9 January 2009 No Comment

REAP at present has three core programmes dealing with specific issues relating to the churches’ role in reaching out to the rural poor with relevant teaching. One is Stewardship of the Environment.

The Stewardship of the Environment programme focuses on motivational teaching relating to the environment and sustainable agriculture from a Biblical perspective. It concentrates on motivating Christians to be responsible stewards of the soil and environment that God has given us through teaching that is relevant to even the smallest farmers who do not have access to cash. It emphasises sustainable and low input approaches which emphasise working with the balance God created in the soil and having a positive view of trees so that they can be incorporated into even the smallest farm.

In order to enable farmers to take care of their soil practically REAP has been encouraging the use of the ‘A’ Frame to mark contours and the planting of Vetiver Grass along these contours. REAP field staff have been multiplying up Vetiver Grass in two REAP nurseries and have been distributing planting material to encourage local churches and keen farmers to start their own nurseries. When nurseries are established the grass can be used to control erosion and also conserve water from rainfall in the farm by reducing run off. See our teaching leaflets on the ‘A’ Frame and Vetiver Grass.

Easter is a very positive time for thinking about new life and the future, and it comes at the beginning of the rains in western Kenya. So we have been encouraging churches to be active in an Easter Tree Planting Campaign. On March 14th 2008 we had a workshop for 24 church representatives to discuss ways of including tree planting in the Easter season. The response was very positive. The photo above right shows Bishop Isaiah Adagi receiving a tree at the end of the workshop. See our teaching leaflet on the Easter Tree Planting Campaign.