Planting trees in open fields turns out to be far more difficult than it seems. Goats graze on young saplings, and people steal or cut them down. This means farmers have to be very selective: only trees resistant to drought and animal grazing are suitable for open land. Valuable fruit trees are simply too precious to risk there.
That is why we aim to establish a Community Food Forest in every village we work in. A village food forest with a sturdy fence and a water well. Thanks to this protection and the availability of water, it becomes possible to grow a wide variety of trees and crops in a safe environment, even during dry seasons.
The food forest is the green engine of the village. Every tree and plant that farmers would like to grow on their own land in the future is first planted here. Farmer groups can come to collect seeds, cuttings and knowledge, everything they need to make their own land flourish.
In this way, the food forest becomes the living heart from which the greening of the entire village can grow.
The food forest is primarily intended for the farmers affiliated with the farmer group. When the maize harvest falls short, the food forest still has other crops growing, such as cassava, pigeon peas, sweet potatoes and cocoyam, safely protected behind the fence.
It provides them with a reliable source of food and income, even in difficult seasons. In times of need, it can also serve as a food buffer for other villagers.
A Community Food Forest does more than just green the landscape, it brings direct food security. Behind the fence, (fruit) trees and crops grow year-round. Farmers collect seeds and cuttings for their own land, learn to grow fodder crops, and step by step build a self-sufficient village.
What will you make possible?
