Green Hope: The Transforming Power of a Kitchen Garden
Dorcas Sammy, a 21-year-old from Mutetu village in Kalivu sub-location, Athi Ward, knows too well the reality of going without vegetables. Her family, like many others in the area, had long struggled to access healthy food due to the harsh drought conditions that continue to plague the region. Water is a precious commodity but scarce and painfully out of reach. Every drop has to be fetched from distant, dwindling sources, often several kilometers away. The lack of water didn’t just make life inconvenient; it made growing food nearly impossible. Their meals were basic and often lacked essential nutrients, especially vegetables that play a crucial role in maintaining good health. Without them, the family risked low immunity, frequent fatigue, nutrient deficiencies, and even conditions like anemia and digestive complications. The alternative buying vegetables was not sustainable.
“We used to spend about Ksh150 every single day just to get a handful of greens. That’s Ksh4,500 a month,” said Dorcas.
Hope arrived when the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), with support from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank through the United Church of Canada, began implementing the Nature Positive Food Systems project in Athi. Dorcas was one of the young people identified and trained under the initiative. At the time, she didn’t imagine it would be the turning point in her life. Through the program, she and others were trained in practical skills on kitchen gardening.
“We were trained on how to prepare garden beds, use greywater for irrigation, make natural compost, and manage pests without using chemicals,” she said.
In addition, every trainee received a conical garden structure designed specifically for areas with limited water. They were also taken on exposure visits to see how other communities had successfully implemented similar initiatives.
Today, Dorcas tends a vibrant kitchen garden that supplies her family with fresh, chemical-free spinach and kale.
“Every meal is straight from our garden to the plate. It’s green, it’s fresh, and it’s healthy.”
The garden has done more than improve their diet—it has changed how the family lives. With a steady supply of vegetables at home, they no longer spend money at the market. The savings are now redirected toward other basic needs like rice, cooking flour, and cooking oil. Health-wise, the family feels the difference.
“Our health is better. We don’t get sick as often. We feel stronger,” She said.
For her personally, the change has been empowering. “As a young woman, I feel proud. I know I can create change—even with little resources.”
Several factors contributed to this transformation. The training and mentorship provided by NCCK equipped Dorcas with the right knowledge and skills. The provision of the conical garden made it possible for her to practice what she learnt, even with the prevailing water scarcity. Exposure visits opened her mind and heart to new possibilities, while the Nature Positive approach, which emphasizes working with nature instead of against it, provided a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution suited to the local climate.
Dorcas’s story is a powerful example of what targeted support, relevant tools, and community-driven solutions can achieve. Her journey reflects the core goals of the Nature Positive project—improved food security, increased youth engagement, and climate-resilient livelihoods.
One unexpected but welcome outcome is that Dorcas has become a source of inspiration in her village. More young people now come to her for advice on how to start their own gardens.
From a girl who once struggled with dry plates, Dorcas has become a voice of green hope. Her story is more than just a personal success. It’s a reminder that transformation is possible, even in the harshest environments. Looking ahead, Dorcas plans to expand her garden, plant more vegetable varieties, and begin selling the surplus to generate income.
“My dream is to have a big farm one day,” she stated with a hopeful smile.
