by Monica Jubayli, AWC Lebanon
I was thrilled to get a chance to visit Awesome Blossoms when I was in Nairobi this October. My hostess, with the “mostest,” Pat Jentz, AWA Kenya FAWCO Rep, arranged the visit during my stay.
We were joined by Fannie Kakonge, club Chair, and members Jyoti Shah and Priti Doshi for a tour by Founder/Director Peninah Nthenya Musyimi and her team at the school in Mathare.
(On the right, in front) Peninah Musyimi
Farm 3 is near the entrance of the school, and that’s where we went first. There we saw how the women were working to keep the hydroponic system clean. We learned how the women are able to supply their families with healthy food as well as sell the surplus at market. NB: According to Pat, spinach in Kenya is actually Swiss chard. True spinach is called “baby spinach” if small or “Italian spinach” if larger.
Walking through the school yard, we greeted the children at recess, and near the football (soccer) field, we found Farm 2.
The tour ended by walking 10 minutes away to the location of Farm 1. Unfortunately, we found out that during heavy rains, flooding wiped out all of Farm 1. I looked for a nearby river but was told the flooding was due to lack of proper drainage. For this reason, Awesome Blossoms will not rebuild Farm 1 in this location.
This was very disappointing to everyone, though we ended on a high note when we learned that with the $211,095 raised by FAWCO clubs, over and above the original $140,000 target, Awesome Blossoms was able to purchase a piece of land in an area better suited for vertical farming. They now need to raise the money needed to create a newer and bigger farm.
Photos courtesy of the author.
