From Covid – 19 to Cabbage

Covid-19 has made a mess of things when it comes to community mobility and food security.

Kenya has enforced strict laws regarding the movement and migration of people and this has severely cut daily trips to the ‘market’.

With the food chain disrupted, prices have soared and access to food has been problematic. HOPE, in collaboration with our 6 mothers at our AKAE housing project, rose to the challenges inherent in the pandemic and decided to grow our own food. Joyce, our project manager, gathered the ladies together and basically told them that “if we don’t plant, we won’t eat”. The gardening began in earnest. 

Within weeks the seedlings rose up through the soil and within weeks the vegetables began to grow … cabbage, lettuce, kale, onions, eggplant, pumpkins and herbs. Every square inch of the property is covered with plants. Even the balcony’s are host to bags for vertical gardens and pots for tomatoes and herbs. Children and mothers are all watering and working!

We know that “crisis” brings “opportunity”. These special ladies have risen to the occasion. The fruit of their labor will soon be on their tables.