Long-Term Food Security for 4000 Samburus in Kenya

In our December 2018 update, we let you know about how a volunteer group from Greece constructed a tree planting and water conservation project at a local school here in Samburu County.  In January of this year, as hoped, these volunteers returned!  Together we completely transformed a barren 2-acre plot at a local church into a beautifully implemented Permaculture design.  In addition to planting approximately 300 trees, nitrogen-fixing and soil-building plants, and a shaded garden, we have created a water conservation system including swales, catchment ponds, and underground water storage.  This design is being very well cared for by keen and committed people and we have already seen an explosion of growth within these grounds.  With time, this system will become self-sustaining.  We are so thrilled about this project and are eager to continue implementing similar designs around the community.

This newly designed area has been put to the test with a much out of season rain.  Though this very wet weather is delightful for the vegetation, it has also brought massive swarms of locusts; the worst locust plague Kenya has seen in over 70 years.  We have recently witnessed the first swarm to come to our area.  It passed by a couple kilometres from Sadhana Forest land, lasting hours and moving like a giant cloud of dusty, brown smoke.  The locusts surely damaged crops but had little effect on the food-bearing trees we have planted over the last 6 years.

Happily, we would like to add that with all the extra water and vegetative growth, we are seeing more and more very welcome wildlife.  On the campus of Sadhana Forest Kenya, over 70 species of birds have now been identified along with a number of families of the tiny antelope species dik-dik.  The endangered Grévy's zebra is now frequently being sighted in the area near the land in addition to the ever-present common zebra, hyenas, jackals, antelopes, and even two lions have been seen nearby (on the other side of our very secure fence!).

Keep a lookout for Sadhana Forest Kenya featured in an upcoming GlobalGiving article. A very heartfelt Thank You to our dedicated volunteers, our generous donors, and the ever-supportive GlobalGiving community.  If you are interested in providing us feedback concerning our project, finding out more about our activities or area of operation, or would like to volunteer with us, please contact us here or email us directly at Kenya@sadhanaforest.org.  We also strongly encourage you to provide feedback at the end of this report.

Ashe Oleng! ("Thank you very much" in Kisamburu)