Sustainability Projects

University Land
A few years ago 20 acres of land was donated to NLF from one of our generous New Zealand supporters. This land has been set aside for the eventual building of the NLF University.  However, in the meantime each year this land has been planted in maize and beans to supplement the students' diet.  Depending on the weather, the resulting harvest lasts from 5 to 8 months.  
It begins with a boundary of Neem and Moringa trees (which have insecticide and medicinal properties) that will be planted to protect and surround the farm.  Irrigation systems, organic vegetable plots, fish ponds and water storage tanks will also be installed.  This farm, when fully operational, will produce 10 different varieties of vegetables, biomass grasses that will produce compost, mulch, cattle and goat food and freshwater fish for the local restaurants and markets.
This is a wonderful opportunity for our organisation to become self funding, while simultaneously training the children in organic sustainable agriculture and providing employment to local construction and farm workers.

Maize Crop
In 2020 New Zealand sponsors paid for the clearing, ploughing and sowing of Maize seed on land that would not normally have been sown. The crop was harvested in October and not only provided milled Maize to make their Ugali but surplus was sold to provide funds to purchase seed for next year's crop.
Plough 600 x 300 2020-04-01 21 Maize Growing 600 x 300
The fallow land is ploughed The seed is sown and weeded The maize plants emerge
Maize Cobs 2 Maize Plants Maize with cobs
Plants growing tall Cobs on mature plants Ready for the picking
Crop 600 x 800 Crop 2 600 x 800 Children with Maize 520 x 800
The crop is harvested Sackloads of Maize cobs Maize is cooked or milled
 

CHILLI PROJECT

The NLF staff were so encouraged by the success of the Maize crop (biggest crop ever) that they began sowing Chilli plants on 6 acres of land. An electric water pump has been purchased by a New Zealand donor and the crop is well under way. They already have a buyer for the crop once it is harvested.

Pump 400x500 Chilli planting 400X500 Chilli plants 400x500
A water bore is drilled and a storage tank erected. The Chilli is planted on the ploughed field The small plants take root.
Chilli Field 400x265px Chilli Bush 400x265 Chillis 400px
The Chilli plants grow to full size The Chilli is ready to harvest The harvested and ripe Chill
 

 TOMATO PROJECT

Along with the Chilli project, NLF has also planted and harvested a large crop of tomatoes

Tomato Field 400x277 Harvesting Tomatoes 400x277 Tomato Crates 400x277
     
                                                  
 nanny goatsNanny Goats
One of our USA sponsors has donated 3 nanny goats which are being housed at Fountain of Zoe, the NLF babies home.  The goats milk will be used to supplement the babies' and toddlers' diets.