Sustainable Vertical Gardening

24.05.10

After we all had digested the fact that the containers for the vertical gardens were not build and some serious that Handiwork would still have to be done, the first day of training turned out to be successful. The expectations seemed to be quite different from actuality – on my side as well as on the trainees’ side - but the Community Mothers, Men and the Fieldworkers enjoyed their lecture in the history of Agriculture nonetheless.

DAY 1:
The Fieldworkers reported back that the information they received was very interesting. The group thought that they would be outside in the actual garden but in fact were inside for the whole day looking at what agriculture is and understanding about the vertical gardens. It was a little bit like a lecture and history lesson. The fieldworkers, who were all present, said that it was mostly at a level suitable for the CM’s. There was a bit that was at a high level but they were all translating and trying to ensure that everyone understood.

They learnt that gardening is not about having lots of space but being creative. One can use any materials that you have at home like orange bags, the oro’s bottles etc. The gardening will save money and even time. The gardening is not hard work at all as well – it is just about preparing the soil. The training will help a lot in that we one can encourage community members and the youth to do and they can do it around the containers. It is easier than normal gardens.

The fieldworkers do reassure that they think that the CM’s will walk away on Friday knowing about the gardens and how to build them. They do think that they will be able to do them by themselves as they were very curious to learn how to do it and were asking lots of questions. The men were also involved so they also have an understanding of what was going on and can help the CM’s. The fieldworkers have also requested that they participate in the training for the rest of the week as well, as they are interesting in learning how to do the gardens.

DAY 2:
The group learnt:
- Our sandy soil needs to be fertilized two to three months before we plant our vegetables.
- The style that we used before putting manure on top of the soil is not working and they learnt how to do compost and to mix it with soil.
- How to make our own compost by not mixing it with plastic but we can use the leaves, grass and stones. The CM’s want to practice to do their own compost so that they can see if it works or not. Then they suggest that next season we use our own compost.
- How about home made insecticides by mixing garlic, ginger, black peppers, chillies and half a cup of sugar with 2 litres of water and then it must soak for a week.
- That we must mix the clay soil with the sandy soil so that our soil will be ready to be ploughed.
The day was filled with lots of science but it was important to the CM’s because it taught them that if crops are not growing well there is a shortage in minerals and nutrients in the soil. The group learnt all about nitrogen and carbon dioxide but Alan explained it really well to the group and in easy terms.

DAY 3:
This was the first day of practical work and turned out to be a very interesting day. Before all the practical work could begin though, the group learnt about arranging plants in a garden in a manner that they enhance the growth and quality of the crops. The group had to learn about the importance of rotating plants so that if this season you plant cabbage then the next you must plant peas. One must also not plant celery next to potatoes as these plants don’t benefit each other so would not be what’s called ‘companion planting’ – planting plants next to each other that will benefit from one another.

Something new that was taught was the bug juice whereby the garden has insects or pests and one collects them. One then squashes them and mixes them with water to then spray on the garden. All the other insects will leave then. Green soap is also very important when mixed with garlic and chilli in water. One then sprays it in your garden to kill pests.

The group also watched a video before the practical component started. This showed the importance of effective micro organisms in other countries like China, Japan, Egypt and Thailand.

The group then moved to the garden where the practical part started. The vertical garden tubes were already set up the men (5 in total). The group then had to practice how you mix clay, sand and compost together. This was incredible to watch as the Community mothers where getting really stuck in. They were mixing the sand, then putting it in wheel burrows to transport to the tubes and then the group had to put the mixed sand into the garden tubes. There was lots of laughter and team work going on in the afternoon, which was great to see.