Veggies in the Sand

I came to Namibia as a business development volunteer and with each passing day, I am becoming more of an agriculture volunteer. I have really embraced gardening and it is becoming a very fulfilling part of my service. Even though around 1% of Namibia is actually arable, I see small-scale vegetable production as a viable way for people to make an income. The vast majority of produce sold in Namibia is imported from South Africa. It is generally not of the best quality which prompted me to start my own garden.

I put the first seeds in the ground in the beginning of January and by March I was enjoying fresh lettuce and carrots. A small victory, all things considered. I came here knowing very little about growing vegetables, especially growing vegetables in the nutrient-deprived sand. However, with Namibia’s 300 days of sunshine, I am given the opportunity to experiment and refine my methods year-round. Now, I am beginning to experiment with different bed-preparation and composting techniques. Instead of lettuce and carrots, I am now enjoying fresh onions and sweet potatoes.

My small gardening plot amongst the dry millet field in front of the homestead. I have recently begun experimenting with shading a planting bed using the millet stalks. Even though it is winter time, the mid-day sun is still scorching so I want to protect the small seedlings as much as possible.

I had given up hope for the onions back in March when they had grown only a few inches in 2 months. However, after 6 months, they are now edible, and delicious. One of the biggest challenges has been the sand. It erodes away easily and after repeated watering a compacted layer develops under the surface. I am finding that this is becoming a problem for bulb and tuber vegetables. Not only is the eroding sand exposing the bulb but the compacted layer is stunting its development and forcing it to push out above the surface.

To begin combating the compacted soil issue and nutrient deprivation, I have begun making compost. So far I have two piles in process; one above ground and one buried. By mixing green leaves, brown grass, goat manure, and water I am beginning to get something that somewhat resembles soil.

My sometimes helpful gardening hands.

The home garden has inspired me to explore further gardening options. At school I have started an entrepreneurship club which is the perfect way to begin a school garden. The club has about 35 students from grades 8 – 10. We have been allocated a small plot of land on the school grounds that should be big enough for us to grow a variety of vegetables that can be sold in the community. It is a good way for the students to learn a new skill, learn how to manage a small business, and achieve something with tangible results.

The building of our first compost pile. It took some persuasion and constant reminding to get my club members to bring the necessary materials. In the end I think they were glad they did. They really embraced the building of the pile and had a lot of fun.

Building a compost pile has never been easier. Once I showed them the way they pushed me to the side and took over.

The most fun I have ever had playing with manure and dead grass. I was in good company though.

The biggest project that I am hoping to take shape is a large income generating garden for a women’s HIV/AIDS support group. I have been working with the group pretty much since I arrived in Enguwantale. The group was originally established in 2006 to provide support to the numerous women living with HIV/AIDS in the area. In March I invited the group leader to attend a permagardening workshop with me. The workshop proved to be a motivator for her; since then she has taken over half of my garden and has been successful in growing tomatoes, beets, swiss chard, and carrots. Her motivation was contagious and now we have a 29,000 square foot garden in the works. This gardening project, called the Tulongeni Gardening Project, is a perfect fit for this group of women. Vegetable gardening can bring a lot of benefits to people living with HIV/AIDS. The staple diet here consisting of maize and millet is certainly not balanced in the way that people living with a struggling immune system need. By introducing more fresh vegetables into one’s diet, the immune system becomes stronger and actually makes antiretroviral treatment more effective. Additionally, gardens have the ability to bring people closer together and generate some income. The land for the garden has been donated from the village headman and now we are waiting for the approval of grant monies to purchase the materials to build the garden. To get the garden going involves the construction of a fence, a small nursery, and running over 2,000 feet of water pipe. It has been a lot of work thus far but in the end it will be a highly rewarding project.

The first steps in getting the garden going is of course beginning the compost. We now have 2 pit compost piles at the site. I have really enjoyed going out in the field and working with the women. It has been great to watch their enthusiasm grow as the garden begins to take shape.

Our first compost pit was a bit of a disappointment. After letting it sit for two weeks we found that it hadn’t done much. It had dried out despite being buried under sand and decomposition was just not happening. Our next strategy will be to bring the pile above ground and cover it in plastic to create a humid atmosphere which will hopefully get the bacteria working.