Kilimanjaro, TZ – ART family’s garden success – Apr 3 2014

The ART family started their garden in December 2013 with Better Lives’ local partner Lishe Bora (“Better Food”). Although the family’s garden is one of the newer gardens in the program, the family has quickly become one of the most self-sufficient families. The father of the family is a careful listener and quick learner and he requires his entire family to work on the garden together so that the work moves faster and everyone learns the proper skills. The family has already started their own nursery and comes to the Lishe Bora Garden Shop promptly if they run out of pesticide, fertilizers, or seedlings.

Members of the ART family working together on their garden.

There are eight children in the ART family and when everyone is working together they can get their garden work done very quickly. Such a large family also means that most vegetables are eaten by the family instead of being sold to neighbors. Vegetables are only sold when the family needs cash. For example, last month the family needed money for school fees so they sold 10,000 TZS (US$6.25) of vegetables to keep the kids in school. Since beginning their garden, the father estimates that the family has sold a total of 20,000 TZS (US$12.50) of vegetables and eaten the rest.

One of the ART children putting new seeds in the ground.

The family’s primary income producer is their cow, which produces about 2 liters of milk per day that can be sold for 800 TZS (US$0.50) per liter. Recently they invested their small savings to buy cooking oil in bulk which they hope to be able to sell for a profit. They estimate that between the cooking oil business and the cow, they should be able to make about 5,000 TZS (US$3.00) per day to support their large family.

A bed of cowpeas, intended to provide food for the family while also putting nitrogen back into the soil.

The family’s major challenge right now is raising enough income to keep all of their children in school. Keeping kids in school requires staying up to date on paying school fees and keeping school uniforms intact and clean. They are hoping this will become easier as they slowly expand and diversify their small business ventures.