I walked into the Messengers of Justice (MOJ) vegetable garden, where Sr. Ann Onyedieke, MOJ taught me how to plant a pumpkin seed. “Plant the seed with the head facing down so that when it opens the tap root sprouts up through the soil”, she said while demonstrating the process.
Sr. Ann and her fellow MOJs teach BOMCA & MENPS students practical agricultural techniques with various crops several days a week on the arable land surrounding the schools. In this way, students consume what they grow while learning the perennial survival skill of “living off the land.”
This farming work is as much for practical necessity as for educational purpose. None of our students pay tuition since HEAL’s mission exists for the poor & marginalized of society. Thus, we farm to grow food for their daily meals.
But, we only grow about 30% of what our students need for a nutritious diet. 70% of the food, including rice, pasta, beans, tomatoes, and poultry, is purchased for cash at local markets and comprises 35% of our total operating budget.
Greater farming capacity would move our mission toward food independence and free up more financial resources for our educational programs. In order to do this, HEAL has resolved to establish a Cassava & Maize Farm.
The short term investment to launch the farm will be well worth the benefits to come within two to three years. Please look over the details of this project and prayerfully consider supporting it.