Nutrition through food forests & gardens in Kenya

INTRODUCTION

Greetings from Drylands Natural resources centre (DNRC) fraternity to US all. We are glad to share our progress report on food forest and gardens in Kenya. DNRC has remained focused on training and implementation of permaculture concepts as a way of mitigating increasing effects of climate change. Food forests and gardens are key permaculture elements which try to work with nature not against by mimicking natural forests. DNRC is implementing food forests and gardens at DNRC permaculture demonstration site as well as amon the farmers we work with for both food and nutritional insecurity, environmental conservation and also for income During this reporting quarter, DNRC staff in charge of the food forest and organic gardens  were majorly involved in maintaining the food forest through pruning, weeding, watering among others.On kitchen gardens, they were involved in weeding, planting and also harvesting.The food forest maintenance majorly included: pruning of the nurse trees through chop and drop. DNRC food forests and the gardens continued to provide vegetables, fruits and herbs for both staff, interns and volunteers and extra for sale for income. DNRC staff in charge of outreach and training were majorly involved in following up both schools and farmer’s food forest progress and gardens in an effort to help them manage them well for good harvest. Below are detailed activities during the reporting period.

DNRC FOOD FOREST

During the reporting period, DNRC staff in charge of food forest were majorly involved in gaping fruit trees as well as planting more. Some of trees planted were passion fruits, tree tomato, pawpaw, herbs among others. They were also involved in harvesting of different fruits for sale as well as supply of the same for staff, interns and volunteers meals. Some of the fruits harvested included yellow passion, banana passion, pawpaw, guavas. Pomegranate among others.

DNRC KITCHEN GARDEN

DNRC staff incharge of food forest were busy preparing new beds to establish different layers including herbs, shrubs, tubers and ground covers. They were also busy managing the gardens majorly in weeding, Mulching, IPM and harvesting ready vegetables for sale and domestic use.

CHALLENGES

During the reporting quarter we experienced quite some pests mostly aphids on our vegetables but we managed through Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

FOCUS FOR NEXT QUARTER

•  To continue maintaining the existing vegetables.
•  To plant more new beds with vegetables.
•  To establish more vegetable beds.
•  To continue training and outreach on food forests and kitchen gardens