringles can (or similar) with us (or purchase there)
• Assessment team to do a visual survey of possible contaminants to the drinking water and / or irrigation water.
• Assessment team to do the health survey to tell us whether the water is causing any health problems.
• Assessment team to bring water samples from both the drinking water and irrigation water back with us for testing in the U.S. -- we need to figure out containers for this and get a letter either from our chapter (on some sort of letterhead) or from a lab here saying why we have water samples in our luggage. other chapters have done this, should be no problem.
• Next Water Meeting to be announced soon.

Fundraising opportunity?

I am excited about the following and found it to be a very interesting potential fundraiser so I thought I would share…

A professor and the advisor for EWB at Michigan Tech University (my alma mater) started a project called Kidsview (http://www.kidsview.org). The idea being to get cameras into the hands of children to see the world from their point of view. He has mostly used EWB-MTU as the method of distributing the cameras to interesting locations. The cameras are sponsored by donors at various rates ($20-50) based on what the donor would like in return-- see the web site for details.

I just exchanged emails with Kidsview about how we might coordinate to create a fundraising opportunity for EWB-PSP while still supporting his project and not just stealing the idea. His response was that we could certainly work something out where our chapter received the majority of the funds raised. Of course the photos would be ours to use for further fundraising opportunities. I can envision Christmas cards or just prints if some turn out really spectacular.

Of course we could wait and do this with the implementation trip, but not only would that be after the fall fundraiser, we all know patience may be a virtue but is no fun at all. So… to do this on the assessment trip we could either try to get people to sponsor cameras in the next month (okay maybe a little crazy with everything else) or just buy a bunch of cameras on our own and work out the details later.

Kidsview is sending me more detailed information soon on how he normally deploys cameras- he is prepping for a Bolivia trip with EWB-MTU right now as well.

Erin

Mind Map for Assessment Trip

Erin recently created this mind map to help get organized for the assessment trip. If you click on it you can actually read it. Feedback strongly encouraged...

Minutes from February 23rd Meeting

In Attendance: Ashley, Erin, Erich, Amelia, Bryan, Juan, Kathleen, Andrea, Rebecca (let me know if I missed anyone)

Ashley Giesa
Updates to project:

• 501 application approved for irrigation, but not for micro-hydro
  
• spoke with EC regarding funding - they will be coming up with a chapter wide funding program for professionals wishing to travel that will involve some kind of monetary contribution from the professional
• Travel team ordered plane tickets and some accommodations for April assessment trip
• Ashley spoke with Diana Underhill and an EWB project manager and attended a webinar explaining next steps for project
  
• Erin, Kari and Ashley to speak with EWB-USA project Manager on Monday March 2 to discuss pre-assessment paperwork
• Kari and Ashley to meet with Phil Thompson of the SU Nicaragua team on Monday 3/2
  

Erich Ellis
Updates to Water Resource group:

• Had a meeting on Wednesday February 18th (Attendance: Ashley, Erich, Kari, Lolly)
• Discussion of soil sampling-Lolly found some good information pertaining to types of soil sampling and what is needed for each application - need to schedule a day to teach sampling
• Erich putting together materials list
• Lolly to put together a list of tasks for the travel team

Erin Jenkins
Energy Team/Water pumping team update:

• Project role change- to focus on the information needed for getting the water supply for the irrigation system
• Still looking into possibility of coupling the two systems and creating the irrigation system with the possibility of future expansion for micro-hydro
• Next energy meeting scheduled for 2/26/09

Caroline Broadbent
Health Assessment Update

• Caroline reviewed the health assessment that she came up with for the group.
• Many concerns about specific language or questions needing more clarification.
• Juan to translate final draft into Spanish
• Discussed the need for the agronomist to send back the assessment to our team so that we can make sure he understands the questions
• Meeting on Sunday 3/1 to discuss health assessment in full
• Still planning on finalizing health assessment within the next week.

Kathleen Prom

• Discussion about fundraising project at the end of the year
  

Next Meeting March 9, 2009.

Project Status Update

• Our 501 application has been approved by EWB-USA.
• Waiting on approval for pre-assessment paperwork.
• Travel team has purchased tickets for assessment trip from April 16-April 25.
• Working on finalizing health assessment.
• Energy/Water pumping team and Water resource/irrigation team are working to create material lists and specific tasks for travel team.