GlobalGiving.org: Help 100 Additional Families Grow Food in Zimbabwe

Preparation before the rains

Elizabeth Bara — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:55:39 GMT

ASAP works to increase crop yield through training

ASAP field officers are always in touch with their clients sharing skills and knowledge on conservation farming techniques that will help these subsistence farmers increase yields without increasing farm input costs. With the help of our generous donors, they have recently distributed 80,000 sweet potato seedlings which have been planted in preparation for the rainy season. Now is the time for soil preparation, planning and planting - depending on the crop. Normally the skies open and the rains begin during October in Zimbabwe. Emphasis is now on improving the soil using natural methods such as cutting the maize stalks and letting them remain in the field as natural compost or plant a cover crop after harvest. This enriches the soil a little each year and makes it more water absorbent. ASAP is pleased with he progress of this project.

Links:

Read more about ASAP's agriculture projects

A Sweet Opportunity to Help Thousands of Families

Elizabeth Bara — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:44:51 GMT

Women in Mutasa selling surplus sweet potatoes

In March 2010, when the FAO (Farm & Agriculture Organization - a UN agency) made Sweet Potato seedlings available to humanitarian organizations in Zimbabwe at no cost - ASAP seized this opportunity. Thanks to those of you who have supported this project, to help families grow food, ASAP was able to act quickly. Times are tough world-wide so most organizations did not have funds available. With your help, ASAP was able to make 80,000 seedlings available to our Kufusa Mari ISL savings club members in rural Zimbabwe

Unfortunately, drip irrigation kits have not been available in Zimbabwe. ASAP has been holding these project funds until the situation in the country normalizes. With presidential elections upcoming in 2011, the delay may be long and torturous. In an effort to help families feed their children now, ASAP Zimbabwe recommended this as the best way to help these families. Please contact us if you would like to ensure that your donation is used 100% for drip irrigation kits and we will earmark these funds and let you know when these kits become available.

80,000! That's a truck load of seedlings!

ASAP's David Nyakatowa prepares for rural delivery

Drought in Zimbabwe

Elizabeth Bara — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:07:16 GMT

Those of you who follow ASAP on Facebook know from Regai Tsunga, (ASAP's Zimbabwe Country Director), that the rains finally arrived in Zimbabwe last week. Crops are devastated and this is a national crisis. Yet, families with drip irrigation in place still managed to harvest some crops. The time is now to help those suffering in Zimbabwe and help them produce crops throughout the year.

ASAP has decrease the number of drip kits for this project to 50 from 100 so we can reach our goal sooner and provide this much needed help.

Help 100 Families Grow Food

T. Arsenault — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:50:46 GMT

Our sincere thanks for all those folks who have already contributed to this worthy project. Much has already been taught to these 100 families in regards to proper soil preparation and the use of permaculture in planting a successful home garden. We expect this training to empower these families to increase the size of the crop and allow them to grow a healthier garden. This training has had a huge impact on small farmers in our Malawi project and we expect no less for the Zimbabwe families.

Tom Arsenault — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:22:40 GMT

We are happy to share our current newsletter with you.

Attachments:

Newsletter09_summer.pdf (PDF)

Harvest of Hope

Elizabeth Bara — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:07:06 GMT

ASAP Field Officer teaches of installation of Drip Irrigation

ASAP is pleased to announce the receipt of an additional $3,000 toward this project from A Harvest of Hope, a Home and Garden Fundraising Event to Help the Hungry by Irene Dunlap and Stacey Robbins. According to Ms. Dunlap:

“What I love about this charity is that they are teachers. They know how to work with the resources and can teach it. They can teach the people how to use the soil. They help the people to help themselves by teaching.”

Our goal is now within reach - please help us by donating today!

Irene Dunlap, Inspirational Author

Links:

Read more about this inspirational event

Rotary support ASAP's drip irrigation

Elizabeth Bara — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:21:15 GMT

Propagation of herbs has many benefits in rural Africa

In preparation for receiving the home nutritional garden drip irrigation kits, 52 women leaders from 52 rural villages in Zimbabwe attended ASAP’s training workshop in conservation farming techniques and growing & using medicinal herbs last month. Known as Cluster Facilitators, these women are selected by their village to play a lead role. Each one will help ASAP select families that will benefit most from receiving a drip irrigation kit.

ASAP Africa is please to announce that 276 families will be able to benefit from this project. A new partnership, together with the Rotary Club of Peachtree City GA and The Borrowdale Brooke Club in Harare Zimbabwe will provide food security to 176 addition families in rural Zimbabwe in 2009 – THE place in the world where this is MOST desperately needed.

At ASAP Africa we hope you will consider contributing to the life and health of an extended family in Zimbabwe this holiday season by supporting this project today.

Active participation helps rural women learn and retain knowledg