Introducing Norbert

 I’m in Mombasa for a few days, partly having a little break with the Dudis, and partly to meet Norbert, a Kenyan church leader who has recently moved back to Kenya to set up a new permaculture project in his home village which is about 20km north of Mombasa. 

Yesterday, amidst massive rains and floods that left parts of Mombasa cut off and reeling, I had the delight of getting to meet Norbert in person and seeing his project in action. 

The first thing I have to say about Norbert is what an excellent driver he is! Despite many very huge puddles and potholes, and roads that were sometimes flooded right across, he managed to drive us safely from Mombasa to Kilifi and back again, and even keep a conversation going while he drove. I was so impressed!

Norbert and his wife only moved back to Kenya in the summer, having been a church leader in the Home Counties prior to that. He returned home as he was aware that his home community was struggling to adapt from being a fishing community to one that had to draw its food from the land. Mombasa is normally a very hot dry place, and obviously the salinity in the soil is a problem as well. So traditional farming methods are not always well suited to the area. 

Norbert has been studying agriculture and permaculture alongside his church leadership roles in advance of returning to Kenya to support his community. And now he’s back and embarking on his demonstration garden. 

So far it’s going very well. Irrigation systems are in. The soil has been dug over and all the big rocks removed. Mulch is down. Compost has been dug in. Crops are growing well. In fact they are growing so well that the household (12 in total) don’t need to buy any veg or fruits, and have even sold excess to those around. 

And just to confirm how impressed others are, a neighbour has now started growing crops as well using Norbert as a mentor. 

Yesterday was my first visit to Norbert and his demonstration garden but I pray it won’t be my last. I’m looking forward to journeying with him and Mercy for years to come.