Chef Pierre Thiam Talks DIG & Our Collective Role In Rebalancing Our Food System
November 3, 2021
Growing More Resilient Local Food Systems
November 2, 2021
When the pandemic shut down markets and restaurants, DIG farmers like Fernard and Cecile were prepared to fill in the gaps. Their gardens were no longer just reliable sources of food for their families, they became a critical resource for their entire community.
Celebrating the Batwa’s Indigenous Foodways
November 2, 2021
DIG's journey with the Batwa is only beginning. We have so much still to learn from this remarkable community. Together, we are embarking on a discovery project to identify and cultivate the Batwa's indigenous forest fruits and vegetables in their gardens.
The Seed Savers of Kenya
November 1, 2021
The work of local seed savers is critical not only for their own household benefit but also for the benefit of their broader communities and the long-term survival of their local plants. These women, all DIG graduates, have become known as expert seed-savers are are a critical link in ensuring their food systems remain resilient and biodiverse.
A Milestone to Celebrate ~ DIG Reaches 50% of all Batwa in Uganda
March 2, 2021
Building trust, confidence, and hope is key to our program’s success; and no where is that more important than with the culturally displaced Batwa of southwest Uganda. DIG has made a long-term commitment to this uniquely marginalized community. The Batwa have experienced terrible poverty and poor health since their eviction from their ancestral lands in the early 1990s. (Read more about DIG’s work with the Batwa here.) After four years of engagement, DIG is celebrating having reached half the Batwa
Ending Childhood Malnutrition with Seeds in Kenya
November 2, 2020
DIG's Priority Household program works specifically with children under 5 who have been diagnosed as malnourished. Watch how DIG works with families to create gardens that ensure their children grow and thrive.
Serving the Most Vulnerable in Uganda
November 2, 2020
DIG prioritizes uniquely vulnerable populations that are often left out of other development opportunities. The Batwa, and People Living with Disability in Uganda are some of the most vulnerable groups we serve. See how we've adapted our program to restore health, wealth, and a sense of belonging.
Transitioning field schools to safe, socially distanced learning environments using the FAO’s Farmer Field School COVID Recommendations
June 16, 2020
In the Casamance region of Senegal, lies the second biggest city, Ziguinchor. Plagued with arid soils and an inescapably long dry season, the region largely relies on an import-based food system for a majority of their needs, including fruits and vegetables. With COVID-19 disrupting critical food distribution systems, DIG’s farmer field school network has been ramping up production to fill in the gaps. In 2019, Development in Gardening, with support from Rise Against Hunger, The University of Washington Senegal Research
Finding ways to limit post-harvest loss during COVID
June 8, 2020
The immediate effects of COVID-19 on food security and nutrition in Kenya cannot be under estimated. The restrictions in movement, closure of hotels and schools which act as a market for many farmers, and lack of supply for farm inputs pose a critical challenge to almost every farmer. The effect is much more devastating to low income households and communities that already face serious challenges such as HIV, drought or flooding and poor access to essential services. DIG’s program that
Maureen Oboch – Orange Sweet Potato Entrepreneur
June 8, 2020
“DIG brought me up from a level no one else would have done, I leant a number of techniques that have enables me to succeed even in other projects, I have done all these because DIG opened my potential in farming, DIG connected me to Ministry of Agriculture and I got connected further to CIP. For sure my life has improved beyond what anyone expected.” – Maureen Oboch Maureen Oboch first joined DIG’s program back in 2016. She is from
DIG Batwa Farmers: Katamas and Hope
January 31, 2019
This Batwa family used to beg for dregs, feeding their 5 children the leftover sorghum from a locally produced drink only once per day. When the couple joined the DIG program, they were skeptical of the outcome as many NGO’s had come to their village for projects that were short-term.
DIG Deeper: Batwa Program Entering Year 2
April 16, 2018
After getting on the ground in November 2016, DIG spent two months undergoing an intensive site assessment through a baseline study, stakeholder analysis, committee and leadership meetings, crop viability study, building a team, and fine tuning the implementation model.