Utete, TZ – Kindiwtwi family gardens – 20 Dec 2013

One of the biggest challenges families in Kindwitwi face is poor soil quality.  Plants that grow in poor soil are like people who grow up with poor nutrition. They are weaker and more susceptible to sickness. Good soil supports strong plants that are resistant to pests, disease, and weather extremes.

Because the soil quality is naturally so poor in Kindwitwi, families must do a lot of soil preparation in order for it to support growing vegetables.  The Kikundi Cha Mafanikio (KCM) Garden Shop is constantly working to help families improve their soil quality.  This includes initially mixing rice hull charcoal and organic compost into the soil, and then maintaining plant and soil productivity with organic fertilizer, natural pesticides and crop rotation.

In addition to poor soil quality, the Kindwitwi gardeners face other serious challenges.  Each season brings a new batch of pests, diseases, and extreme weather conditions.  Currently, many gardeners are fighting a powdery mildew that is locally called “ubwiri mweupe”.  Better Lives is working with organic gardening experts to identify solutions to this problem.  Once one is found it will be logged in a knowledge bank and with local partners so that they can control similar problems quickly in the future.

The KCM Pilot Garden is an excellent example of what happens when garden is well cared for and best practices are followed.[/caption]

It is a very worthwhile goal to slowly make the earth more hospitable for vegetable plants, which can feed children and so help them grow up healthy.  It is inspiring to see Kindwitwi families working so hard to achieve this objective.