Nature
The importance of respecting and protecting the land are key elements of our farmer training programme. But change can take a generation so we ensure the same messages are taught to children in the communities.
The farm itself embodies the restorative power of nature: it runs on solar power.
Community
Making farmer training available outside the Training & Demonstration Farm means that people with no access to transport, as well as those in more rural areas, still have the opportunity to learn from us and help their communities.
Economy
With access to farmer training, communities in rural areas can set micro-economies in motion, which keep growing, year on year.
Women
In the past, women were held back by a lack of education. Not any more. 80% of the famers we train are female and we are proud to see them empowered and using new skills to earn an income so they can expand their farms, start new businesses or save for the future.
58% of the Kenyan population is under the age of 24 and many of the younger generation associate farming with bare sustenance and discard it as a viable career path. Our Youth Farming Initiative is aimed at tackling youth unemployment and revolutionising how children view farming by giving them the resources and education that they need in order to thrive independently; imparting knowledge such as:
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By mixing the leaves and bark of the neem tree with chilli peppers and water, then leaving the mixture to soak for 24 hours, farmers can make their own organic pesticide for little or no cost.
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We teach people about nutrition and encourage them to plant a wide variety of crops. This is good for their health as well as the soil. We also encourage the growth of medicinal plants such as Aloe Vera, which has antibacterial qualities and Artemesia, which can help cure malaria.
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We show farmers how to dry and preserve food so that in times of drought, they will not go hungry.
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We teach farmers how to make their own compost from organic material, including plant residues like maize stalks and cassava skins and animal manure, leaves and wood ash so that they do not need to purchase fertiliser.
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Farmers can make their own worm composters from plastic buckets, boxes and tyres. Worms speed up the composting process and improve soil quality.
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This is wood burned at a high temperature without air and keeps soil healthy with nutrients and minerals. It also stops water logging.
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Bee farming has seen limited success in Kenya but we have been able to make it work within the communities we help. There are currently 175 Haller Hives and a newly built Bee Centre.
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Introducing fish into community dams gives local people another way to generate income. Fish are also a great source of protein.
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Kenyan farmers have struggled with chicken farming in the past because chicken feed is expensive. We have solved this problem by introducing soldier flies to the chicken coop so farmers spend less on chicken feed and increase their profits.
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Unique to Haller is this integrated system for smallholder farmers with limited space to farm. The chickens live in a coop above the fish, so that their droppings can be used as feed.
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In some informal urban settlements, buildings have no windows for light in the day. We teach farmers how to create natural lamps by filling plastic bottles with water and Moringa seeds. When the bottles are slotted into holes in the ceiling, the seeds disperse light around the room.
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Plastic pollution is a major threat to our planet and oceans. Patience Komora, a 22 year old student built this innovative greenhouse at our demonstration farm with the objective to recycle and reuse wasted plastic bottles, and reduce the harmful effects on the environment. Over 900 wasted bottles were repurposed during the construction of this greenhouse!
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We run an alternative energy programme that educates people about the damage firewood and kerosene does to the environment. As an alternative, Haller shows communities how to build biogas digesters. Cheap to build and to run, they are the most effective way for poor communities to produce clean energy.