Interview with Kent King Brown, March 15, 2022

Interview Summary

After having served in the US military, and having graduated from college, Brown first served in Peace Corps in Tunisia where he learned Arabic and taught beekeeping, gardening and animal husbandry through the Ministry of Agriculture to farmers. Living in Tabarka, Brown claims that he was in the “Club Med Peace Corps”: he lived along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Brown’s second post was in Salemata, Senegal, where he, with USAID funding, created 6 community training centers teaching beekeeping and sustainable gardening practices. There, he lived in a mud hut that showcased a community garden demonstrating terracing, sustainable trees, composting and using natural fertilizers and pesticides. His legacy, in his estimation, is that he gave hope to people who had few opportunities in life. After Hurricane Katrina, he served as a Crisis Volunteer in New Orleans, working with FEMA distributing supplies and money to people, as well as cleaning out the city zoo, and finding homes for abandoned dogs and horses. Brown served as a Response Volunteer in Jamaica in conjunction with the All Island Beekeeping Association and the Ministry of Agriculture in teaching beekeeping practices. Finally, Brown served in Guinea as a Forestry/Agriculture specialist teaching beekeeping techniques. Brown used USAID funding to purchase materials to demonstrate sustainable practices using local tailors to make beekeeping suits, and local metal to build smokers and hives. His adage is that “Peace Corps is the toughest job you’ll ever love!”

Interview Keyword

Military Tunisia Arabic Beekeeping Animal husbandry Minister of Agriculture Tabarka, Tunisia Salemata, Senegal USAID Community training centers Terracing Natural fertilizers and pesticides Hurricane Katrina FEMA Crisis Volunteer Response Volunteer Jamaica All Island Beekeeping Association Guinea Forestry specialist Tailors

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