Vegetables/Muriwo/Umbhida Project
Chomolia, also known as African kale (Brassica oleracea)
Why This Project Matters
Chomolia, also known as African kale (Brassica oleracea), is one of the most nutritious and resilient vegetables grown across Africa. At Patricia Jabangwe Children’s Home, it’s not just food, it’s a symbol of self-reliance and healthy living. Rich in vitamins and minerals, chomolia strengthens immunity, supports children’s growth, and provides a reliable source of green vegetables throughout the year. By growing it ourselves, we reduce food costs and teach our children valuable lessons in agriculture, responsibility, and sustainability.
Our Current Setup
We currently grow small batches of chomolia for daily home consumption, using simple garden beds within our compound. The children participate in watering, weeding, and harvesting, learning that patience and care lead to healthy crops and healthy lives. However, demand for fresh greens always exceeds supply, so expanding this project will help us meet our food needs and open opportunities for income generation through surplus sales.
Call for Agricultural Experts & Partners
We welcome agronomists, horticultural experts, and community garden advocates to collaborate with us in improving crop management, soil fertility, and irrigation. Your expertise can help us:
- Adopt improved and organic farming methods
- Introduce crop rotation and pest control strategies
- Optimize harvest cycles and post-harvest handling
- Train our children in small-scale farming entrepreneurship
Phase 1: Strengthening Production (Current)
- Increase planting space and improve soil quality
- Install a basic drip irrigation system for dry seasons
- Train children and caregivers on sustainable vegetable farming
Phase 2: Growth & Community Integration (Next 12–18 months)
- Start supplying surplus vegetables to nearby families and markets
- Partner with local agricultural experts and community gardeners
- Experiment with intercropping and organic composting
Phase 3: Sustainability & Expansion (Beyond 18 months)
- Establish a small horticultural training plot for local youth
- Explore packaging and selling “Home Grown Greens” under the PJ brand
- Use profits to support other sustainability projects (broilers, trees, etc.)
- Each stage brings us closer to food security, independence, and shared community growth
Raised So Far
To expand our chomolia cultivation to a quarter-acre plot capable of feeding the home weekly and producing surplus vegetables for community sale within 12 months.