Stories from the Field: East Africa Update

Spending the last few weeks visiting DIGs projects happening in Kenya and Uganda have not only been an affirming experience for me but even more so, an inspiring one.  

After incredible fundraising events in Southern California and Colorado, my month of May has been committed to seeing what DIG has been doing first hand and sourcing out the stories of inspiration that best reveal our work. Having photographer/videographer, Bob Miller, along to capture DIG's story on the ground has made this time even more exciting (Thank you to Simon Cyrene and the Slaughter Group for sponsoring Bob's time here). 

The stories we've captured and the people we've spent time with have inspired my passion for this work anew and I look forward to continuing to share DIG's growth with our supporters. 

Catherine Magill and Olivia Nyaidho along with our 6 local facilitators (Tobias, Sarah, Paris, Otieno, Vincent, and Issaya) have stretched DIG's program far and wide in the Nyanza province of Western Kenya. Patrick and his incredible team in Budondo, Uganda have humbled me in the ways I never expected. They have now known as experts in their field of organic agriculture and have been contracted out to facilitate gardens from the highest levels of government to the modest homes of their neighbors. I have seen DIG's program transform homes, communities, and entire regions and my words can only scratch the surface of my excitment for where this organization is going.

Isaya, Catherine and Nancy (YACREN)

In Kenya: 

Digging at the School

Permaculture School Gardens:

Through a collaborative partnership with the Lwala Community Alliance (LCA) and the Permaculture Research Institue (PRI), DIG has established 3 permaculture school gardens that function to improve student performance by providing food on school grounds, providing scholarships for qualifying students through the income generated by excess produce sales, beautifying the grounds with lush productive gardens, and promoting sustainable agriculture to the larger community. I was so impressed by Kuna, Tuk Jowei, and Sumba Primary Schools which have been our pilot projects for developing this program. With 15 schools in the area serving over 9,000 students, DIG has a long way yet to go before we meet the demand for this program but we are committed  to seeing an expansion of this program over the next few years.

Isaya teaching in the Community

Farmer Field School Extension: 

After hosting a series of successful farmer filed school trainings at LCA's Demonstration DIG garden, we were excited to hire promising graduates as local DIG facilitators tasked with expanding DIG's program and horticulture training into the Rongo area through a partnership with our Kenyan partners YACREN (Youth and Child Rural Empowerment Network) and the Ministry of Agriculture. These incredible new staff have been moving out into the larger community working with organized groups of youth, women, and HIV affected individuals. They have the opportunity to learn and test the taught skills in demonstration gardens but take the tested skills gained home where they improve their garden yields and family nutrition. DIG's first YACREN groups graduate on May 20th.

Producer Groups:

In an effort to explore, how DIG can help small holder farmers improve their earning potential, DIG has also been developing a "Producer Group" program. To date, DIG has formed 5 groups with between 15 to 25 DIG trained small holder farmers who are increasing their production collectively for sale in local markets. The idea is to pull their harvests so they can save on transport costs and supply more consistent yields to the market. While you won't see the diversity of produce in the producer group plots as compared to the schools you will find a motivated and progressive group of farmers who are changing their perspectives to seeing farming as a job.

Thank you to the Segal Family Foundation, MAZON A Jewish Response to Hunger, and the many individual supporters who have contributed to these projects and others in Kenya. 

In Uganda

I've been especially inspired by the recent work and independent growth of Kaima Patricks group, the Budondo Food Security Group/DIG Uganda. After starting a CBO (community based organization) they have really grown their program. Their group has expanded to take on a variety of diverse projects including:

• Bee keeping 
• Agriculture extension and consultancy
• Fruit drying
• Tailoring
• Seed banks
• Fabric card production
• Animal husbandry projects
• Restaurant produce supplliers

Patrick Showing Off one of his Member's Garden

Their vision is to collectively improve the lives of their group members by emphasizing the individual talents and interests of each member. While their activities are diverse, their group is rooted in agricultural, always going back to the practices and teachings they learned from DIG. Each member has a home garden with staple crops like matoke and maize, as well as a variety of fruit trees, horticulture crops and, in many members' homes, the group's animals like chickens, pigs, goats or cows. 

I'm both proud and inspired by this group of people who have found a voice through challenges of incredible stigma and isolation.

Sincerely,

Sarah

Stories from the Field: Burkina Faso

Turning the Sahel into a Garden:

Hot, dry and dusty are the most descriptive words that describe the current state of Ouagadougou.  One can sense it wants to rain so badly and indeed we have had two rains, however the ground is so hot and crusted it just seems to evaporate within hours and it is as dry and dusty as it was before the thunderstorm. 

The Site!

When the rains does come next month we should be very well prepared.  Even though this is the hottest time of the year we have managed to start building the garden and have about 20 beds done and plants already growing.  We will be finishing our first class of 10 people this week and starting the next group soon after. 

Getting the Beds Ready

The parcel of land that was granted to the DIG project is one hectare which is a lot of space for a garden.  At the moment we are going to try and maximize a quarter of the space for a typical vegetable garden and use the rest of the space for some field crops during the rainy season. Our biggest challenges thus far have been securing a site this large and sourcing water.  We have spent five days building a fence which is almost done and the site was surveyed for water this two weeks ago and the digging of the well is taking place this week.  Digging the well will be done by hand and will be about 15-20 meters deep.  That is a job that I am thankful I will not be doing. 

Two of the Women Planting Seeds!

Water Tank which will be use with the Well

This group has been working extremely hard to create something for themselves under extreme heat and sun.  We start very early in the morning and work until about 1pm then have our theoretical training and lunch before calling it a day.  Everyone is very excited about the garden and how it is going to improve their well-being. Seeds have been planted and some transplanting will happen this week so we should have some of our first vegetables by the end of June.  Transforming such an arid place into something productive and beautiful for people in such need really motivates oneself to get up and face the heat and beating sun one more day.

All the best,
Steve

DIG's 7 Year Throw Back

This September marked Development in Gardening's 7 Year Anniversary. What started as a simple Peace Corp project has flourished into an international organization that has enriched lives and land in 8 countries around the world. 

This November DIG will revisit our West African roots as we start a new project in the capital city of Burkina Faso. 

DIG will work with Burkina's military hospital to provide an urban gardening program to promote sustainable food and nutrition practices for military families and civilians living with HIV in Ouagadougou. This project will not be unlike our founding project with the Hospital Fann in Dakar, Senegal, so what better person to lead the charge than DIG's co-founder and inspiration, Steve Bolinger. 

We can't wait to share updates and progress from Burkina soon! Stay tuned.

DIG's Inspiring Youth

A report on the Kuna DIG School Garden from the students who manage it. 

DIG's Kuna School Garden lies west of Nairobi in the Nyanza Province. With over 800 students and only 12 teachers, this government run school struggles to meet the needs of its population. 

Through a partnership with the Lwala Community Alliance, the Segal Family Foundation, Starbucks, the International Youth Foundation, and Rotary International, DIG was brought in to help the school develop a garden education program that would address many of the students nutritional and food security needs. The garden has been a practical space for the kids to work and learn in. They take the skills they gain from the school garden home to their families where they nurture home gardens of their own. 

When interviewed, here's what Mary and George, two of Kuna's students had to say about the DIG Garden Program.  

Mary Owindo:

Meet Mary Owindo, a 14 year old student at Kuna

Q: What do you think of the DIG program? 

A: DIG is teaching us a lot of things. In the past, I didn’t know so many things about farming. But DIG leaders came and started developing in us some skills. I did not know what a butternut squash looked like but I do now. I didn’t know how to plant a carrot and now I do. I didn’t know how to make a compost and now I can. 

Q: Can you tell me more about this?

 A: When a teacher asks a question about the garden we will answer it easily. Questions about compost, how to weed, how to make herbs that can kill pests. We learned, just a week ago, how to make an organic solution that can kill the pests that were killing our plants. Two weeks ago the skumi wiki was being eaten and cut by these pests so we made this solution which was so much cheaper than what you can buy  in the shops or market. We used it and when we visited the farm the next Thursday we saw an improvement – some pests were lying on the ground dead and the skumi wiki was coming back to life.

Q: What have you learned from the garden?

A: When I went home, I told my father about the DIG organization that is helping so much. When he sees me digging and making a raised bed he copies me. I think more parents should attend the training. I also learned that compost is not corrosive like some fertilizers that you buy in the shops. Some people who don't know how to use those chemical shop fertilizers, use too much and burn the plants. 

Q: Do you think your attitudes about foods have changed because of the garden? What are you learning about nutrition?

A: Plants in the garden are very good and help us stay healthy. and some add flavor to our food. When your eyes are not seeing well, you are advised to eat more vitamins; tomatoes are a source of vitamins; beans are proteins. There are foods that give you energy, others for bodybuilding and vitamins protect us. Mangoes have fiber which can help soften waste so we may not have difficulties, and yams are good for our blood.

Q: What are some other things you have learned? 

A: I have learned that planting on a small scale can be good. My family now has a small garden and it is producing as much as the bigger plots. Bigger is not always better. 

Q: Have you sold anything from your garden? 

Yes, I am making some income and do not have to disturb my mother for my school requirements.  I am not only earning income but the garden is also part of my family's nutrition. I can sell it, or I can cut and eat because my plants are big and I only have to take a little. If I want to buy fish, then I can just go and sell enough to buy some fish. Also, I don't need to buy things like skuma wiki or cow peas now because I grow them. 

  

Q: Do you have anything you want to tell the DIG program? 

A: I want to encourage DIG to do this in all parts of Kenya so it can decrease poverty. So many children are lacking education because of this poverty. And we need educated children for the future. I think this program also increases respect of girls. 

I like when DIG comes to the school because we learn something new every time, like what nitrate in the soil means. DIG is working with us for a better future.

Nyla's Experience on the "I DIG Kenya" 2012

kids at Kameji School on our site visit

My recent visit to DIG in Kenya in May 2012 was a wonderful adventure thanks to the outstanding leadership of Sarah Koch, the executive director and her DIG co-workers!  Our itinerary was well organized and offered a "hands-on" experience to help us understand the mission and work of the Garden Program.

We visited many DIG sites and participated in their gardening endeavors. It was special to have the opportunity to meet the Kenyan people in their schools, homes & gardens and to see how DIG is giving them support in bettering their life style through learning how to plant and manage a  garden, and reaping the harvest of nutritious vegetables from their home gardens.

Michael, Sarah, and the WISER girls next to Lake Victoria

We spent three days at WISER, the Women's' Institute of Secondary Education & Research's boarding school located near Lake Victoria. The students gave us a guided tour of their school garden and classrooms. We visited several "home gardens" of girls who lived near the school. The DIG leaders and volunteers helped construct a home garden located on the shores of Lake Victoria. It was amazing to watch them create this new garden.

Kylene taking a break from DIGing at Lake Victoria

Maurice and his family

We traveled on to DIG's Lwala site at the Health Clinic. The highlight of this visit for me was spending the day with Maurice (a student of the DIG Program) and his family at his home. He was so proud to show me his huge, thriving vegetable garden and the well that he had dug to supply water for his plants. I met his two wives, ten children, his mother & father and brother. 

Maurice's Children

They all lived together on his lands that he and his brother had inherited from his father...One of his wives prepared a delicious meal of fresh vegetables from his garden. We enjoyed the afternoon talking about his life and family.

It was a humbling experience for me and I will cherish the memories of this special day....

The Encounter Mara Safari was a thrilling experience of observing the glorious animals in their natural habitats on the Masai Mara lands.  Our Masai guide took us on early morning and late evenings safaris and related interesting facts about the animals and their surroundings. We also visited a Masai Mara Village.

Left to Right: Masai Guide, Me, Toni, Kylene, Sarah and Kyle

I would highly recommend this trip with the DIG Team. They are devoted, young people who are determined to help the African people better their lives through their Gardening Program.

In my many worldly travels, this trip was by far the most meaningful and memorable one because of the close relationships I  formed with the beautiful, hospitable Kenyan folk...

Toni and I riding a bike!

Nyla Hoffner

Retired Teacher

California

What's Up Uganda!

Patrick Kayima

If you have ever been to a Reap Life DIG Event before you have probably heard Sarah tell the story of Patrick.  His story is amazing and it just keeps on getting better! 

I had the chance to meet Patrick for the first time this summer and was blown away by the amount of work he is doing for his community and for DIG.   First Patrick, brought me to his home, a 15-minute bike ride from Bujagali, Uganda to meet his 9 children (7 of the 9 are orphans who he and his wife have adopted).  

Peter Kabito

 While I was there one of his good friends, Peter, came over to introduce himself to me.  Peter Kabito is 64, an amazing gardener, a hard worker, a father, a granddad, HIV positive, and a sweet man.  Peter does not speak English very well so he communicated with me by showing me how proud he was of DIG and the work he has done!  So much so, that he considers DIG is occupation! 

Peter's Identity Card with his occupation as DIG

Patrick, Peter and his team of community members from Budondo have moved beyond self-sufficient!  Patrick’s group has 150 members and they take care of 92 orphans (including school fees).  They also reach out to other HIV support groups, widows groups, and orphan groups in the area to help develop sustainable agriculture projects! 

Peter and Patrick at their garden behind Budondo HIV Clinic

I had an opportunity to see many of these sites as well as sit down with Patrick and capture all of the HIV, widows, school and youth groups that he has worked with.  Since we trained Patrick and his group in 2007, Patrick has worked with 22 different HIV Support Groups, 7 different youth groups and 3 different women’s group to develop sustainable agriculture projects in the surrounding area! He has helped create over 400 gardens and trained nearly 3,000 people (2,951)!!!!

Patrick conducting a training on the benefits of inter-cropping beans and bananas

Patrick lives and embodies DIG and our sustainable grassroots vision! While I was there this summer, we made it official by registering a DIG Uganda Community Based Organization (CBO) with Patrick as the chairman!

We are excited to continue our work with Patrick and increase our impact in Uganda!

Certificate of Registration for the DIG CBO in Uganda

Emily Achieng's Ode to DIG

Rarely is DIG a muse for poetry but apparently something about our project sparked Emily's creative juices! We also want to thank Mr. Tobias for capturing her poem and emailing it to us so that we can share it with all of you!  

After you read this poem, if you want to read more about Emily's story click here.

DIG by Emily Achieng 
DIG! DIG! DIG!
Who will help me DIG?
In reality, everything is in DIG. 
Open your eyes and see!
the riches
proper nutrition
a healthy environment
a ready market for my produce
saving money for future use
And also proper planning for what I want to do. 
Above all every day is a surprise! 
A new thing to learn.
DIG! My heart, my soul, and life.
I want to reap the best in life. 
I want to DIG with all my strength. 
If I can DIG, 
why don’t you DIG? 

For us to have a richer, healthier, and stronger nation. 

Let us DIG and make the world a better place than we found it.

I am a DIG ambassador. Keeping in mind that in order to succeed in life I must have knowledge, attitude, and then practice what I have learned, and I will win in the race.

I urge my fellows all over the world to be the winners but not losers.

Thanks for the free knowledge you gave us. We really appreciate!  
Sincerely, Emily Achieng and Baby DIG