Three New Gardens, Three New Beginnings
Grandmother Betty and a couple of her grandchildren are helping to plant their raised bed garden
This week was a milestone for our Cultivating Change with Kitchen Gardens program in Kamuli, Uganda.
On Monday, our team, alongside family members and neighbors, built and planted three new raised-bed gardens for grandmothers Jennifer, Betty, and Mirabu. Each of these remarkable women is raising grandchildren who have been orphaned or abandoned. For too long, they have struggled to provide enough food for their families. Now, they're growing hope right outside their homes.
Over the coming weeks, we'll add additional growing containers and edible plantings around each home, creating gardens that will continue producing fresh, nutritious food throughout the seasons.
One of the things that makes this program so special is that it isn't something we do for families; it's something we build with them. Family members, neighbors, and our local team work side by side, learning practical skills that will serve them for years to come. Together, they're learning how to enrich their soil naturally, and next they'll begin making organic pesticides using locally available materials.
We also visited grandmother Joyce, one of the first participants in the program, and seeing her progress reminded us why this work matters so much.
Her garden is thriving.
Today, it provides fresh food for her grandchildren, with extra vegetables she can sell to earn income for the family. Joyce is also raising goats and chickens, giving her family additional food security and another source of income. Watching her family move from uncertainty toward stability is exactly what this program was designed to accomplish.
Grandmother Mirabu and her grandchildren are learning from local agricultural professionals Maureen and David.
Our hope is to eventually provide goats and chickens to Jennifer, Betty, Mirabu, and other participating families as their gardens become established.
We're incredibly proud of this program because it doesn't simply provide food for today; it equips families with the knowledge, resources, and confidence to feed themselves for years to come.
As we look ahead, we're excited to expand the program to reach more grandmothers raising vulnerable children. Each complete Kitchen Garden costs $770 to establish, including training, materials, and ongoing support.
If you know a business, organization, family foundation, civic group, or individual who might be interested in sponsoring a garden, we'd love an introduction. Sometimes one simple connection can grow into lasting change for an entire family.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your encouragement and support are helping families cultivate more than gardens. They're cultivating hope, dignity, and a brighter future.
With gratitude,
Mary
P.S. If this story made you think of someone who believes in sustainable solutions to hunger, a business owner, group, club, or friend, we'd be grateful for an introduction. Sometimes the greatest gift isn't a donation. It's making the right connection.
