Demonstration Centre Sheds Light on Innovation towards Agricultural Sustainability

Charis Farm Demonstration Centre in Naivasha is revolutionizing the agricultural landscape with cutting-edge techniques and eco-friendly practices. The demonstration centre serves as a pioneer in addressing the challenge of shrinking land because of urbanization. It offers innovative solutions to growing food in limited spaces, maintaining nutrition security and promoting sustainable agriculture in Nakuru County.

Joyce Kiara, the CEO and Founder of Charis Farm’s innovative approach to gardening, is centred on the use of readily available materials to create space-saving gardens.

The Tyre kitchen garden technology embraces the use of old tyres as planters to grow a variety of plants, primarily vegetables. The tyres are cleaned, prepared and arranged decoratively to create a unique and functional garden space.

The pipe kitchen garden is made from PVC pipes, which are used as planters; the entire set-up is designed to maximize vertical spaces, making it ideal for backyards and balconies. The pipes are cut into the desired length and assembled using the fittings.

The Keyhole kitchen garden is a type of raised bed kitchen garden that is designed to be accessible and usable by people with disabilities. ”Key Hole” refers to the raised container-like structure designed to grow a variety of vegetables. This type of garden is ideal for people who face mobility or dexterity challenges.

Sack kitchen garden incorporates the use of recycled animal feed sacks to generate a garden. The sacks are filled with soil and manure, after which small holes are made into the sack, and vegetables are grown. One sack can incorporate between 150 and 200 plants.

As a diversification strategy, Joyce Kiara has taken it upon herself to train farmers who visit the farm drawn from different parts of the country to venture into this type of farming as it not only conserves space but also puts food on the table and money in the pocket.