“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” (2 Cor 9:8)
We are God’s people who are called to improve, not maintain; to develop, not sustain in all areas of our lives. God’s ways are not in keeping the status quo; it is not part of His nature. He is progressive, creative and His kingdom is advancing all the time.
Our greatest challenge is to bring God and His all sufficiency into every area of our lives. One of our greatest opportunities is to bring the Lord and His all sufficiency into our farming and agricultural practices.
The majority of the people here are subsistence farming, with yields well below that of which is required to meet their own family needs. Lack of knowledge, poor farming practices, unfaithfulness and laziness have contributed and often led to poor yields. Most farmers have little land in which to meet their needs, making efforts to more effectively tend and care for their small pieces of land to produce the highest yields even that much more critical.
“My people perish for a lack of knowledge…” (Hosea 4:6)
Sharing Farming God’s Way (FGW) is a way to bring the Lord and His all sufficiency into our greatest inheritance what have here, the land and the soil. Farming God’s Way advocates bringing God into all areas of our lives, including agriculture.
The goal of FGW promotes sustainable profitability through good, proven farming practices such as no burning, no ploughing and rotation of crops. Such practices are often contrary to the traditional and cultural farming practices and ways of thinking. But, farming practices alone do not lead to sustainable profitability. FGW also promotes the importance of good management such as being on-time, working to high standards and minimal wastage.
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…” (Zech 4:10)
As the rainy season was nearing, an opportunity presented itself for me to share Farming God’s Way with the Tukwatanize Women’s group.
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| Area to be used for our "Well Watered Garden" |
In our first meeting we learned how to prepare our well watered gardens for planting. Instead of clearing out a large amount of land, we start by clearing a small 6 meter x 6 meter area, allowing our available inputs such as compost, seeds and mulch to determine the land area we prepare as we strive to do everything to high standards. After completing our maize planting stations and furrows for beans was properly laid out, we waited for the rains to begin before planting.
The following week the long rains arrived, so we once again met together to share from God’s Word and to learn how to properly plant our maize seeds in our planting stations and to properly place our bean seeds in the prepared furrows. Before leaving we completely covered the surface of our well watered garden with mulch, which we refer to as God’s blanket. Incorporating God’s blanket is crucial to providing and ideal environment to promote seedling growth, minimize runoff and erosion, improve water infiltration, decrease evaporation from soil, improve soil fertility and weed control.
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| Learning together how to dig holes properly for maize seed |
Although this is a small beginning, the women’s desire is to work together to cooperatively farm the remaining available land at the primary school where their children and/or grandchildren attend with the blessing of the owner. The fruit of the harvest will be used to help meet the needs of their children’s meals while attending school. We look forward to the harvest both spiritually and physically as we apply biblical principles in our agricultural practices and in every area of our lives.
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| Preparations completed of "Well Watered Garden" |
Please join us in prayer for:
- Acceptance and application of FGW individually and corporately.
- A willingness to challenge the cultural norms and traditional farming practices.
- Our minds to be renewed as doing things differently requires different thinking. To seek God's wisdom not our own. To consider our ways and turn to God's ways in our farming practices.
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| Using measuring stick to proper space the bean seeds in furrow |
- God to be glorified in all areas of our lives including agriculture.
- An abundant harvest as we are faithful in applying God's ways and depending upon His all sufficiency in the stewardship of the land He has blessed us with.
- Tukwatanize to be a light to our communities through applying FGW.
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| Adding "God's Blanket" over our garden |
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| Completed "Well Water Garden" |
