GARDENS IN AFRICA Project

Since 2011 Slow Food has continued to grow a network of about 3,500 active gardens in Africa.

Located in schools, cities and villages, the food gardens allow communities to choose what to grow, eat and sell. They support local economies, help protect the extraordinary  biodiversity of the African continent, add value to traditional knowledge and food cultures and nurture a network of young people working to change the future of agriculture and food in Africa.

We are not stopping here. Our objective going forward is to create thousands of new gardens, catalog more products at risk of extinction, establish new Presidia and Earth Markets to help African farmers, herders and fishers, organize education activities in schools, promote local food and get communities actively participating, with a particular investment in youth and women.

HOW THE PROJECT WORKS

€300
Create new school and community food gardens
Working with local collaborators; buying tools; providing training on agroecology, biodiversity, local consumption, producers’ organization and local product promotion.

€300
Maintain existing food gardens and strengthen the network
Working with local collaborators; organizing training meetings, knowledge exchanges between communities and local events; facilitating participation in national and international events; running educational, promotional and political initiatives; funding scholarships for young Africans.

€120
Safeguard biodiversity and expand the African Ark of Taste
Mapping to identify local plant varieties; inclusion of varieties into the international Ark of Taste catalog and promotion through various activities in the gardens, with schools, with cooks, etc.

€180
General project coordination and communication
Liaising with national and local garden coordinators; providing technical assistance from agronomists; circulating educational materials; communicating the project at a local and international level; analyzing and evaluating the results and the impact of the project on local communities.

SUPPORT THE NETWORK OF FOOD GARDENS IN AFRICA

An individual food garden is a drop in the ocean compared to the problems Africa faces every day. But if there were thousands of gardens, tens of thousands, all networked together, then their force would be immense. Together they can become a single voice, speaking out against land grabbing, the invasion of GMOs and intensive agriculture and in favor of natural farming techniques, sustainability and food sovereignty. They can become a symbol of hope for thousands of women and men across the continent.