In 2004 I began serving as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi, Africa as part of their Environment sector.  In coordination with the local government Peace Corps had initiated a Collaborative Natural Resource Management Project (CBNRM) that was designed to support the communities bordering wildlife or forest reserves and national parks. Some of the efforts include tree nursery establishment, mud-stove demonstrations, irrigation schemes, income generation activities, fish ponds, beekeeping and more. Below are some of the projects I initiated as part of the CBNRM program from 2004-2007. I was based in the area of Sub-Chief Zolokere in Rumphi District, Northern Region of Malawi, 175 miles northwest of the capitol, Lilongwe and 75 miles northwest of Mzuzu, the regional capitol. The area that lies north of Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve bordering Zambia to the west, encompassed by the mountains that form the Nyika Plateau to the north constitutes the Hewe River Valley which is referred to by the locals as Hewe (‘Hey-vay’).