Because we have been supporting garden projects like the Eagle Scout Project to build a greenhouse at MHS and Eastie Gardens, those who were present on July 19 felt the information in this talk was so valuable, they wanted it shared with everyone.
Might this be a way to help eliminate world hunger…benefits of growing local plants - more varieties than we realize!
• Every minute 5 children under the age of 5 around the world die of malnutrition related causes.
• 1 in 8 adults worldwide is obese.
• Hunger is on the rise.
• If a child is malnourished in the first 1,000 days of life, that can impact them for life.
• There are 38,000 edible, nutritious plants around the world, yet how many do we actually cultivate and use?
• How this Action Group acts: Integrity, Collaboration, Respect, Science-based, Low cost,
Sustainable
• Understand nutritional value of local food plants through education materials and support services.
• Empower women through education
• Started in 2007
• An international food plants database
• Identify “local plants” in high nutritional value. They are superior because thee plants have resistance to local pests and plant diseases
• Benefits of “local plants”: Sustainable, provide food security, mitigate climate change
• Does require a local program partner to help change knowledge and resources
• Promote plants that require minimal additives like fertilizer and water
• Created a fieldguide with text and photos for easier understanding
• The people must be engaged and empowered to participate
• Strongly encourage school gardens for education and for sustainability
• To assure healthy immune systems, there must be easy access to nutritious food
• Famine and famine-like conditions increased 6xs since the pandemic
• Case Study #1 Cameroon –
Educating women about plants
Over 200 women were trained on the right plants, focusing on marginalized groups
Taught what the body needs
The link between communities is strengthened
Important to understand the value of plants before planting
• Case Study #2 Viet Nam – School gardens
2 up to 14 schools engaging 3,000 children and adults
School lunches were enhanced resulting in an increase in enrollments
Malnutrition was reduced by 40-100%
Not a quick fix – it takes 3 to 4 years for a garden to take hold
Meant fresh food for families
• Case Study #3 Tasmania – Fresh food for immigrants arriving in country
Immigrants from Nepal were given a box of vegetables
Realized they didn’t know what to do with these foods – cultural differences
Community bonding
Developed a training workshop that helped not only migrants but also locals
Found that participants in the workshop are also more engaged in the community
Ran the workshop concept for a school community with 20 different nationalities
• Other considerations and takeaways
Must consider seasonality – planting food that will thrive all year round
Funding
Sponsors
If people plant them, they honor them
• Q&A
1. While people are waiting for their gardens to mature, what do they do?
They eat whatever they have. The group does not do food drops
2. Are Rotary clubs involved?
There is involvement in some countries. However, Rotary clubs expect an outcome in 12 months so they are not terribly excited about this program which takes 3-4 years while the gardens establish themselves. There is club support in countries like Ethiopia, Tanzania, Colombia, Haiti. Tend to work with NGOs in their country
3. Rotary Grants?
Need the clubs to pursue the grants. Action Groups are no eligible to apply.
4. Materials?
The educational materials are all set and translated for 56 countries although not in Central America. These materials are downloadable from the Action Group website.
All downloadable materials are free.
Nepal has been done.
5. Seed sources?
Do not work with genetically modified seeds – only seeds grown in country. 9,000 plants in Tasmania alone that are not used for food
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