Land & Climate Change
by Gill Wilson | November 15, 2009 at 1:14 PM
I’ve always enjoyed gardening. As a UK native in San Francisco, USA, it took several years for me to adapt my knowledge to the new climate. My frustration at wilting flowers however was insignificant, compared to rural communities facing the effects of climate change on land they have been farming for centuries.
I work for IDEX, a nonprofit that alleviates poverty. I visited IDEX partner, Sahyog Sansthan in Rajasthan, India, to learn more.
Families rely on local weather patterns to know when to plant their crops. Since climate change has begun to take effect, rain is irregular, soil less fertile, and crops fail. People migrate to look for work to feed their families.
Sahyog trains people in vermiculture, a composting method using earthworms to create rich, organic soil. The soil enriches the land, fertilizes crops, and improves the soil’s ability to retain moisture, even during drought years.
To preserve rainfall, Sahyog maps the land and identifies the best location to build bunds. These are foot-high mounds of earth that run the width and length of fields. They slow the flow of the rainwater and minimize erosion. Their careful construction allows water to seep through the rocks, and onto other communities. Nothing is wasted.
Families showed me the benefits of the bunds and vermicomposting: plump eggplants, bright chilies, and leafy greens. Despite the monsoon being poor, their crops were flourishing. The produce feeds families and helps pay for their children’s schooling.
My experience helped me grasp the true value of land.
Comments
Dirt under my fingernails
Thank you for sharing your experience, and the glimpse into a daily life of living off the land. I just watched the documentary "Food, Inc." and was reminded how little we understand about where our food comes from, how detached we are from the land, in many cases, with truly tragic results. I live in the concrete jungle of Los Angeles, where I don't get to toil in the dirt of a garden, and am beginning to rethink that. Thankful for my local farmer's market.
It's also good to be reminded of how our actions are affecting global warming, and thus affecting individual families, making a huge problem personal. I'm thankful that despite the climate changes, the crops were flourishing due to the efforts of new composting techniques. What great work to be involved in! I look forward to reading more of your stories.
Best,
Rebecca
In wish more areas have
In wish more areas have projects like this. This is the need of the hour. We should learn from other people and use the knowledge to our advantage.
Regards
Nusrat
Doing Something Positive
It is great to hear that we can use the amazing amount of knowledge we have garnered to do something positive in the face of the challenges of climate change. At one time I was involved with French intensive gardening which also makes use of mounds and works to replenish the soil while growing crops.
Great story, thanks for sharing!
"the true value of land"
The land is like the mother providing food from her body and climate change is something like the child ignoring the mother and destroying her. I hope every human will understand the value of land as you to make our only home, earth happy.
Thank you
NIPO
Nipo