We are very excited to start a new project, working with a school in near the Andasibe National Park. The school has 96 pupils and work is already well underway to create a kitchen garden to provide produce for the school canteen.
After starting at the end of November, the garden was planted with a range of vegetables including courgettes, green beans, tomatoes and peppers. Some crops have been more successful than others but topping the table so far has to be the 83kg of courgettes harvested to date! In February the school bought three rabbits who are providing fertiliser to help improve the soil in the garden.
All the students and some parents are having lessons in market gardening but they are also learning about the bigger picture, that improved agriculture techniques in turn reduces deforestation and helps conservation. 46 pupils were taken on a visit to Mitsinjo in the National Park in February.
The school canteen started up in early November providing lunches of rice and vegetables for the pupils every school day. Mothers of the students take turns to cook the lunches and there is a rota for parents deliver supplies to the school.
We have also provided some stationery and resources for the pupils to help with their classroom learning.
It is a great start to a new project and there are plans to expand the programme by extending the garden and increasing income by selling rabbits in the future.
Cymraeg
