Newsletter July 2017

Roger was in England for two months, but this did not stopped work from continuing from both Nairobi and Kisumu. Rains have been unpredictable but our teaching is geared towards this and it has been encouraging to see how the holistic message of Caring for God’s creation has motivated those we work with as they take appropriate measures.

Training from the Farm

The team have been working hard to make then farm an interesting and informative place for training. Visitors often talk about the peace they experience as we work with God’s creation and it is then natural to incorporate Biblical teaching into what we share. In May there was a successful three day training seminar for 17 participants at the REAP centre in Gita. All the participants have been working with Natural Medicines, so the time included sharing, building on what they have already learnt, as well introducing new medicinal plants from the garden and new ideas. Domitilla was able to help feed them all in her kitchen shown above.

Domitilla preparing to feed people from her kitchen

Photo of participants listening to the teaching — Participants listening to the teaching

Farmers in Western Kenya have taken up our teaching as their own

In July, Roger returned to Kenya and was able to visit various farmers whom we have trained in various seminars, in their homes in Kakamega County. It was particularly encouraging to see the way they have taken the teaching and incorporated it into their farms and lives in general. It is encouraging to hear how they are sharing these concepts with others so that the message spreads.

Fridah Wabuko only moved to her new home a week earlier, but has already established her Artemisia nursery — Fridah Wabuko established her Artemisia nursery soon after moving into her new home

Alice continues to produce much Artemisia in the corners of her farm

More Vetiver hedges are protecting more soil

A couple working in harmony to produce well

New ideas on the Reap Farm

The farm in Kajulu has most of the things we teach incorporated into the site, and we try to add new ideas from time to time. We have a small area for a kitchen garden behind our improved rural kitchen, and we have now built a ‘Keyhole Garden’ for growing some vegetables intensively there. Working together as a team we were able to construct it and make sure that the soil will be very productive by incorporating cuttings from around the farm and goat manure. We have also been harvesting some new crops we have been trying.

photo of The Keyhole garden behind the kitchen — The Keyhole garden behind the kitchen

Photo of Staff harvesting Tumeric — Staff harvesting Tumeric

Another phot of the keyhole garden — Another view of the Keyhole garden behind the kitchen

photo of Richard Agiso and Sister Francesca with newly harvested yacón tubers — Richard Agiso and Sister Francesca with newly harvested yacón tubers

Roger and Jos in UK

Roger and Josilen Sharland were in UK during May and June 2017. It was good to share our work in different contexts. Roger returned to Nairobi in early July, but Jos has stayed on in Reading, UK for another three months.