If you will farm as follows, you do not need funds except for seed. You can farm during the dry season if you will make the bucket drip systems and carry the water.

Poor, unhealthy soil is the major reason gardens and farms have low yields. The following is the solution.

Organic, no-till farming, in permanent beds, with permanent paths, using only a machete/corn knife/weed knife, doubles or triples yields compared to traditional ways, 12 months production in most places, reduces labor 50% to 75%, reduces inputs/expenses to nearly 0 [buy only seed for new crops, green manure/cover crops], increases fertility, stops soil erosion [no rain water runoff], eliminates most weed, disease and insect problems and greatly increases profits if marketing. Use DIY drip or DIY bucket drip irrigation [made by farmer] to produce during the dry season and in areas of low rainfall.

With no-till, organic matter [green manure/cover crops] generates the following results:
The mulch gradually rots into the soil providing a constant supply of nutrients while eliminating composting.
Moisture retention due to the mulch layer means reduced need for watering; saving both resources and labor.
Mulch prevents weeds from growing, reducing another laborious chore.
Because of greater nutrients, plants can be positioned twice as densely as normally recommended.
The combination of denser spacing and healthy soil means a fourfold increase in yield. Josef Graf

If you are interested, I can mail you some farming dvds. Go to www.teachamantofish.org.uk and www.thelearningfarm.com about self-supporting schools.

Ken

Richard - you did not give us a breakdown how much would the Jiko stove cost and the necessary utensils? Also,why is the farming of 3 acres so incredibly high? $955 USD - as Ken says - it really should only be the cost of the seeds. As for labor - that should be contributed by the families of the children who attend the school, don't you think? I forget how much money you need for the seeds for 3 acres? Aren't you able to make seeds from the plants themselves when they are harvested?
Here's hoping we can get some volunteers to help - you know i will continue to back you in as much as I can.
But we do need to find a way for you to become more self sufficient and be able to buy clothing for uniforms and desks and books.
-Best,
Mum Ginger

Hi Ken,
This organic no till farming is an excellent model. My concern is how far we can use it for the Mathare maize farm. There are practical problems which will make applying these methods difficult.

1.The land is being rented and this makes it difficult to get continuity for the year on year benefits that will take time to build up. At present we cannot guarantee continuity on the same three acres of land and this makes it difficult to plan long term.

2. If we had the same 3 acres as cropped last year leaving the stalks on the surface may benefit the soil but creates other problems. Without ploughing how are the seeds to be planted? Would not the costs of manual hand drilling be too high for this acreage?

3. As the maize stalks add little nitrogen to the soil (mainly potash and other nutrients) the mulch you suggest would be vital. This is a problem, as there is no readily available mulch, where do we bring it in from? I understand labour costs would make this not an option.

Unfortunately the farm is 200km distant from the school in Mathare so it is not possible to utilize the very willing free labour from the community. Without the ability to tap into this labour force I cannot see, despite all its benefits, that it will be possible to use the organic model you propose. If you can suggest ways we could incorporate it into our project we would be most grateful.

Shaun

Hi Ginger,
I would like to discuss some of the good points you raise. If I get any figures wrong I hope Richard will correct me. The costs of the stove and utensils are as follows;

Industrial size Jiko Stove ( Kuni cooker 250 litre) 150,000 Ksh ($1,500)
Steel saucepans 4,000 Ksh ($40)
Steel plates and cups 6,000 Ksh ($60)
Steel spoons 1.500 Ksh ($15)
Water tank 5,000 litres 30,000 Ksh ($300)

Although the stove is expensive, the amount of fuel used will be halved meaning that it will have paid for itself in saved fuel costs after only 18 months.

Looking at your second point on the cost of farming. The breakdown for next years costs is as follows:

Land rent K-shs 18,000
Seed purchase K-shs 7,500
Fertilizer purchase K-shs 12,600
Top dressing K-shs 12,600
Ploughing K-shs 9,600
Planting K-shs 3,000
Weeding K-shs 4,500
Cutting and plucking K-shs 4,500
Winnowing K-shs 6,000
Carriage charges K-shs 4,000
Transport cost K-shs 12,300
Total cost K-shs 94,600 (approx $946)

The main cost is rental of the land ($180 for 3 acres). I will come back to seed costs below. The next 3 costs ( fertilizer, dressing, ploughing)are what Ken would like to save us with organic farming but, for the reasons stated in my discussion with him above, may not be possible. Unfortunately the labour you refer to cannot be used as the farm is 200 Km from Mathare. This is one of the acute problems that the community face being in the city.

Regarding seeds, like you I was hoping the seeds could be used, but in order to get the yields needed a hybrid seed is required which also has other properties (eg disease resistance) that are essential.

Your last point on self sufficiency is key to everything....we must keep all up our efforts to achieve this. Although the costs for the maize growing are high Richard and the community have show it is possible to make a real profit from it this last year. We have not got the final transportation costs for moving sacks to Mathare but it is looking like the maize and your beans are going to make not only a
financial profit but also a tremendous difference to the diet of the school children.

Best Regards Shaun

Hi Shaun,Ken and Virginia,
Great to hear from you all.I should say that Shaun understands the maize farming project as we have had a well analysed discussion with him on this enterprise since the start of this year's farming.All the points and challenges he has explained are true.It is from here that we can now find solutions that can curb against some challenges however some may take some bit of time.One area that has received a solution is bean seeds as this does not need the hybrid type,so we have no cost on that next season as we have to spare some to be used as seeds.The budget given by Shaun on the kitchen items and maize farming is also true.We aim at being self sustainable only that things seem to be at the primary stages but with time and more capital we shall get there.Hope to get more insight from you.
Best wishes,
Richard.

It is correct that not have continued control of the land presents a problem. The maize stalks are not a problem. Open a trench and drop in the seed. There is a tool the local shop can make to do this. V-hoe. Simple. Info is on my dvd if someone will read it. You use cover crop legumes to supply fertilizer such as mucuna, lablab. Seed are cheap.

Fertilizer purchase K-shs 12,600
Top dressing K-shs 12,600
Ploughing K-shs 9,600
Planting K-shs 3,000
You would save the above cost: K37,800

Farmers in your country are doing and it works if you are willing to do it.

Ken

Ken,
I think we would all like to see this method of farming applied if we had ownership of the land. I can see with your guidance this would work, especially if the community could put their labour into the project. Unfortunately this is not possible in this case with the farm being so distant, and Richard is restricted to short visits that have to fit in around his teaching work. It may be possible to set aside a small trial plot of land (say 5 metres by 5 metres) to test available mulches and see if the labour required is available locally that can manage the required maintenance, but there may be practical reasons that even this is not possible in this particular case.
Shaun

I just looked them up - they seel the industrial Jiko (feeds 100) in nairobi for approx $900 USD ( a bit less than the $1500!) and here are 2 people to call, Richard:

Mr C.J. Davey, Bellerive Foundation, Ngong Road, PO Box 42994, Nairobi, Kenya Tel.: 254.2.720 274; Fax: 254.2.726 547

Charles Gitundu, Rural Technology Enterprises, PO Box 28201, Nairobi, Kenya, Tel.: 796352
PS I agree with the problems that Shaun raised re: farming - and I guess we have to keep them in consideration.
My question is 'How to best spend money?' In a grist mill that can Make money so they can purchase other things they need, while maintaining the minimum for feeding?
--
Ginger

Grow the mulch using cover crops/green manure crops which can also produce nitrogen rather than buying it.
Plant mucuna a few weeks after planting the maize. It covers the ground.

Hi Virginia,
I will try to call the numbers you have given me and if they go through I will be back to you to let you know what exactly they deal in.Some jikos could not be the common ones used in school such as the ones we have proposed.Touching on the milling machine we have done some prior calculations and found that it may only help in sustaining the school feeding program while there could be nothing left to help in meeting other school requirements . You will learn that the most costly and challenging tasks ahead of us is the feeding program.Its costs not only comes on food alone but other requirements such as fuel,spices,sauces and fats as additional costs.That is why it is becoming necessary that to curb against food and milling costs, we put more emphasis on growing our own maize and beans and running our own maize mill.The best idea in tackling the issue of self reliance is when we expand on farming activities.
Richard.

Growing sounds like the best option - agreed - and more goats to make money for uniforms too I imagine. How many do you have now? I think I recently asked but have lost the answer!!! I hope to get some donations at Christmas time for more goats - keeping my fingers crossed :)
Best wishes

MUm
Ginger

Hi Virginia,
The goats now total to 6 as all the adults we bought have given birth.Great to hear of the Christmas donation.Don't forget the need for shelter we had discussed.It is already a rain season now and it is not very well with them.
Best wishes,
Richard.

Richard - thank you for reminding me!!! We have bought 7 used sheets for a goat shelter just outside Jinja at the coat of $70 USD Can you try to locate some of these 'used' panels as we are very short of money just now. let me know -
Mum
Ginger

Hi Virginia,
Do you mean the cost of sheets alone going at 70 $US Dollars or the entire contruction of the shed costing this money?Since Jinja is in Uganda perhaps it could be different from kenya and finding used iron sheet may not look possible unless time is given to find where we can find them.What I know is that we can make a simple shed but not the expensive one you had suggested.This can reduce the cost by 20% of the budget i gave you for an expensive shed.
Richard.

Yes Richard - they got the iron sheets - I believe 7 for $70 - they used wood to hold the roof up, which they were able to get elsewhere, and I guess for the sides they use some kind of vegetation packed tightly. I'm afraid I do not remember how much your original budget was, can you direct me - was it in an email - can you send it again. I do not expect to have any money for another month, but I will put your request at the top -
Regards,
Mum Ginger

Virginia,
I sent you a budget of 36,500 K-Shillings which you converted them to 380 US$.This is mearnt to build a rather expensive shelter with gutters to harvest water.Leaving this high cost shelter, we can opt for a simple one which can reduce the cost to 29,400 K-shillings.The idea is that we make a bigger one to accomadate the growing number of goats.Remember that from this project,4 chidren have benefited with school uniform and soon more children will be added to benefit from this initiative.Shelter will keep the goats in better condition to generate a more income to help the children.
Best wishes,
Richard.

Hi Richard and Virginia,
From my experience on shelters and working with goats it should be possible to build quite a cheap shelter from corrugated iron sheets (CGI). If the CGI can be sourced second hand the cost will be further reduced. The basic structure needs to be made from timber (but does not need high grade and can be second hand or heavy rough cut timer "in the round").The walls are just for containment and can be built from any available materials eg woven lattice of sticks and finished with a mud / straw daub (wattle and daub).
If Richard could give me an idea of the size of the shelter needed and its purpose ie is it just for the goats to go under for shade or is it for keeping them enclosed for prolonged periods (in which case a larger covered area is needed) then I will make some suggestions. Also what local materials are readily available for building livestock enclosures?.
Hopefully between us we can come up with some good suggestions for building a shelter.

Shaun

Hi Shaun,
Great to join us in this shelter discussion.At the initial concept of building a goat shelter when we had just started this project,I came up with budget of K-shillings 22,600.At this time the goats were 3 only,however I have considered making a rather bigger shelter as we see the number of goats increasing.There are also big chances of goats giving birth to twins and if it so happens then we may need a much bigger shelter than the one I had anticipated.I know we can get building materials such as poles by buying a whole tree at K-shillings 7,000,old second hand corrugated iron sheets could have been a better option but it may be difficult to get the number we need at once and at one place.So we may end up buying the new ones.A 3 metre long iron sheet is going at K-shs 750. A kilo of nails is K-shs 140,1 piece of a gutter is K-shs 650,1 piece of wire mesh is K-shs 450 and labour charges can take K-shs 6,000.
We opt to make a shelter that can contain up to 10 goats which will serve both purposes that you described. Since you have worked with goats Shaun,you can recommend the ideal size of the shed .With this view you can come up with the simplest way we can employ to make this shelter.Goat project is likely to make a good sponsorship program as we have already seen.It is important that we consider improving on it as soon as possible.
Best wishes,
Richard

This is a really cute website you should check out - a shelter from all used wood, like pallets! most funny are the captions!!! This shelter is only 8X8X8 and houses only 3 sheep - and one large dog! chickensintheroad.com/barn/building-a-goat-house/
Here's some info from Burundi goat houses - seem really inexpensive. One thing I've learned is that, if possible, have several separate goat houses because some goats don;'t get along - and there can be major fighting!!! http://burundigoats.tripod.com/Project_Training/Housing/housing.html#lar...
Can't wait to see what Shaun comes up with=
Ginger

Hi Virginia,
This is a new budget for the cheapest goat shelter.
1.20 pieces of corrugated iron sheets @ 750 shillings 15,000
2. 6 kilograms of nails @ 140 shillings 850
3.27 poles @ 200 shillings 5,400
4. carriage and construction charges 6,000
TOTAL Kenya shillings 27,250

With this amount, we can come up with a relatively cheap and good size shelter.Can we work on this bearing in mind that it is raining heavily now and goats are at risk under this weather condition without a good shelter
Best wishes.
Richard.

Richard / Ginger,

The Food and Agriculture Organisation for UN have some good advice on goat housing which I would suggest as a basis for the shelter; http://www.fao.org/docrep/s1250e/s1250e17.htm.
Their advice is practical ...eg quote. Housing in tropical and semi-tropical regions should be kept to a minimum except for the more intensive systems of production. In the arid tropics no protection other than natural shade is required. In humid climates a simple thatched shelter will provide shade and protection from excessive rain. Sheep and goats do not tolerate mud well; therefore yards and shelters should be built only on well drained ground.

With this in mind, I am sure Richard will first be guided by what type of shelter is needed in the region the goats are kept. I understand it is very different to the cooler altitude of Nairobi. I would then suggest having a look at the simple shelter design they have http://www.fao.org/docrep/s1250e/S1250EBR.GIF and see how this can be adapted for the goats needs.
The final design will depends on available materials but if you look at the simple shed in this design and then build something similar according to the climate and budget.

It is recommended that housed goats have a minimum of 2 square metres each floor space . If you are wanting to house 10 goats, because you need quite a large floor space it may be worth considering either 2 separate huts or one long one divided in two. As Ginger says this gives you the option of separating any anti- social behaviour ones into a separate group.

With the materials that you have could I also make a few suggestions:

1. Use the 3 metre sheet length to determine the width of the shed ( so with say 10cm overlap at ends at each end it will be approx 2.8 metres wide)
2. For 10 goats this means approximately 7 metres long (20 sq metres floor space).
3. So if iron sheets are 1.1 metres wide and therefore when overlapped cover 0.90 metres each you will need 700/90= 7.78 or 8 sheets for roof.
4. Good ventilation gaps high up on the walls are important to reduce respiratory diseases.
5. Remember that goats are essentially social and like to at least see each other through internal partition fences.
6. A good idea is to make some internal partitions that can be removed to also separate a goat that is unwell or bout to give birth from the rest (these need to be at least 1.2 metres high).
The Burundi goat house made from mud and wattle that Ginger has sent is also an option to consider, especially if water is not being harvested by the iron roof. You will note the large air spaces high up on the walls which are important for ventilation.

Although this is general advice the final decision has to be with the local resources available.

Shaun

Richard,
I have just seen your figures. I agree with all the materials and proposals, except we seem to differ on the number of corrugated iron sheeting required . Is this because your proposed shelter is much bigger?
In my figures the 2 square metres per goat floorspace is minimal so it may be that you may have decided on a larger shelter. It may also be that the sheets in Kenya are much narrower then the ones we use here?
Shaun

In USD, this is about $285 - I think pretty reasonable for a 10 goat house. Is it raised above ground to protect from mud? Then they can walk down a plank ladder. This sounds like a very viable project. As for me, I haven't been able to raise any money here, and when will you need more money for the farming, Richard?
Thanks Shaun for your help!
--
Ginger

Hi Shaun/Virginia.
Shaun,thanks giving time to come up with the estimates.The shed I have planned for will take close to 24 corrugated iron sheets but because we are considering reducing costs that is why I have requested for 20 iron sheets which we shall manage it well to see that it brings up the desired shed.Roofing will take 7 sheets,the back wall will be whole covered still with iron sheets and this will demand another 7 sheets,while the sides and front wall will be half covered by iron sheets which also demand another 7 sheets.I was to cover the open ends of the wall with wire mesh but I have decided we do away with such at the moment because it will increase the cost.This can be done later however.I have to avoid a mud wall as goats tend to scratch them and after some time they wear away while they also keep fleas. That is why I have preffered a shed made of iron sheets and perhaps wire mesh only.The width of the sheets made in Kenya is 3 feet and so I am considering putting up a shed which measures 21 by 15 feet.With this kind we can make a division that both of you have mentioned.
Virginia,We are just renting land any time from now.The next stages come in March but we would wish to have the money ready by mid or late of February.This gives us 2 to 3 months ahead from now.Hope we finish up with this goat shelter much sooner to avoid conflicting costs.
Best wishes,
Richard.

Richard - thanks for the update.
Ginger

Richard - hello! I know the total you received for the shelter was $343 USD - a little less than the 'expensive' shelter. I know it is raining now and you will begin building after the rain and, I look forward to seeing pictures.
Good luck!
Mum Ginger

Hi Ginger,
Work on the goat shelter is over.We are only left with fitting in the wire mesh and the door.The shelter we made measures 20 by 10.As we found it very costly using corrugated ironsheets for roofing and making the wall,we find one good alternative as using dried earthen blocks which was recommended as good for the wall.We bought ready made blocks and 3 bags of cement which was recommended as good for making a rough but concrete floor which can dry up quickly from urine and goat waste.
The goats now number up to 6 where by a total of 7 children have benefited with having school uniforms from the milk sale.Here is the expenditure record for the money I receive from Shaun and yourself.All in Kenya shillings.

12 pcs,ironsheets @ 870 = 10,440
3 pts 50kg cement @ 840 = 2,520
550 blocks @ 8 = 4,400
16 roofing poles @ 200 = 3,200
4 kg,ordinary/roofing nails = 840
Labour charges = 7,500
Carriage charges = 600
Wooden door = 1,500

Total cost = 31,000

The door is to be fitted soon, however we could not get the wire mesh to fit in the doors as it was missing in the hard ware shops.
Giving much thanks to all efforts Shaun and you have made in bringing this facility to completion.
Best wishes,
Richard.

Hi Virginia,
Read all about the goat shelter update.
Richard.

Richard - the shelter looks great! You know you will need some wood for the windows to protect the goats at night - so dogs don't jump in! The wire mesh won't preotect them from the rain. I like your idea with the blocks - and are you putting a temporary roof on of wood??
Congratulations!

--
Ginger

Virginia-
Already there is a roof.Remaining is fitting in the door and as you suggest, the wooden windows.Soon it will all be fitted.See a flat roof from the photo.
Thanks,
Richard.

is it too late? or can you put poles up in the center of the roof to raise it to an angle? then add gutters, and a down spout into a barrel to collect water???
Just a suggestion -
I'm sure the goats are happy in their new home:):):)!

--
Ginger

is it too late? or can you put poles up in the center of the roof to raise it to an angle? then add gutters, and a down spout into a barrel to collect water???
Just a suggestion -
I'm sure the goats are happy in their new home:):):)!

--
Ginger

Well done Richard with the goat shed, using the blocks was a good idea. It looks like the roof slopes by one block depth from back to front, so that will enough for water run off as Virginia suggests if you were collecting water (when is the rainy season in this area?). Try to keep the windows as open as possible to improve ventilation and reduce respiratory diseases; part mesh may be enough to keep out the dogs Virginia mentions. A photo of some happy goats, for sure!
Shaun

Hi Virginia and Shaun,
Great that you have recommended the block shelter as good.Shaun you have seen exactly as the construction was.We lifted it by one block course at the back to make the roof slope.It is good that we can fit gutters at the front and be able to harvest rain water which can help the goats.The ventilation idea as suggested by shaun is welcome.This means we still have some work on the shed, better still, goats are already in the shed at the moment.Thanks to the efforts put in place by both of you.
Best wishes,
Richard.