Zulu 30 - Planting and Harvesting

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“Where does food come from?” asks the teacher.
“From the super market Miss.” a student’s reply.
 
Lima is to plant.

Children born in cities have no concept of agriculture, seeds, planting, harvesting, drought, floods, and everything related to ukulima, which means working the soil in order to produce food. 

We don’t want to use farming, because it is broader and includes keeping animals, bees, fish etc.  We want to limit ukulima, to actually planting and harvesting.

ZULU
ENGLISH
Uyalima.
He is working the soil.
Bayalima.
They are working the soil.
Umlimi.
Farmer.
Umlimi uyalima.
The farmer is working the soil.
Bayalima abalimi. (many people)
Farmers are working the soil
Ngizo lima.
I will work the soil.
Linethile. 
It rained. 
Limani. (you, many people)
Start working the soil.
Linethile.
It rained.
Sizolima.
We will work the soil.
Balima ngani?
How do they work the soil?
Balima ngezinkabi.
They use oxen/buffalos to work the soil.
Balima nge-tractor.
They use a tractor to work the soil.
Balima nge-irrigation system.
They use an irrigation system.
Ilima.
Communal farming.  The whole community helps one farmer to plant.  Go to the next farmer after that.  This was also used in other projects such as helping someone build a home.
Bazongilimisa.
They’ve come to help me with working my land.
Limani.
Work the soil.

SAMPLE CONVERSATION

MOTHER:  Linethile.

FATHER:  Limani.
 
MOTHER:  Balima ngani?

FATHER:  Balima ngezinkabi.

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