The Blessing of Burpee Catalogues and Accessible Gardens

February 3rd. Yep. This is about the time we begin getting our seed catalogues in the mail for our warmer months (our dear Ugandan friends: for us in the US, May, June, July, August, September, are our growing prime season). We sit in our comfy chairs looking through the Burpee Catalogue dreaming of what our gardens might look like this year. Well, I for one am grateful for many things concerning gardening in Michigan vs. gardening in Muko. 

Even though the Ugandans have a year 'round growing season, there are many things that make gardening so much more difficult. First, let's acknowledge in the US, we get in our car and drive to the Grocery Store to get most of our food most of the time. In Uganda, much of their family's diet comes from their very small garden plot. 

The US gardens tend to be on relatively flat ground, making it easier to cultivate and tend. Check out Deus Tumushabe's garden - a virtual 45 degree angle! And his crops grow under his diligent care.


In the US gardens, there tends to be an easy water source such as a garden hose nearby to ensure irrigation on a regular basis. Some Muko farmers must climb downhill for as many a several kilometers to obtain water which they usually use for drinking and cooking and leave the watering of the garden to chance with the rains. 

Most of the US gardens are in our larger yards next to our homes - easy to access. Some gardens in Muko are on the edge of a cliff as in Nanasio Kanyehangane's garden. Yet his plants thrive under his tender care.



Some gardens in the US could feed several families with all the produce gathered in the growing season. In Muko, some dedicated farmers carve out the smallest of plots to work miracles! See how compact Hildah Turigye's garden is.


We have an amazing staff in Onesmas Arinda and Pamella Musiimenta in the ACT HANDS Program. They have worked so hard and studied and learned so much to be able to, in turn, teach hundreds of the Muko farmers new skills to help their yield and nutrition.

What gardeners in the US can learn from Muko Farmers? Dedication, experience, diligence and care in providing sustenance for their families over and over and over again. We celebrate the farmers of Muko Sub County, Uganda. May their crops always bring the best harvest!

    "We have neglected the truth that a good farmer is a craftsman of the highest order,            a kind of artist."   - Wendell Berry


We invite you to learn more about ACT:

                            Website and Handcraft Store: https://www.actuganda.org/

                               ACT Blog: https://actugandablog.blogspot.com/

                            Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACTUgandaUSA

                            Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actugandausa/

                            Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/actuganda/


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