After two very long years unable to travel to our partner farm in Egypt, I’ve missed being on the busy production floor, brainstorming with my amazing team, and developing new products. So – I purchased a ticket, stocked up on face masks and away I went.
It was an incredible feeling to be back in Egypt.The smell of freshly baked bread and kabobs, the sounds of the hustle and bustle of people in the souk, and the generosity and kindness of the Egyptian people was just as I remembered it. After a few days of recovering from jet lag, I set off for the hour and a half drive to the farm from Cairo.
Twenty-four years ago, the long narrow road that leads into the farm’s village used to be a bumpy dirt road. The first time I visited the farm there was no GPS and the directions went something like this: take the first dirt road to your right, then when you get to the mosque with the blue door turn right, and when you see the zucchini fields turn left. After 6 hours of trying to find the farm I ended up on an army base – and believe me, that is not where I wanted to be. Today, the road is exactly how I remembered it, but now paved. As I looked out the window I saw camels carrying their owners’ loads, a donkey pulling a 40 foot wagon of hay, a family of four on a motorcycle, and cars all trying to make their way down the busy corridor to Belbais. As we took the last curve in the road, the farm lay ahead in clear sight.
Entering the farm after 2 years, the feeling was unexplainable. It was like no time had passed… over the next few months, I will be sharing the experiences I had during my trip, introducing you to amazing people, and updating you on the “Greening the Desert” project. Under the Nile is not just about baby products – Under the Nile is about the connection to the land, the artisans, the organic farmers, and a way of life that are all interconnected. I look forward to bringing you with me.
Sincerely,
Janice, Founder