Farming God's Way

Traditional vs. Farming God's Way plot

Recently in April I was able to attend a training called, "Farming God's Way." It is a Biblical method of farming that has grown all across Africa into many countries. It especially targets helping the poorest farmers break the yoke of poverty. In Kenya, and all across Africa, farmers make up around 80% of the population. However, farmers here aren't respected for their profession as they are viewed as being at the bottom of the "ladder." They suffer from low self esteem and little hope that anything will ever change. Youth are abandoning farms and the rural area in droves to the bigger cities in hope of finding a better life. Now farmers are turning to relief agencies for handouts, and are becoming accustomed to a life of dependency. This "aid" while well-intentioned, leaves farmers with little motivation to work to try and change things.

I wanted to attend this training because for me, coming from a large scale farming background in Iowa, to the very small scale farming in Kenya, comes with a lot of challenges. How can I use my experience working with farmers who farm an average of 800 acres, help farmers who only have an average of 2 acres? This training proved to be just what I needed to be able to make that transition.

While the outlook on farming here in Kenya that I described in the first paragraph, might be a bit depressing, there is hope! This training helped me realize that before any improvement can be seen in farming, we need a Biblical mindset and focus in farming. I had to ask myself, have I put enough weight on this importance in agriculture? For anything to change, we have to first change the heart and mind of the farmer. This is done through Biblical based farming that glorifies God in every aspect of our farming. So often we rely on ourselves, technology, or the latest new hybrid to increase our profits, but what if all we really need to do, is model God in our farming - the first and master farmer. He has created a system in nature that can restore depleted soil, restore broken lives, and redeem people who are living under the weight of dependency. 

Teaching the boys of GCM the Farming God's Way method

Making the rope for accurate spacing 

Within a couple weeks after this training, I already have begun to see the positive affects. I was able to help a local ministry that I have been working with implement what I learned. In fact Pastor Mwai, the leader of God's Children Ministry (GCM), was able to attend the training with me. He is the director of this ministry to boys, brought off the streets of Nakuru from a life of drugs, out to a farm where they are discipled and trained up to become men of God. The farm is blessed with nearly 14 acres of land and we were able to start small and show them the practical methods that they can do. I believe this is just one example of what God will do through this teaching here in Kenya. I also hope this method will be a tool that I can use to help our AGC missionaries bring the Gospel into some of the most difficult places in Kenya. Stay tuned!

Adding God's Blanket (mulch)