Don't Just Give Them Food-Teach Them How to Get It

Learning Through Growing

Gardening is integrated into the school curriculum as both a science and life skills subject.

Children learn:

• How plants grow: from seeds to harvest

• Soil preparation: composting, watering, and fertilization

• Planting techniques: spacing, timing, and care

• Pest control: natural methods using herbs and companion planting - we have a small lavender field

• Nutrition: what each vegetable contributes to the body

• Responsibility: the importance of daily care and observation

• Cooperation: working as a team, sharing tasks and rewards

For children who have grown up surrounded by scarcity, watching a tiny seed grow into something edible is a magical experience.

It teaches patience, respect for nature, and the satisfaction of earning a meal with their own two hands.

The Kitchen Connection – From Garden to Plate

Once harvested, the produce is:

1. Cleaned and sorted

2. Delivered to the school kitchen

3. Incorporated into daily meals for the children

Meals like githeri (a stew of maize and beans), kale and ugali, or fresh vegetable stew become richer and more varied when school-grown vegetables are added.

Children proudly point out, “I planted that kale!” or “That maize for ugali came from our plot!”

It creates a powerful connection:
“I grew this. I am capable. I can feed myself and others.”

The Role of Parents – Cultivating Together

Parents are not bystanders in this process—they are active participants.

Many of the families have received micro-credit loans from LLK to start their own kitchen gardens at home. These small gardens provide vegetables for their families and even extra produce to sell at local markets.

Through monthly workshops, parents learn:

• Sustainable gardening techniques

• Rainwater collection for irrigation

• How to build compost heaps

• Meal planning and food safety

• Simple preservation methods like sun-drying vegetables

Some parents now volunteer in the rented school field or assist with planting, weeding, harvesting and drying beans and maize during special “Community Days.”

Together, children and parents plant and harvest —reconnecting with the land, rediscovering pride, and reimagining their future.

The Maize Harvest – A Celebration of Self-Reliance

Every year, a highlight of the program is the maize harvest. With the help of parents harvest the tall maize stalks from the school plot.

• The maize is husked, dried, and stored.

• Some is milled into flour for ugali, Kenya’s staple dish.

• Some is cooked whole in stews or roasted during community events.

• The husks and stalks are composted or used for animal bedding.

The harvest day is festive—full of singing, laughter, and gratitude.
Children beam with joy as they watch with pride as their parents carry baskets full of maize, beans, and vegetables - knowing that their families are part of an important community.

Cooking Classes – Turning Nutrition into Tradition

In the LLK kitchen and in the classroom, children also learn basic cooking skills.

They are taught to:

• Chop vegetables safely

• Wash ingredients properly

• Measure ingredients for cooking

• Work as a team in preparing meals

• Learn traditional Kenyan recipes with a healthy twist

Some older students even express interest in becoming chefs or nutritionists, inspired by their work in the school kitchen.

The message is simple:
“Healthy food starts with you.”

Sustainability at the Core

The gardening and food-growing programs at LLK are designed to be sustainable and community-driven:

• Use of compost and animal manure from the LLK cow

• Water conservation through mulching and drip irrigation

• Natural pest repellents like lavender

• Involving children and families in every stage

This is not charity.
It is empowerment—rooted in knowledge and cultivated with care.

Impact Highlights

• 80% of LLK families now grow some food at home.

• The school kitchen uses garden produce weekly.

• Food cost savings thanks to garden harvests.

• Malnutrition has decreased significantly due to consistent vegetable intake.

• Increased student engagement and attendance during garden season.

• Girls, in particular, show high interest in gardening and cooking as life skills.

Community Testimonies

“Before, I had to buy everything. Now, my daughter watches as I help to harvest and cook vegetables and eat at the Center when it's my turn to cook” – Naomi, parent of LLK student

“When I harvest kale, I feel like a farmer. One day I will grow food for many people.” – James, 12

“We used to be ashamed of having little. Now, we are proud of growing much.” – LLK Parent Group

Global Support – Making It Possible

Many of LLK’s gardening initiatives have been made possible through generous donors who:

• Sponsored tools and seeds

• Provided funding for water tanks and a well 

• Donated fencing 

• Supported the staff salary of a full-time garden caretaker/guard

• Have agricultural backgrounds

Visitors are welcome to take part—plant a tree, help weed the garden, or join in harvesting.

It’s a hands-on experience that connects people to the earth—and to the community.

Dreams for the Future

The LLK team hopes to expand its sustainability efforts:

• Add greenhouses for year-round growing

• Buy instead of having to rent a field

• Create a “Farm to Table” youth club

With continued support, these dreams can become realities.

Join the Harvest

Whether you’re sponsoring a child, volunteering, or simply cheering us on from afar—you are part of the harvest.

You are helping children:

• Eat healthier

• Learn deeply

• Work proudly

• Dream bigger

You are growing not just vegetables—but hope.

Asante Sana – Thank You

To every sponsor, gardener, teacher, and parent who has planted even one seed—
To every child who’s learned to pull weeds with joy—
To every donor who helped buy a spade, a seedling, or a watering can—

Because of you, our gardens grow.
And so do our children.

Brique Zeiner