Planting seeds of change in Indonesia
Farm-to-table. Have you heard of it? It’s a movement in America that is aimed at producing and delivering food locally. It is community-supported agriculture.
It’s a movement to take us back to our roots of farming and healthy eating. In a culture saturated with processed food, we have to relearn ancient food-production practices.
Well, did you know that impoverished people around the world also work hard for the same results?
But their goal is to remove poverty in their lives – and we want to help.
In Meulabolah, Indonesia, Food for the Hungry (FH) works with community members to start home gardening groups. A plot of land, owned by a member of the group, is used to grow food and train others.
Other members are encouraged to replicate farming practices on their own plots and continue sharing the work, regardless of whose land is being used. This is one way of building community.
Marzia, a widow from Meulabolah, joined a home gardening group to support herself by cultivating her land.
“My husband died, so there were no men left in the family, and I needed help,” she said. At first, Marzia participated in cultivating a common plot. Now, she gardens on her land. She allocated a portion of her land for group work, where the work and proceeds are shared.
When they first started, Marzia and her neighbors only grew plantains, coconuts and sugar palms. Through FH training and support, they now grow several crops, such as eggplant, lettuce, peanuts, water spinach, papaya and corn.
“We eat some of the food, which saves us some money. We sell some of it to the traders who come here,”
Marzia says.
Starting with one seed, Marzia has changed her life and strengthened her relationship with her community.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Your prayers make a difference in the lives of others as they support Food for the Hungry’s efforts to help the impoverished and vulnerable around the world. This month, please pray with us for:
Economic hope
That God would increase the effectiveness of our community initiatives in agriculture development and natural resources management.
Community strength
That God would strengthen and encourage people in Indonesia to build solid relationships, so they can work together to better their communities.
God’s love
That the poor living in Indonesia would find hope and believe in God’s love for them.
You can help us make more stories like this a reality. Prayerfully consider a gift today to Help Hungry People.
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