As part of Zambia Mission Fund’s food relief efforts, a community garden was constructed at Zyangale Church of Christ in Zyangale village. Sixty raised beds are now ready to provide fresh vegetables to the entire community. Namwianga Mission Farm Manager Thomas Simubali led the Survival Garden Workshop at the village February 17-22, training and supervising representatives from 55 households. The participants learned how to construct raised beds and how to use manure “tea” as a top dressing organic fertilizer. They also learned the importance of crop rotation to maximize soil fertility and organic methods to reduce pests and disease.

The workshop involved participants in “learning by doing,” so everyone pitched in to prepare the garden. A bucket drip irrigation system is now installed so that even in times of limited rainfall the garden can thrive on water provided by a nearby borehole (well).

A second workshop at nearby Zyangale Christian Basic School trained the school’s pupils and teachers as they constructed a garden that will be used to feed students, teachers, and their families.