Multi-Story Gardens Thrive in Difficult Terrain

JANUARY 2007 — In his 17 years as a driver at Kenya's Ministry of Agriculture, Nahashon Njuguna learned a great deal about farming from his numerous trips across the country. The 70-year-old man knew land he bought before his retirement in 1995 was not ideal for crops so he purchased an old pickup truck to transport fodder to the farm and milk to markets.

But his plans were short-lived. Soon after he retired, his daughters, Joyce Wairimu and Elizabeth Wangare, learned they were HIV-positive and Njuguna spent most of his savings and retirement payments on their medical care. Joyce died of HIV-related illnesses in 2000 and Elizabeth in 2004. Both were only 30.

Though nearly penniless, Njuguna and his wife took in their six young grandchildren. While he cared for the children, his wife started a small business buying and selling grain. When the business failed, the couple relied on a small garden on their property to feed their family.

Njuguna attempted to grow many types of vegetables, including such traditional ones as managu (amaranthus) and saga (spider flower), but that failed as well. A drop-in center in Nakuru then invited him to a training on multi-story gardens by Nuru ya Jamii (PDF, 123 KB) partner Baraka Agricultural College. These gardens consist of upright sacks or large plastic bags filled with soil, with vegetables planted on the sides in tiers.

At first Njuguna was skeptical. But he quickly changed his mind after kale, amaranthus and spring onions in his garden thrived after he applied the new technique.

"This is the solution to growing food here because the soil does not cake as it does in the ground," Njuguna said. "With three or four of these, I can have vegetables year-round with little sweat. And because the gardens are high, chickens cannot reach and destroy the vegetables."

Njuguna is teaching his eldest granddaughters, ages 17 and 14, about multi-story gardens. "I tell them that one day I will be gone and the gardens will help them produce food for themselves and their families from small pieces of land," he said.

In addition, Njuguna is urging his neighbors to adopt this technique. "When my neighbors discover this, I am sure they will all start their own gardens," he said excitedly. "Come back after a while and see for yourself."

PHOTO: Nahashon Njuguna poses in front of his family's multi-story garden with his wife and a grandchild. (courtesy of Nuru ya Jamii)