The plot of land given to Gomango to create a demonstration garden.

The Demonstration Garden

This came about because the community offered us some land to demonstrate various conservation farming techniques. The land specifically belongs to a gentleman called Silas. Basically we demonstrate how on a plot of 100m squared you can grow enough vegetables through out the year for a family of 6 through the use of the French bio-intensive gardening methods. Surrounding the garden are a wide variety of herbs that can be used medicinally, culinary or for practical purposes (e.g.: soapwort used as a soap) Corn is a staple food in Zimbabwe and so with the use of low-till high yield methods we demonstrate how to grow corn with greater yields the local average yield is around 700kgs per hectare, we were able to grow corn with a yield of 7000kgs per hectare. All this translates into being able to use less land to grow more food and this in turn creates space and time to grow cash crops should the farmer want. We believe firmly in the principle that seeing is believing and as a result begin by demonstrating what is possible, our experience has shown that the local community is much more willing to try once they have seen that it is possible with out them having to take the risk. The Womens project has been a fine example.