Words by Smiley Team
Patrons of the Planet is a weekly series where we hear from climate heroes of the global south and the world’s indigenous communities.
After studying agriculture at high school, I didn’t have much choice as to what to do next. Without the money to pay for higher education, I went into farming.
But one problem held me back: in Homa Bay County, Kenya, where I live, much of the land is too dry to cultivate. You have to travel for miles to fetch water. How could I carry out my livelihood in such extreme climate conditions?
So when I finished school I went to live with my uncle, a teacher, who I hoped would help me find my path in life.
One day, he granted my wish, by telling me a story. When he was young, the soil of his land became too dry, just as I was seeing today. He met a permaculture gardener who taught him a special technique that would allow him to cultivate supposedly barren soils. This technique is called keyhole farming.
Even in the most extreme conditions, this unique method allows you to grow food by creating a circular raised garden with a compost bin in the middle. Nutrients from the compost remain in the garden and the raised bed maximises its water retention.
In 2016, my uncle passed away but his legacy lives on with his teachings leading me to create my own permaculture project called Kakayando Organic Farm, in 2017. Using the keyhole technique, as well as other methods I learned, I built vegetable patches and grew food where others hadn’t previously been able to grow even the smallest seedling.
Once the vegetables started to take form, I invited my local community members to visit and benefit from my knowledge, empowering them to farm the dry land themselves.
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For two years I have provided my neighbours with free fruit and vegetables, helping to tackle the chronic problem of food insecurity faced by many East Africans.
I would love to share my knowledge with others from all over the world, because I believe that as farming becomes increasingly difficult, these skills become all the more vital for our survival.
To organise an online lesson in permaculture with Felix, get in touch via my Facebook page.
Support him and his community to continue growing food by donating to my GoFundMe page.
Patrons of the Planet is a weekly series to amplify the voices of heroes on the frontline of climate campaign work, as told to Blyth Brentnall. Every Tuesday, we meet individuals from the global south and indigenous groups who have risen above increasing adversity to support their communities, conserve nature and protect the planet for future generations.
