A bag full of hope

When the soil is poor and water is scarce, growing vegetables seems impossible. But this is exactly where sack gardens unfold their potential. They need no land, little space – and little more than water, sun and a little patience.

Sack gardens can be used both in urban areas with little space and in dry, infertile regions. Two to three kilograms of vegetables can be harvested every day. Just four sacks provide 10 people with food and valuable nutrients.

Sack gardens have several advantages over conventionally laid out gardens:

• Space-saving: One sack holds up to 70 plants. This means it can be used in both urban and rural areas.
• Water-saving: After the initial period, the sacks only need to be watered every three days.
• Simple: No previous agricultural knowledge is required.
• Fast: The first harvest is possible after just three to four weeks.
• High yield: Two to three kilograms of vegetables can be harvested per bag every day.

In the first two weeks, each bag needs 20 liters of water a day. After that, the same amount is sufficient every three days – an efficient solution in a region where every drop counts.

Sack gardening is particularly ideal in urban areas where there is little space and in livestock farming areas, as many residents have no agricultural experience. With this method, the main tasks are simply watering and harvesting, making it easy to manage even for those who are not familiar with conventional farming.

Najire gains a new perspective

When the drought hit Najire’s village hard, the CBN aid organization Operation Blessing not only brought emergency aid, but also an idea: sack gardens. “We knew it was a good idea.” They had previously planted small gardens – but without protection and water, everything died quickly. The animals ate the rest.

Operation Blessing provided the village with sack gardens, brought seedlings, taught the residents how to garden properly – and built protection against the sun and animals. “Since then, our lives have changed. We have vegetables for our children. Even expectant mothers buy fresh vegetables from us as an alternative to expensive food supplements.”

The sales allow the group to buy food, cover medical costs – and even save a little. Najire dreams of a small café or kiosk on the outskirts of the city. “The sack gardens are a blessing. We no longer have to buy so much food – we have our own vegetables.”

Give people in Kenya new hope with a sack garden.