Current Project
Kawiri Village, Nkhotakota
Picture left - right: Luke Beka, Emmanuel Thumba, Zeb Williamson, Chisomo Mainje, John Phiri, Kevin Jones
Kawiri is a 45 minute walk from our last project at Ndalama and the leaders had been impressed by the work done and the difference Compact had made there. Chief John Phiri and Village Development Committee Chair Person Emmanuel Thumba really stood out as having a vision of how the Compact system would improve their village. Like all good leaders, they want the opportunity of a better life for their people. Although experienced farmers, the community often suffers from a short growing period due to the landscape and the regular impact of climatic shock.
March 2024 saw the beginning of our work with them by introducing the basic principles of creation being perfect, man’s impact on that perfection and the reality of restoring the land with permaculture principles. Healthy soil equals healthy crops equals healthy people.
The people of Kawiri are obviousley hard working and have a good work ethic as seen in their farming practices. Kiason Million is an amputee with six children and we found him happily at work during our viist in March. Like wise this lady, 8 months pregnant, has no hestitation at swinging her pick!
Meanwhile others are only to keen to attend the training to gain the much needed knowledge we provide.
Thirty people attended the first five days of training which focused on the importance of healthy soil through the creation of compost. Their homemade compost will bring a huge financial saving over the year and replace the chemical induced fertilizers currently used. Treat the earth with kindness and it will be kind to you.
May 20-23 2024 saw the second training session in Kawiri with detail explanations and practical workshops on composting. The composting process has been beautifully illustrated by Emily Williamson for the participants to grasp the practicality of the activity.
On our third visit to Kawiri at the end of June 2024 we were delighted to see that the community had already gone beyond the demonstration plot where they had been taught the principles of composting. Below we have Monica Chirwa standing next to her own compost pile. The neighbours take turns in helping each other to collect the foliage as it’s a big task. As each home develops and grows their composting process the soil is being replenished, the yield will improve and money is saved on fertilizer.
Below we have images from the third training session in which the attendees where taught how to find land contours for the berms and swales. Berms and swales are like ditches created to catch water that often runs off the surface, leaving no time to be absorbed into the soil. After marking out the land contours, marker ridge where dug and used to lay out the first berm and swale. From there new rows were tilled at 75cm instead of a meter apart, this redeems 25% of the land for growing, and will be developed into grow beds gaining a further 25% of growing space. Dominic (in the purple shirt) is our Lead farmer and is a local man trained by the government to provide on going assistance to farmers. He is delighted to oversee the work of Compact.
On June 10, 2024, members of the community gathered to establish a modest yet vital space and by using locally sourced materials, constructed a grass fence to protect a tree nursery.Compact bought the tree seeds and planting tubes, while the community worked diligently, filling 2,495 tubes with nutrient-rich soil, preparing them for the precious seedlings that would soon follow from seeds sown on a raised bed of soil. On October 17, 2024, the nursery buzzed with activity as the tubes were carefully filled with saplings.
October 30th brought another step in the restoration of Kawiri with the all important delivery of approximately 1,000 saplings from Four Season Nursery in Lilongwe. These will be kept in the nursery until it’s time to plant them in December.
