Weeding maize

Maize harvesters

Encouraging results with tomatoes

5 - The results were carefully recorded for analysis back in the classroom. Teachers Madame Rose and Mr Kennedy look on as the children make sure Dan writes the results down correctly.

6 - The field was carefully measured.

7 - Once the measurements had been taken it was back to the classroom for a planning session. The plan was to see how many 7metre x 7metre plots could be squeezed into the space. Farming Gods Way is a conservation farming technique which has been developed in Zimbabwe. Instead of ploughing the fields the 'traditional' way each field is carefully weeded then holes are dug for planting the seeds in. Each row of holes is accurately spaced using a “teren rope” with markings every 60 cm to make sure the seed planting holes are evenly spaced. Once the holes have been dug and the seeds planted the field is covered with 'God's blanket'– a mulch of stalks and leaves from the last season's harvest. The mulch protects to field from the fierce downpours of rain that strip the topsoil away from many of Africa's fields. The mulch takes up the impact of the rain drops and soaks up some of the rain. The mulch soaks up the rain and helps it leech into the soil more slowly. In the traditionally planted field the rain just runs off – taking top soil with it.

This season's planting is an experiment to compare the traditional method of farming with Farming God's Way. The children are planting 6m x 6m plots, (called Well Watered Gardens after the scripture in Isaiah. The term ‘well watered garden' comes from Isaiah 58:11. – “The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a well watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail). The 6m x 6m plot is a demonstration plot to show how Farming God's Way should be carried out. The children calculated that we would be able to create 18 6m x 6m plots for planting.

8 - The next day the plots were carefully marked out, using ropes and stakes to mark the corners.

9 - The children prepared the teren ropes carefully – tying an orange marker onto the rope every 60cm. Another good maths lesson (How many holes will be dug in each row?)

10 - The top section of the field was prepared the traditional way by Elisha – one of the neighbours!

11 - Traditional method and Farming God's Way side by side. The children will be recording the results from each approach carefully. Comparison will also be made between fertiliser used. The traditional method will not use fertiliser. This is the situation that most poor farmers find themselves in. They have to pay to get the field ploughed, (as most of them do not own bulls). There is little money left over for the inputs required to make the soil fertile, (fertiliser and top dressing).

On the Farming God's Way plots half will be planted using organic fertiliser from the Ecosan latrines at Hope and Kindness, (composted faeces and urine diluted with water used as a top dressing once the seedlings have started to grow). The other half will be planted using artificial fertilisers.

12 - Holes were dug on the Farming God's Way plots very carefully – making sure that each hole was correctly spaced, (60cm between holes in each row and 75cm between rows). This spacing will allow the seeds plenty of room to grow. Once the seeds have grown to what is called canopy height the leaves on the maize plants form a kind of umbrella which discourages the growth of weeds.

13 - The depth of each hole for planting maize seeds was carefully checked using a stick, (15cm deep for holes to be fertilised using Ecosan compost, 8 cm for holes to be fertilised using artificial fertiliser.).

14 - As well as Maize, beans were also planted. Beans are leguminous crops and return nitrogen to the soil, keeping it in good condition. (You can't expect a good harvest over a number of years if you keep taking from the soil – you have to give something back). On each 6m x 6m plot 6 rows of maize seeds were planted and 3 rows of beans. (second picture from the left shows a bean row being measured up). Each year the crops will be rotated to make sure that the soil is kept in good shape.

15 - The organic fertiliser came from the Hope and Kindness Ecosan latrines – the compost was sieved before being put in the seed holes. The compost is kept in the black composting bins for about 8 months before use. It's made from human poo, soil and ash. It doesn't smell at all and is a rich, dark colour.

16 - The compost is really good stuff!

17 - So 18 well watered gardens were created!

18 - And God was amazing because the plots that had been prepared were really “well watered” by overnight rain, prior to planting the seeds!

19 - Farming God's Way emphasises doing things well. It was important to apply the right amount of fertiliser. A jam tin provides a very accurate way of measuring out 350ml of organic fertiliser! (Teacher Mr Kennedy wasn't commenting on the photographer!)

20 - So the seeds were carefully planted. The maize seeds were bought from a reputable seed shop in the local town, Kisii. They are a hybrid seed and “guaranteed” to grow 2 cobs of maize from 75% of the seeds planted. The traditional farmer can't afford to buy hybrid seed and will plant seed from the maize harvested in the previous season.

3 maize seeds were planted in each hole. Once the seedlings have sprouted this is thinned down to 2 seeds per hole. This might seem like a waste of seed but whenever the seed is planted some seeds will not germinate. Planting 3 seeds per hole allows the farmer to select the 2 strongest seedlings. All plants remaining in the field after thinning are strong and healthy so planting 3 seeds is a good way to ensure a healthy number of plants is grown.

25 - After the rain we checked to see that God's Blanket was doing the job - (of course it was).

26 - Everybody is praying for rain. Plan B, (in case of drought), comes in the shape of these 10,000 litre water tanks. Hope and Kindness wants to demonstrate good practise in the community. Hope and Kindness has a bore hole, so if the worst came to the worse the crops could be irrigated using the borehole. This is not a realistic option for most of the farmers in Kosele. These tanks are expensive but ….. they fill up in next to no time. The tanks are filled by gutters attached to the classroom roofs. 20,000 litres of water was “harvested” (these systems are called a roof harvest) in about 2½ weeks. When it rains in Kosele it really rains. Unfortunately for most of the farmers the rain just hammers off their land – taking the top soil with it and often causing floods. Hope and Kindness has 25,000 litres roof harvest capacity. If there is a drought the water stored in the tanks will keep the crop going. It is shocking how much water is wasted in Kenya because it is not harvested.

27 - Once the seedlings have sprouted and grown on, the children will have the ongoing task of adding top dressing and weeding.

At present the farming projects that Hope and Kindness has set up are experimental. Once proved the plan is to roll these methods out into the community. This will involve a certain amount of investment – particularly in roof harvesting systems which are too expensive for most of the local farmers. In the long term, encouraging donors to give money for roof harvest systems is an investment in future food security and self-sufficiency for members of the local community.