Chiclayo Garden Project

Photos:
*Unloading materials at a chapel
*Some of the supplies were stored at a church member's business that was closer to some of the members for easier delivery of the supplies.
*The sacks are full of soil mix, compost, and sand for garden boxes.
*Tools and seeds.
*Participating families came to the chapel to pick up their garden materials.
*Yes, it takes a lot of supplies for a project with 130 families.
*A layer of sand, a layer of rice hulls, and then a layer of compost to begin to build a garden box.
*Relief Society sister dividing the seeds out for the families.

We have been working on this garden project since our arrival. The materials were finally delivered and the people are busily planting gardens as we write. Although we were not able to be to the delivery of supplies in person, we enjoyed seeing the photos of the project.

Since many or most of the families don't really have what we might consider a "garden spot" they will be building small garden boxes and so the project includes the compost, sand, and other materials so they can have soil for their vegetables to grow in. Since Chiclayo is in a tropical climate the growing season is year-round so they will be able to supplement their family food supply with the fresh produce that they are able to grow. The photos show the soil components being delivered and the wood that will be used to construct their garden boxes.

As part of the project, families are taught principles of planting and caring for the vegetables they will grow. The hope is that the training will increase the likelihood of success and allow them to become more self-reliant and less dependent upon others and most likely improve the content of their diet. They will be able to work with trained technical specialists that can give advice that can help them to become more experienced gardeners.