Christian Aid : Learn from the World's Most Vulnerable Gardeners

ALEX KIRBY

Learning from the world's poorest and most vulnerable gardeners

Climate change unites us all. Our homes and transport are responsible for about a third of UK and Ireland carbon emissions. But we can all make a difference.
Christian Aid is working with the poorest communities across the world to help them preserve their homes and livelihoods, supporting them to conserve water and invest in the productivity of their land through more sustainable farming methods.

We have gathered expertise of how to live in harmony with the earth from hundreds of projects all over the world. This knowledge has been distilled to provide the impetus and know-how for any gardener to go green. Here are some tips:

1. Conserve water

Water is a precious resource and yet in the UK and Ireland we flush much of it down the drain. Why not use your own recycled containers to provide rainwater to feed your garden instead of a hosepipe?

In Africa, rainfall patterns are becoming increasingly difficult to predict and some established springs and rivers are drying out. Christian Aid is encouraging people to collect precious rainwater by using old containers – like oil drums – as rainwater harvesters. The home-made butts are used to store the rainwater run-off from corrugated iron roofs; the water can then be used to feed crops, animals and people.

2. Recycle, reuse or repair!

We can recycle all sorts of waste products to make interesting and unusual planters – from old wooden boxes to bath tubs and even aluminium cans.

Poor communities around the world have always used these techniques; even adapting the way they build their houses.

To make a can planter you will need a circular template (1.5m diameter) and around 500 cans – either collect your own or contact your local council’s recycling department. Fill the cans with soil or sand to strengthen them and plug with old newspaper, then position carefully around the outside of the template, making sure the bottom of the cans face outward. Seal the cans together with glue suitable for outdoor use. Build the layers up until you reach the optimum height and then remove the template. Fill the inside of the planter with soil and begin planting!

3. Compost.

It's an invaluable nutrient, good humus and for mulching (and therefore retaining water in the soil), and it's free.

4. Grow organically

Infinitely better for biodiversity in your garden. Possibly better for you too.

5. Be resourceful

Create a multi-storey garden, In many parts of Africa where water and fertile land are scarce, particularly in crowded urban areas, this clever gardening device allows people to maximise the number of crops they can grow and to conserve precious water at the same time. Tyres are filled with soil and stones and wooden stakes are used to arrange the tyres in tiers, rather like a wedding cake. The bottom of each tyre is fitted with loose wooden slats allowing room for drainage. Crops are planted on each tier and watered from the top-down; the loose slats allow the water to trickle through to each level.

Make a rammed-earth planter - a great alternative to concrete, the production of which accounts for five to ten per cent of all CO2 emissions. In a recent Independent gardening special, garden designer Cleve West recommended that swimming pools be made using the technique.

Christian Aid projects in Honduras use the same technique to build eco-homes. These walls ‘take advantage of what the earth provides,’ explains Jose Lorenzo, coordinator of Christian Aid partner Coprodedpiy. They are made using local materials, including mud, sand and lime, and require much less water and use less wood than traditional building techniques. The walls petrify over time to ensure fewer cracks during earthquakes and heavy storms. They also save on the energy used to bake building materials such as bricks.

Here in the UK, these multi-storey gardens are perfect for small plots and balconies, and are a great incentive to grow your own veg. Remember to line the tyres with an old carpet or plastic bag, and to use mulch on top of the soil to help retain moisture.

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/ecohouse/ecotips/ecotips.aspx

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/stoppoverty/climatechange/stories/DIY_green_tips.aspx