🌍 **Celebrating World Soil Day with Our Community!**
TMI organized an event on World Soil Day (WSD) to engage with smallholder farmers in Marurui, the community, youth, and children to honor our silent hero, soil. We were deeply honored by the presence of Joseph Kihiu , the landowner, the chief of the area Mr. Orina, representatives from the National County, and the Roysambu Subcounty environmental department, Mr. Felix S. and Daniel W. We also welcomed leaders from various organizations who generously shared their knowledge on soil conservation: Cynthia Mumo (TMI Founder), Tabitha Gathoni from Mazingira Urban Networking, Joseph from Roysambu Green Foundation, Benson from Wetlands Conservation Organisation , and Nancy from Reclaim Your Soil Vetiver Association Additionally, we were privileged to have Mr. Kamau, the chair of Starehe Kienyeji Farmers, representatives of Youth Power Farmers, Women in Ecological Justice (Agnes Mwangi), and members from Young Lions.
The event began with an insightful presentation by Martin Kahanya from TMI's research department. He showcased an exhibit that vividly demonstrated the difference in soil structure and integrity between tilled and untilled soil. His explanation emphasized the importance of minimal or no tillage to conserve soil and prevent erosion, and the practice of agroecology to avoid harmful chemicals that disrupt the delicate ecosystem beneath our feet. He stressed that conserving soil is crucial as it is the cornerstone of life on Earth; losing this precious resource means facing food insecurity and malnutrition.
In the second session, we conducted a citizen science led by Mogaka Benson activity on Gumba Wetland, where we assessed the levels of phosphates and nitrates in the dam, turbidity, and the overall ecological status of the wetland.Nancy then led the third session, showcasing soil samples enriched with vetiver mulch compared to those using traditional amendments like cow manure. Her visual presentations highlighted the numerous benefits of vetiver grass, including its ability to filter soil and water, control erosion, and maintain soil structure. She also shared other remarkable advantages of this grass with the participants.
The final session was led by Tabitha from Mazingira Urban Networking, who enlightened us on the benefits of red worm rearing using vegetable waste. She emphasized the importance of reusing vegetative waste to reduce methane emissions from decomposition, thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions. She also explained that these worms are a valuable food source for chickens and beneficial to soil health as they help aerate the soil and play a crucial role in maintaining its structure.
The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where participants eagerly asked questions and shared their thoughts on soil conservation, highlighting the community's commitment to achieving healthy soils. #SoilLifeMatters #OurLandOurFuture #Youth4Land #UNited4Land #sustainableagriculture #youthaction Vetiver in Kenya Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) UN Environment Programme
