Farming Gods Way

History

In 2004, when Covenant College started their ministry from the new bought land, also a Farm was started. The leadership was in the hands fof Phil Bailey (from the UK) and his farm manager Bilison Mwanza. Bilison was among the first group of students that graduated at Covenant College. We lost our brother in September 2012. His life has been such an example of real Christianity. He was like a big brother for his colleagues and his advice and explanation about life in Zambia was of great help for the missionaries from outside Zambia.

After 10 years Phil left the farm, after working together for some years with the one who should take over his position: Jackson Kasolo, who joined the team in December 2011 and left at the end of 2016. Currently the farm is managed by Lupupa Sakala in an acting capacity.

Today

The farm is there to support the College by providing fresh food for the student menu. Steven Banda is responsible for the vegetable garden. What is in the morning still in the garden can be in the evening already on our plates! A chicken, a pig or fish from our own fish pond that was still alive in the morning can be eaten the same day...

Also our daily nsima, the staple food in Zambia, comes from the farm. Every year we plant so much maize that we have enough to grind for the students. On top of that we sell maize for income and use it for the working for food program to help people in the villages around us.

The grinding is done in our own hammer mill. Kenneth Zulu is in charge. A lot of people from neighbouring villages come to us for their maize grinding as well. Another source of income for the farm.

The farm is not only there to try to be self sufficient. No, it is a ministry as well. By using the `Farming God´s Way´ method the students are taught how they can improve their farming skills and increase their yields so that, when they are pasturing a church, their families still have food security.

The teaching is not only done from a book in the classroom. Also practical lesson´s are added. The students are helping in all kind of areas at the farm. There are moments you can see them working in the piggery, in the cattle kraal or in the newly built chicken house. This chicken project, with batches of 500 chicks every 3 weeks is another way of providing income and becoming less dependent from donor money in future. You can see students busy in the vegetable garden as well.

The students also learn the benefits of certain trees and plants. For example the multi vitamin use of moringa leaves, or the protection against malaria by drinking tea from Artemisia. And what to think about chili? Not only nice in your food, but it can also be used as a natural pesticide. Moringa, Artemisia and chili is also sold at the farm. Honey from our own bee hives as well.

It is a blessing to see what God all has given to us in nature. To us the task to be good stewards, so that this blessings are real used as a blessing for the students and the people around us!