Composting A Success Story

Susan MacKinnon
In 2010, Winston Johnston and I introduced the Ruuju and Muchui Women’s groups to composting. The composting process allows the women to convert locally available plant materials, manure and wood ash into a valuable soil amendment that can be use alone or in conjunction with their commercial fertilizer. Good quality compost can be made in this climate in 2 -3 months.
The training was definitely well received. As Angus Mellish and I visited farms this past two weeks in Ruuju and Muchui we saw compost piles at nearly all the farms. It was exciting to hear that many of the Ruuju women did not have to purchase starter fertilizer for this years maize crop because they had made sufficient compost. If the look of their maize crop is any indication I expect that the women will continue making and using compost in the future.
In Muchui , a lot of the women used their compost in their kitchen gardens and on vegetable crops they plan to sell. It is really interesting listening to the women describe how they modified the recipe to fit the range of inputs they have available on their farms. The women are now making more compost in preparation for the next rainy season. Hopefully the rains come.