Multi-storey Vegetable Garden technology in Kenya

Multi-storey vegetable garden technology in Kenya is a low input low labor farming activity. This involves establishing a garden container such as a large polythene sheeting or cereal bag. The practice is suitable in areas where land and labor are limited particularly in urban and peri-urban areas. The garden can be placed strategically on verandahs, flower beds or at the balcony of storey building.
Requirements: Multi-storey vegetable garden technology in Kenya

1.      Plot area 2ft x 2ft

2.      4 poles 2M long each

3.      1½ M black polythene gauge 1000

4.      4 litre empty hollow tin ( gallon)

5.      7 wheelbarrows manure

6.      7 wheel barrows top soil

7.      1 wheel barrow ballast

Procedure for Multi-storey vegetable garden technology in Kenya

1.      Measure an area 2ft x 2ft square and dig one foot deep if the garden is to be established on the ground.

2.      Place the hollow tin at the centre of the area.

3.      Secure 4 poles at the corners of the square area. Insert the polythene tube around the four poles.

4.      Fill the hollow tin with ballast and cover the tin.

5.      Mix manure and top soil thoroughly and then put the mixture between the hollow tin and the polythene paper.

6.      Gradually fill in the soil/ manure mixture avoiding interfering with the tin. Water the soil moderately.

7.      Lift up the tin without moving from centre position and refill with ballast.

8.      Repeat filling in topsoil/ manure mixture, watering of the soil moderately, lifting up the tin and refilling with ballast until the polythene tube is full. Leave it overnight to set

9.      Make holes spaced at ½ ft by ½ft diagonally –About 9 rows each with 16 holes will be made. Scoop the soil at the holes and plant the seedling, firming the soil around each plant. Water  at least twice a week.

NB: Multi-storey vegetable garden technology in Kenya uses any other bag for example 90kg, 50kg may be used in which case amount of the soil manure and ballast reduces. Benefits use of Multi-storey vegetable garden technology in Kenya.
Multi-storey vegetable garden technology in Kenya is a low input activity
Enables fresh vegetable supply throughout the year.
Contributes to dietary diversification.
Inexpensive to establish and can be a source of income.
Multi-storey vegetable garden technology in Kenya requires little water

Jon’s Lunch
by Jon

The first thing that I can remember cooking for myself was a packet of ramen noodles. It was easy, quick, and hard to beat for an after school snack. However, as I grew up so too did my taste buds and my appreciation for eating healthy. During this time my once favorite snack became the epitome of what I tried to avoid in my diet; a meal consisting primarily of refined carbohydrates, high sodium, and completely lacking in vegetables. As such I avoided ramen for a long time, that is until I found out that you can make your own ramen that is both nutritious and delicious and is only slightly less convenient then a packet of ramen.

True to my style of cooking I never follow a recipe to make this dish. I just eyeball ingredients and throw them into a small pot of simmering water. The beauty of this dish is that no bowl of ramen is ever the same. Even if you order ramen in a restaurant each chef will prepare the soup differently using different ingredients. Use what you have on hand, have fun, and experiment!

How I Make It

 

When making this dish quickly at work I simply get a pot of simmering water going and then throw in a pinch or two of dried seaweed (any kind will do), and whatever mushrooms we have around. Shiitake mushrooms are traditionally used and for good reason; they rehydrate well, retain a nice consistency when simmered, and add a rich flavor to your soup. Since working at FFP I have also gotten to experiment with a variety of other mushrooms and my personal favorite so far is the Italian Oyster. In a soup this mushroom seems to take on an almost seafood character which works very well with the other ingredients and is particularly appealing to my New England taste buds. Once the seaweed and mushrooms are simmering along for a few minutes I then mix in a small spoonful of red miso, a dash of fish sauce, and a dash of soy sauce. All of these ingredients add great flavor to the soup, but you have to be careful not to overdo it as they are high in sodium and strong flavored. At this point I put in any vegetables that I have handy (I have used anything from Cabbage to Burdock Root, really just throw in anything that you have lying around). At the same time you can also throw in your carbohydrate. I often use soba and/or udon noodles but have also used leftover brown rice in a pinch. If using dry noodles you have to cook these until tender. A few minutes before the noodles are done I often throw in a few cubes of tofu and crack an egg in the pot. The tofu just needs to be in long enough to warm up and I try and cook the egg so that the white is cooked through but the yolk is still runny. Previously cooked and shelled hard boiled eggs also work well.

Modern Agriculture Technology in Kenya: Highland Arrowroot Technology can earn Ksh 293,330

Highland arrowroot technology is the name for the modern agriculture technology in Kenya which enables growing of the crop where there is no River .Use of the highland arrowroot technology is a great breakthrough, modern agriculture technology in Kenya from KARI Katumani. The method is replacing the tradition of growing the crop only in the river valleys with speed. One acre will accommodate 29,333 plants which will yield one tuber each giving a total of 29,333 tubers sold@ Ksh 10 will give Ksh 293,333 gross income/ acre in 6-8 months. Today indigenous tubers are in the class of high value crops in Kenya and enjoy good market prices as a result of increased consumptions of the tubers for breakfast and as snacks. There is great consumer awareness on healthy eating habits. This has led to rapid increase in urban market share for the root crops.

Traditionally the tuber is grown in the river valleys where there is plenty of water.Many river valleys have dried up due to global warming and climate change. Employment of modern agriculture technology in Kenya especially highland arrowroot technology is hardy as climate adaptation method. Yes, it is now possible to grow arrow roots where there is no river by creating the same conditions as in the river valleys using highland arrowroot technology a modern Agriculture technology in Kenya. The work involves planting the crop in trenches 60 cm deep, 1 metre wide and any desired length. The trench is lined with heavy gauge polythene paper and filled with soil manure mixture at a ratio of 2:1 or a rate of one wheelbarrow of manure per metre square.

Being a leading modern agriculture technology in Kenya, highland arrowroot technology involves excavating trenches spaced at 0.5 metres. Plant the suckers in a spacing of 30cm by 30cm burying the plant up to 20 cm, and water thoroughly. Mulch the area when planting unless it’s the rainy season. Water once a week to maintain wetness. Old and dry leaves should be removed regularly. Keep the plot free of weeds.  The crop will be ready for harvesting in a period of 6 to 8 months.