MARMBA NEWS
For some years we have been taking an interest in and encouraging the development of Clement and Ndina's demonstration permaculture garden. The main purpose being to educate and encourage the local community to grow their own fruit and vegetables in plots similar to allotments seen in this country.
Since his retirement from being an educational officer Clement has concentrated on enlarging this enterprise to the point where the garden can now be best described as a small farm or shamba as it is called in Tanzania. I have received numerous photographs and videos and it is quite clear that production has increased dramatically. He has even encouraged the choir from Maramba B church to set up a garden and in one photograph the members can be seen toiling away on cultivating the land.
The attached photograph shows Clement with a helper watering some crops using a water pump which he says was a gift from Little Hereford presented to him when he visited Tenbury in 2013. I wonder if anyone can remember this taking place?
Helen Gould kindly sent a donation and the money was used to buy a commercial brush cutter. A noisy video demonstrated this machine being used to cultivate the soil. Bananas are the main fruit grown and along with other produce provides a good return when sold at the local market.
I am glad we have encouraged the development of these permaculture gardens in helping the local community to eat well and clearly it will be very worthwhile to continue our support.
Peter Metcalfe.
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