Poverty coupled with drought, declining soil fertility, and soil erosion, poses major threats to the ability of communities to feed themselves. Due to the effects of decades of bad farming practices like mono-cropping on decreasing land sizes, hunger and starvation have become a serious threat. Commercial farming techniques using chemicals and GM seeds are often viewed as a way to feed people. To the contrary, commercial farming will only give a short term fix by pouring chemicals into the soil, polluting the water table and exposing people to carcinogens. GM seeds are unable to be sprouted and therefore farmers must purchase seed each year.

The biggest challenge for farmers is how to maintain and increase sustainable farm productivity of crops and livestock using the limited resources of land, labor, and capital. Proper techniques of organic farming can make all of the difference.

The approach is to train in organic, high-yield, Grow Biointensive® agricultural techniques, that includes restoring soil fertility, integrative pest management, drought farming, and general sustainable farming methods. Additional techniques include tree propagation and nursery development, tree re-establishment, watershed recovery, rain water harvesting, and farm management.

The goal is to teach effective farming practices to every rural family in the regions where Village Volunteers works. A sustainable agricultural practice enhances food security, reverses environmental degradation, supports family nutrition, and increases family income.

Sustainable farming techniques are inexpensive, and providing farmer-to-farmer training is an effective method to disseminate knowledge of best practices. Joining together in a common endeavor strengthens the social fabric of these communities.

Accomplishments: Trainings and demonstration gardens have been set up through partner programs all over Western Kenya. In Kenya, through our able program director Joshua Machinga of Common Ground for Africa alone, thousands of farmers and young people have been trained in GroBio Intensive Farming methods.

In Ghana we funded gardens and small farms for schools and children’s homes. In Ghana we work with the Environmental Youth Development Program to train youth and local farmers on sustainable farming methods.

Donate today!

Donating to the Sustainable Farming Project will fund training and workshops by local experts in sustainable farming techniques.

Donating $25 can provide seeds and tools.

Donating $50 can provide a training in a village.

Donating $100+ can be used to provide a rainwater collection cistern or a solar water pump for a rural community.

For more information regarding volunteering opportunities supporting the sustainable farming and agriculture, please visit Common Ground for Africa.