Long-Term Food Security for 4000 Samburus in Kenya

Rain!  For the first time in three years there has been a decent amount of rainfall and the landscape has changed completely from rough, dry, and brown to lush, vibrant, and green.  New growth has erupted here at Sadhana Forest Kenya, in the kitchen gardens of our tree recipients, and in community tree plots.  We’re not just seeing new buds, fresh leaves, and tall grass, but also all of our water conservation efforts are paying off.  During the drought we could not always see the results of our efforts; hand-digging the nearly rock-hard earth to make bunds, swales, and water catchments without a drop of water to prove their utility.  Now, it’s a very different story that we are so pleased to tell you.  There is vast greenery everywhere we have planted over the years.  We’re doing it!  Catching and keeping water where it lands is a vital root of land restoration.

In other locations, where SFK has not yet been able to reach, the story of the recent rains did not always end with such great news.  With deforestation comes eroded and degraded soil so the rain is not absorbed where it lands, but runs down the slope.  This fast moving water further erodes the soil, resulting in landslides, floods, destroyed ecosystems, properties, and worse.  There is so much that can be done to prevent run-off, catch the rain, and heal the Earth.

We feel inspiration and hope with every bit of growth we can see on the land and because of the amazing community members we get to work with.  Recently, we began collaborating with Samburu Girls Foundation, an organisation that helps girls at risk of child marriage.  Planting trees and learning alongside people of varying backgrounds and experiences is a wonderful way to bring people together, build community, and foster empathy for one another.  We can’t wait to tell you more about this and future collaborations.

From all of us at Sadhana Forest: Happy Holidays and Thank You to our volunteers, donors, and the GlobalGiving community!  To learn more, provide feedback, or inquire about volunteering, email kenya@sadhanaforest.org.

Ashe Oleng! (“Thank you very much!” in Kisamburu)