Obunga Grow-How by andersthelaus

Obunga Grow-How A community demo-farm for food resiliance

Camille Montbel - Hastings Oliyo - Coralie Szollosi - Anders Thelaus ---Chalmers - Reality studio 2017

This booklet is produced within the framework of Reality Studio, a design-studio in the Master Programme Design for Sustainable Development at Chalmers Technical University, Gothenburg. The project is set in Kisumu, Kenya where the Reality Studio has a recurring presence. The booklet is intended to give an overview of the project â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obunga Grow-Howâ&#x20AC;? produced during the spring semester of 2017.

The fact

The problem

The Strategy

What we have seen

What we understood

What we planned

Stakeholders analysis..................6 The site.................................................8 SWOT..................................................11 Findings...........................................11

Problem statement......................13 Understanding the problem: drivers and delimitations..........13 Justification of the study.....15 Conclusion......................................15

Research question........................17 Project perspective.......................17 Strategies to reach the vision..18 The timeline......................................19 Strive for big impacts..................20 Demo-farm as a platform of interactions......................................21 References..............................24 Conclusion.......................................25

p. 5

p. 12

p. 16

The methodology

The NURSERY

The design proposal

How we proceeded

How we kick-started

What we envision

Ethnographic approaches........27 Design methods.............................28

System of criterias.......................32 A nursery as a small demo farm.................................................36 Impacts in a long term perspective.................................38 Conclusion................................38

Materials...................................40 Permaculture...................................41 Timeline by stages......................42 An inspirational space - in 10 years.........................................54 A living farm...................................56 Conclusion.................................57 Catalogue of interventions......58

p. 26

p. 31

p. 39

Main conclusion.....................................................................................................................................................................................60 Thanks to...................................................................................................................................................................................................61 Vocabulary and Sources...................................................................................................................................................................62

Introduction design strategy aims to be relevant for similar settlements worldwide. The work we exhibit is an incremental design strategy, communication tools to explain a complex project over time, a catalogue of interventions and a design proposal based on these for this specific site and organisation. This booklet will in six chapters go through what we have seen when in Kenya, what we understood, what we planned, how we proceeded, how we kickstarted it and what we envision.

The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obunga Grow-Howâ&#x20AC;? is a project about how to turn a farming location within an informal settlement into an educational community platform, a demofarm, focusing on the creation and distribution of knowledge. The project focuses on sustainable low tech, cost effective, innovative and permaculture inspired methods of food production that can be relevant for residents of Obunga, an informal settlement in the outskirts of Kisumu, Kenya. Although it focuses on a specific case, the approach and

1 The fact

What we have seen Akili farm is a green field sitting along a river in the Obunga informal settlement, Kisumu. It is owned and managed by the Orton Riley Foundation, an umbrella organization responsible for the Akili farm in Obunga, a farm in nearby village Obambo, and to these connected Akili schools for girls. Orton Riley foundation is an organization with its roots in Obunga operating to empower vulnerable girls and improve the food situation in this not-so-fortunate neighborhood. Before the introduction of the idea of the Akili farm, the field was a neglected piece

of land in the heart of dense informal settlement, remaining unused due to risk of flood except for the neighbouring residents who took advantage of the situation by turning it into a place for dumping both biodegradable and non-biodegradable household waste. This chapter outlines the context in which the Akili farm exists; particularly the stakeholders, location and the physical environment. Also, in this chapter the physical and sociocultural context of the site is analysed in more details to understand the current situation.

WO RL D

KISU MU

OBU NG A

AKI LI F AR M

STAKEHOLDERS ANALYSIS

AKILI SCALE, ACTORS ON THE FARM

Orton Riley foundation - Akili Pre-School, Obunga - Farm Workers

OBUNGA SCALE, ACTORS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Obunga Residents Association(ORA) - Obunga residents

The Orton Riley foundation is currently managing several projects and is receiving support from a network of different actors. The projects currently undertaken by the foundation include, education of economically vulnerable girls (Akili Schools), providing platforms for sharing of knowledge and ideas about sustainability (Mandaleo Hub, Sustainakility Club and Obunga Akili Farm) with the vision to contribute to the eradication of hunger and poverty in Obunga (and Obambo). The organization is responsible for the management of the farm, functioning as a top decision making organ and nexus between the Akili farm and other projects run by the organization.

Obunga Residents Association is an influential actor to this farm albeit its influence is often hidden to the outsider’s eye. It is a voice of the community and therefore mobilizes critical public goodwill in support of the projects of the farm. The association understands the immediate and long term needs of many community members and speaks out in favour of the them. In any design task, designers should take initiatives to meet the community members for the purpose of verifying information given, especially disenfranchised members. This is not to say that the association is dishonest but that trying to meet as many of the “voiceless” in the community creates broader understanding.

KISUMU SCALE, Obambo farm - Schools and learning institutions ACTORS IN THE Obambo farm is a larger sister farm to the Obunga Akili Farm, established to take up some functions of and complement the Obunga Akili Farm. In the future REGION arrangements, it is planned that Obambo farm will provide food or larger cash

crops to support the children in the Akili Pre-School in Obunga while the Obunga Akili Farm will be a platform for demonstrating practices, which could in turn be applicable in Obambo. The Akili school in Obambo functions as a bording school that takes older students from mainly Obunga that has been pupils at the Akili Pre-School in Obunga

WORLD SCALE, THE WORLD WIDE NETWORK

Volunteers - Charity Donators (Mama Hope)

There are already and will be more international individuals in the future representing NGOs, schools or working on their own account, whom offer their service to the Orton Riley Foundation for a particular period of time. They come with new ideas which propel the ongoing projects and give them more dimensions and qualitites. The volunteers are important because they provide the farm with connections to researchers, NGOs and institutions abroad. It is these connections and resultant partnerships that ensure continuity and scaled impact of the farm in the long run. However, this opportunities make the farm quite relient on outsiders, especially when it comes to the economic side, the Foundation being today entirely dependant on external donations and grants.

Demographic Characteristics

THE SITE

Akili farm has relations with about 15000-20000 households living in Obunga informal settlement. This makes the question of how it can impact on the food accessability situation of these households both challenging and interesting to explore. Do we think that this farm of about 0.29 hectares can produce food to feed this population? Not with the present technology, at least. However, it can have an impact on the Obunga and beyond if a working demonstration farm is established. The farm has potential for working with other entities in Kisumu like - farming households, Klip House, Bamato organization, women organizations and Obunga Residents Organization to increase its impact and to establish further symbiotic arrangements for mutual benefit. The farm is currently serving as a place where students from Akili Pre-School have their daily lunch. This makes the place important for the kids, to have a break, play and interact with a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;green islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in a densely built environment. Some parents and other neighbours also come to the farm occasionally to work or have a meal. Therefore, the students, parents and workers can easily connect the place with food, making it a great place to talk about sustainable food.

Location and Accessibility Akili farm has a rare location in the heart of the dense Obunga informal settlement. The field is located in a flood risk area at a confluence of a river and a road. This characteristic gives the farm locational advantage as it is sufficiently accessible by both motorized and non-motorized modes of transport. Its strategic location in the slum and in a flood risk zone makes it ideal both as an avenue to teach slum dwellers how to grow food and also to show how land considered derelict could be put to use for the benefit of the society. As Obunga is a part of the slum belt around Kisumu with the poorest living conditions, whatever effects the farm has on the residents has the potential to influence other slums that are a part of this belt. The farm can therefore have a great impact on informal settlements such as Migosi, Manyata, Nyalenda and Bandani. See the maps below about the spatial composition of Kisumu.

Akili Preparatory School Obambo Farm

Akili Farm

Kisumu, density of the slums aroung the city center

Obunga, main slum of Kisumu crossing by a creeck

Vegetation Vegetation in the site is mainly tropical crops and some trees. Crops in the farm include; traditional vegetables such as nightshade, spider weed and cow peas, maize and beans, as well as fruit trees such as pawpaw (papaya) and banana. Other plants include grasses and woody trees such as acacia. The site has the potential to produce pawpaw based on the few but flourishing pawpaw plants in and around the site. Placement of crop in relation to the sun, flood and soil depth will be important.

window of opportunity to explore other technologies for light buildings to inspire change for the betterment of the living conditions in Obunga.

Soil and Geology

Physical infrastructure

The soil in Obunga Akili Farm is predominantly clay soil. The soil is fertile with varied but good depth and water holding capacity, giving it large potential to be an avenue to test various organic farming techniques and methods. The soil being clay however, has poor water infiltration potential and hence is liable to water lodging. Drainage mechanisms should be carefully thought of so as to only evacuate seasonal water, without making the soil dry during the seasons when rainfall is minimal. The soil is however weak as to support heavy multi-storey structures. This gives a

The site is fairly served with infrastructure; however there is still need to provide more services in order for the site to function as a demonstration farm. The site is served with electricity from Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC); however power cables are running over the site in away that restrict the height of plants and structures that can be established here. Liquid Waste management in the site is not well developed as the site only has one pit latrine, with waste water running on the surface. A strategy will need to be developed to treat grey water for use in the farm. The immediate surrounding of the site has no solid and sewerage management mechanism. As a result both solid and liquid waste often finds its way into the farm, hence the possibility of contaminating vegetable and the soil. A strategy will need to be thought of to stop sewerage from outside farm from contaminating the vegetables and also prevent the plastics from polluting the soil. Placement of high and lower plants in relation to movement of polluted water is one such strategy. Other infrastructural needs still lacking include proper lighting, sustainable water source, drainage system, proper housing for workers, shade and kitchen among others.

These practical, analytic datas and observations about the field were collected on site through mapping and discussion within the community. This process is developed into more details inside the part 4 about methodology and the observations compiled onto maps to be found in an adjoining booklet.

Some volunteers working in the fields

Flooding issues destroying the fences

50 m

2904 m2

Creek Meeting point under a tree

Fields not very productive and polluted by waste and water

Some facilities already installed

Entrance and fences very closed from outside

Situation of the farm

A farmland with challenges and opportunities The site today, as you can see below, is located along a river. Today there are some positive conditions, like that a few facilites are installed (marked with +) and some negative, like flooding issues (marked with -), challenges that the farm is facing today. These basic obsevations are starting points for the design strategy.

Water and Hydrology The water situation in the farm toggles between two extreme ends. The site experiences water shortage during dry months between November and March. During heavy rains in April, the site experiences abundant water leading to floods. Once in a year

(or more), the nearby river busts leave its course to flood the farm. For sustained farming activities, water solutions will need to be found. The effect of flood must be minimized while striving to collect as much rain water as possible to use during drought, and to reduce the bills associated with water bought from Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company (KIWASCO) is desirable. Currently water used in the farm is derived from KIWASCO and a shallow well sunk in the farm. The presence of a shallow well in the farm indicate that the water table is shallow, making it possible to obtain underground water. But is ground water suitable and sustainable in this set up with pit latrines?

Swot Location of the plot in the slum/ Physical accessibility Good organizational framework Economic support/Donations Association with children Existing demand for the products

STRENGHTS OPPORTUNITIES Local and international linkages Permaculture Plastic reuse Neighbors/labour and other resources

Lack of sound land use plan/strategy Lack of proper communication with the communty Lack of technological know how Over dependency on donations Limited access to land Inadequacy of water for farm use

WEAKNESSES THREATS Flood risks Risk of theft Prolonged drought Influx of waste from the neighbourhood Over emphasis on Obambo farm Unclear ownership/Inadequate tenure security

Findings I - The Obunga households experience food poverty leading to hunger, this is majorly due to lack of access to food more than the availability of it. II - The food situation usually worsen when the household income decline. During the periods of political instability, food supply from the hinterland declines and food become totally inaccessible leading to starvation. III - Akili farm has locational advantage, in an informal settlement, and this could be exploited to empower and transform the thinking and hence reduce hunger for the people living in settlements of this kind in the Lake Region. IV - Akili farm not only enjoys geographical connectivity, but also connections/relations

to multidisciplinary, cross-cultural and transgenerational individuals. This gives it the ability to reach requisite idea and resources for executing transformative projects in Obunga. V - The farm cannot eradicate hunger instantly nor produced food to feed the whole Obunga population. Nevertheless, it can act to reduce hunger through empowering the residents to take part in food production. VI - With the limitations set by the site and its context, the design for a functioning demo-farm will have to provide for the following: • Simple “slum-tech” solutions for farming • Manage water in both shortage and abundance

2 The problem

What we understood Hunger is a problem affecting more than half the population of Kisumu, particularly those living in informal settlements. Hunger as applied in this report implies a situation where one endure starvation due to lack of food, does not have hopes of getting it and therefore lacks the requisite daily calories for physiological body functions. In Obunga, this problem is compounded by lack of stable income sources, lack of urban farming activities, frequent market distortions and political instabilities. More often than not, the situation become

even worse during shock periods, say political and economic instabilities, as food is not available and households are subjected to episodes of starvation. Therefore, hunger and lack of a resilient food system can be identified as an immediate problem that if addressed can fast-track achievement of many other sustainable development goals of the society. In this chapter, the problem of hunger as it applies to the case of Obunga is demystified, exposing the main root cause, drivers and delimitations.

Problem statement

Understanding Problem Drivers and Delimitation

Rapid proliferation of informal settlements with poor living conditions is a clear indication of growing urban poverty in Kisumu. This phenomenon, urbanization of poverty, is the result of rapid urbanization coupled with lack of reliable sources of livelihood, forcing almost 60% of the Kisumu population to living in informal settlements. UN habitat (2014) revealed that 53.4% of Kisumu residents live below the poverty line; which leads to the questions of whether it is a problem of availability of food or lack of access to it. Another study by Carsan, Osino, Opanga and Simon (2010) established that Kisumu is a net importer of food, with most of the vegetables, fruits and serials outsourced from Asembo, Ugenya, Kakamega, and Nandi among other regions. This could imply that the root cause of hunger in Kisumu is largely lack economic power to access to food, rather than availability of it. But food prices could also increase due to lack of adequate supply of food especially during episodes of droughts and political instability. This arrangement in the food chain is challenging to sustain as it leaves residents vulnerable to shocks and uncertainties. For instance, food availability during episodes of political and socioeconomic shocks usually decline due to communication links between Kisumu and the regions that feeds it being cut. More often than not, these situations disproportionately affect the slum dweller as prices increase consequently making it hard for the urban poor to access food.

Hunger is a broad topic that can be understood in many ways with a myriad of possible solutions. Although hunger in Kisumu is no exception, the lack of a resilient food system responsive to shocks compounds the problem for Obunga residents. The existing food system has no capacity to predict and no buffers to shocks to food prices, decline in income, market distortion and imported supplies. Since the urban poor spend 50%-80% of their income on food and still live under 2 dollars a day (World Bank, 2014), they remain volatile to shocks and so are affected disproportionately by hunger, compared to their rich counterparts.

The problem of hunger can be addressed by enabling the urban poor to access food and to gainÂ´control over their dietary choices. This ambition can only be achieved in a sustainable way if the households are enabled to take control of the food production process. We see education as a powerful tool to transform mindsets and revolutionize the line of thought for both the slum dwellers and city management. We seek to demonstrate to slum dwellers that it is possible to grow food in a dense informal settlement, with limits of land resources, for self-consumption and hence spread the knowledge of prosumerism as strategy to ensure food security at all times for the low income segment.

Why then do we lack food resilience in Obunga? If we address root causes and drivers to hunger in Obunga then we reduce the problem significantly. As mentioned above, Kisumu is affected by food shocks related to political and economic instability, market distortions and shortage of supply. This reduces the ability of slum dwellers to access the amount of safe food needed to meet their physiological needs. Hunger comes in because the households lacks a strategy to find food during these periods. Although Obunga has potential to locally produce food to feed its population, this fact is hidden to the local Â´eyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The policy makers have not done enough to promote local production, or address food resilience in a sustainable way. This is because there is no knowledge on how food can be produced in a dense informal settlement, and this not only leads to lack of motivation but also resistance on the part of policy makers. During political crisis the market can be distorted leading to both lack of availability and access to food for Obunga households. This study identifies local production and availability of knowledge on slum farming (grow-how) as the key drivers in addressing hunger, and thereby improving food resilience in Obunga. The study recognizes the role of sociopolitical instabilities, climate change and eating habits as equal drivers in the hunger problem but chooses to intervene in providing knowledge rather than provide food or preventing shocks. This way, the effects of the other drivers are negated.

Unknown hunger (essential micro-nutrients

GENERAL PROBLEM

ROOT CAUSES

Episodes of relative food poverty (quality)

Episodes of absolute food poverty (quality and quantity)

HUNGER

FOOD ACCESS

EATING HABIT

SYSTEM DRIVERRS/ SHOCKS

HIGH LEVERAGE POINT

GROW-HOW

DESIRED STATE

FOOD RESILIENCE

Problem Diagram

FOOD AVAILABILITY

Justification of the study

Conclusion

This project will contribute to the ongoing debate in favor of sustainable urban farming, especially in densely developed informal settlements where resources are limited. Subsequently, households will be empowered to produce their own food hence reducing hunger and poverty. In this case the residents of Obunga will also have an alternative strategy to feed their families during periods of economic and political instabilities. This will not only address hunger but also ensure a healthy work force, thus being crucial in the achievement of the vision 2030(national) and Sustainable development (international) goals. Setting up a working demo-farm in this environment will serve to inspire policy makers to change their perception about the possibility of permitting farming in the urban centers in this region possibly leading to a paradigm shift. The study also seek contribute to the existing body of knowledge in this field and to identify knowledge gaps future studies. The research questiong we have choosed to work with for this study and design project is:

-IThe current food supply system is not responsive to the food shocks currently experienced in Obunga.

How can a Demo-farm in an informal settlement act to increase food resilience in and informal settlement?

- II During food shocks hunger affects the poorhouseholds disproportionately, since they spend almost 80% of their income on food hence have no savings.

- III A resilient food system in this context needs the capacity to predict and cushion residents against food shock by promoting local production, reduce urban ecological footprints and lower the occurance of food waste.

- IV Availability of knowledge on local food production (grow-how) is the missing link to food resilience in Obunga. This project intervene by designing a place for producing and dissemination this knowledge

3 The Strategy

What we planned Based on the understanding that the rate of food poverty in Obunga is high mostly due to lack of access to food and that Kisumu is a net importer of food, we chose to address this problem by providing an educative information platform to empower people to take control of the food chain. This platform must be inclusive, bringing all stakeholders on board to find means by which food can be a right to all citizens rather than being a privilege. Transforming the mindsets and

empowering citizens through education are identified as key leverage points in addressing food poverty in Obunga. A sustainable way to provide food for the residents in this context is to turn them into prosumers and consequently reduce reliance on the hinterland for food. This is the reason underpinning the choice to design a demo-farm in this community. This chapter summarises the strategies we choose to apply so as to strengthen food resilience systems in informal settlements.

Research Question How can a Demo-Farm act to increase food resilience in an informal settlement? A Demo-Farm (Demonstration Farm) is field set a side and developed into an agricultural farm purposefully to experiment on and showcase different efficient and reliable farming practices. Economic gains from cash crops are not the primary goal of this kind of farm but finances that accrue from its activities are used to run the farm. This understanding of a demofarm is basically our view, the Riley Orton foundation appear to also attach tourism and economic gains to their meaning of a demo-farm.

Our role therefore include creating a mututal understanding of how a demo-farm can be for everyone to learn and that economic gains are secondary to learning although a part of the outcome. We have mainly aimed to design a strategy and examplify it with specific designs for components for the Akili Farms transformation into a demo-farm with the capacity of bringing all stakeholders on board, provide vital information about relevant urban food production and to challenge the notion that farming in the city is not healthy.

Project PERSPECTIVE Miss io n To raise interest, spread knowledge and create inspirations; in visitors to experience, learn, about and then be able to produce and consume sustainable urban food.

Visi on Initiate a demo-farm by improving incrementally the efficiency of the farm, and by promoting exchange and communication between the farm and the community.

Our ro le Propose a design adapted to the ideas, needs and problems identified by the Orton Riley Foundation and us. We will develop our design solutions within the framework of an evolutionary, long term masterplan.

Strategies TO REACH THE VISION Bring all stakeholders Reducing hunger requires that all the stakeholders including producers, consumes, waste workers, academia, policy makers, private sector and the business community work together and their efforts are synchronized. This combined effort then produces synergies and reduces conflicting actions that may derail the efforts made by each stakeholders. A demofarm can achieve this by acting as a platform to bring stakeholders together and be a place to experiment on ideas, showcase and empower people.

Showcase simple and efficient solutions to farming and building One common characteristic of informal settlements is deficiency of vital resources, for example land and water. Any farming idea proposed must therefore take this into consideration. Showing residents how to farm with resource shortages will motivate them by showing them the potentials in their surroundings. Policy framework in Kenya does not offer favourable terms for urban farming. Urban systems however evolves and needs changes, and so demonstrating how efficient and beneficial urban farming can be may influence the current policy in favour of urban farming.

Propose and implement a long-term perspective The project proposes an evolutionary master plan together with a detailed implementation timeline. Different themes within the context of the farm and its future functions have been analyzed and addressed in the plan. The plan is an evolutionary and learning master plan in the sense that the developments of the farm are responsive to both the current and future needs.

The timeline This timeline is developed as a tool to implement the evolutionary master plan, it will guide the development of the farm from its current state to a fully working Demo-Farm. The timeline is also, very importantly, a communication tool for the organization to find funds and provide a base for applying for grants or donations for specific projects. The plan is thought to be implemented over the next 25 years from the time of our study visit. During these 25 years there are 6 major checkpoints established that has specific sets of goals and visions connected to it. The timeline consists of many components that have

the possibility to evolve over time depending on the emergent needs of the farm at a particular time. For example, a vertical nursery which is originally part of the demonstration facilities was built as a simple structure that can evolve to be part of a fence or become an information structure. The interventions needed are mapped out together with Dennis, manager of the Akili Farm and Megan Sonier, representative for Mama Hope (An American partner supporting the project) Both the plan and the timeline are organized around the aforementioned design themes and are tuned to adress six different thematics.

STRIVE FOR BIG IMPACTS Our project endeavours to propose a model that empowers of slum dwellers in a way that in turn can bring about increased food resiliance in primarily Obunga, the slum belt of Kisumu and if successful the informal settlements in the east African region and also inspire similar approaches in other informal settlements of the world. The information received from Akili farm will help the households to make sustainable decisions about food consumption and food production. The residents will be empowered with knowledge and inspiration to grow their own food and become prosumers. They will then play a pivotal role in reduction of hunger through local capability. In this regard it can be expressed that the impacts of Akili farm begins with inspiring an individuals lifestyle choices after which it can spread

to a wider context, and into the foreseeable future. Akili farm aims at propelling Obunga community into food resilience. People will be inspired and guided on how to produce and consume their own foods and this intern will cushion them especially from hunger that may result from inflation, market distortion and political disruptions. Sustained access to safe food in conjunction with social interaction and exposure to green neighbourhoods will most likely lead to reduction in stress levels, malnutrition and general better health. A healthy population is more productive and more willing to protect their neighbourhood and society, be it from environmental degradation or external aggression. This is both a way to cushion from effects of shocks and to anticipate shocks and recover without starvation.

FOR INFORMAL SETTL N O I IRAT YA AND AROUND THE W EMENT P S ORL S IN KEN D IN RESILIENCE IN OBUNG D A FOO ING CONDI TION VED LIV O R S IMP AND LIVELIHOODS ND EDUCATION F OR ESS A N E FO R N AND PROD O I A T O P M U W U C S TIO D A ON N C L NETWORK WI THI CIA O OBUNGA N S REST RISE INTE COMMUN THE ITY N I

AKILI Impact Diagram of Obunga Grow-How

D E M O F A R M 20

Activities of Akili farm aims to attract scholars from Kisumu and the entire lake region. This is a way to contribute in sustaining the ongoing debate on urban farming, and to find new ways of feeding the burgeoning population, especially with the consideration that more than 50% of the world population will be living in cities by 2030. A working partnership will therefore be forged between researchers, producers, policy makers and the average citizens for purposes of action research, to produce and test knowledge which will benefit people both at the national and locals scale. Akili Demo-Farm will also inspire other organizations in the region to spread the knowledge on urban farming into other slums in the region and hence promote food resilience in the entire slum belt and beyond Kisumu city. As a result, the socioeconomic and environmental conditions of life will improve and

the hunger problem will be reduced considerately in the whole region. In a nutshell the impacts of Akili Demo-farm will be felt from the lowest scale, that is, the individual level, to the widest possible scale, the global scale.

Building the bridge with Obambo Through a collaboration with the group working on the Obambo plot, we establish a strategy about the conection between the two sites, one being locating in the slum and the other other one taking place in a rural context. Eventually, both can gain from the other in order to increase the potential impacts and help for the development. This is one of the major interactions that the Akili Farm will conduct as a true hub that we intend it to be.

MARKETING

Promote eachother

MONEY

Share income and support eachother Sell Obambo crops at Obunga market

PEOPLE

Schools Volunteers Tourists Workers Researchers

OBUNGA FARM

OBAMBO FARM KNOWLEDGE

Materials

Seeds

Exhange in-between Obambo and Obunga

- Bamboo - Stones

Testing

Expierience

Demo-farm as a platform of interactions In the diagram below we can follow the Akili DemoFarm envisioned social network on different scales. It shows what kind of actors that are connected to the project on different levels. To the right is a diagram - to be read as a legend that shows examples of what kinds of exchange this project can becom a platform for within Obunga.

Farmers in informal settlement

Volunteers

Tourists and visitors

Volunteers

Tourists and visitors

Farmers in informal settlement

Households and visitors

Small scale farmers

Households

Small scale farmers

Hotels

Residents Association

The Akili Demo Farm has the possibility to raise a real network of actors where each of them could gain and contribute from trade and exchanges in different ways. Besides, these adjacent diagrams highlight some focus group depending on the scale according to our long term perspective strategy.

Engaged people that help out and consume

Akili Preparatory School

A K I L I DEMO FARM

Implement new solutions Fertilise crops Build, harvest, develop the farm

Plant more Reuse for building and workshops Give to sorting organisations Sell to market Develop the farm Pay employees Gain in reputation

knowledge and techniques manure and compost labour force event, entertainment seeds solid wastes lunch money

Other schools in Kisumu

Learn, take part in social life Be empowered Develop own production Be fed Learn a new healthy and diversified diet

promotion inspiration veggies and crops

Universities and research institutes

Develop own production and researches

Gain motivation to reproduce Use for own consumption

Donors

Universities and research institutes

Donors

Masseno University

Orton Riley Foundation

Other schools in Obunga

Implement new solutio

Fertilise cro

Build, harvest, develop the fa

Plant mo Reuse for building and worksho Give to sorting organisatio Sell to mark

Develop the fa Pay employe

Gain in reputati

References Detroit Future Cities Strategic Framework

Kajulu - A Common Tomorrow

A long term and incredibly all encompassing strategic framework that works with water management, green cityscapes and encouraging grassroots participation in planning on a larger scale. The general attitude and ambition is an inspiration, especially the emphasis on involving community members and bringing local inclusion in to a large scale project. It is also an inspiration in the way it tackles a situation of change with a large timespan.

A project about turning a piece of land outside of Kisumu in to a rescue center for children with organic farming as a large part of the program. The way that they have worked with establishing a working dynamic with the local community that participates practically in the implementation of the project has been an inspiration. Being on site and building with them and the community was a guiding experience for our approach.

Detroit, U.S, state of Michigan

Kajulu Rescue Center, The New Land, Kenya, Reality Studio 2017, Marin Germain et Gaelle Cozic

Conclusion -I-

The Sack Gardens of Kibera Visiting Kibera is an overwhelming experience and it is hard to imagine how to start a project about greenery or gardens in such a dense place. The Sack Gardens of Kibera proves that it is with innovation and determination possible, and appreciated, to ignore these first impressions of informal settlements. Small things can have a large impact.

To establish structures for community participation and involvement early in the process is vital for a projects chances of having impact. To anchor a project with the group that you want reach is best done continuously and early.

- II -

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Garden in a sackâ&#x20AC;?, Kenya, Nairobi, Kibera, Mathare, Kiambiu, and Mukuru Lunga-Lunga, 2008, SolidaritĂŠs International

A healthy design process has an outcome that allows for changes over time. Especially in a context where resources are scarce it is very important to consider reusability and changeability while still being clear on specific usefulness. A vision for multitudes of states in time of a design is a guideline for sustainable design.

- III You have to start small and build change step by step while still aiming for systemic impact. There will be no quick fixes or short cuts but processes must start from things that are adoptable, replicatable and manageable by households or organizations in this specific context now.

4 The methodology

How we proceeded This study has employed a hybrid of approaches so as to understand the situation and to find appropriate design solutions. In particular we mainly relied on an ethnographic approach so as to acquire deeper understanding of the situation from an insider’s view point, and a combination of systems oriented design and co-creation methods. In this chapter, the methods used in research are discussed in two categories, ethnographic methods and design methods. “Ethnographic” approaches were applied to investigate the problem while design methods were used to investigate possible design solutions to the problem.

Approaches We employed a hybrid of qualitative and quantitative approaches to critically analyze the situation and find possible design solutions. We tried to identify the root causes to hunger problems and to intervene by way of design. An “ethnographic” approach was used to investigate the problem from the inside, system oriented design and co-creation methods were employed to find design solutions to the problem. Sampling method Purposive sampling was used to choose Obunga as the study area and the participants. We settled on the Akili project because it is an ongoing project with the focus on hunger problems in Obunga. We saw this as a way to lend a hand in addressing an existing problem from micro-level. We see the impact of this initiative as a way to improve livelihood chances for many people who have a stake in the project. A group of about 30 participants were involved in various stages of the study period.

Ethnographic approaches Focus group for Study Visits and research tours Study visits were taken to various households, existing projects in the region and to the institutions under whose jurisdiction Obunga belong. The aim was to get inspiration, to build partnerships and to try to understand the problems from different viewpoints. Farmers were visited and a tour to their farms was taken to understand their lifestyle and how this relate to their farming pattern. We then invited them for a workshop, on a later date, and the 100% turn-out was indication of success in building trust.

categories of participants. Through this we were able to grasp issues underpinning food poverty. It was a way to also verify information from different sources and to build trust with actors on board.

Observations

Interviews were conducted both with government officials, policy makers, the farm employees and during household visits. The interview with the policy makers was to understand the legal framework within which urban farming activities in Kisumu operates to discuss the possibilities bringing policy makers from the government office on board. The purpose was also to get different categories of participants involved, invite them to the project and see the context in which Akili farm exist with the lenses of different

The study also relied on observing the situation and documentation. Since the survey took two months, it was possible to observed different situations and how they change with time. For example we identified water as a major problem and we observed this phenomenon during the period of drought and of rains. It was observed that water is scarce during dry spells and it is abundant and destructive during rainy periods. This therefore implies both restrictions and opportunities for design. Observing different aspects of a phenomena like this helped to predict how a design might affect the future outcome. A continous presence on site is the only way to be sure that a design outcome/intervention is resilient to site specific conditions.

Discussion about plants with the focus group

Polities meeting

Interviews

Design Methods Co-creation workshops The idea of a demo-farm is originally a brain child of the of Akili Farm organisation. We have contributed with spatial design expertise, project management skills and with developing participatory design methods. Three different workshops on different themes were organized where possible designs and strategies were discussed. During each workshop were brought with us diagrams of different ideas and reference materials to help facilitate discussions with the focus to capture local knowledge. Through this we gained a glimpse into the local knowledge especially water management and traditional crops. We not only to focused on the problem but also on local opportunities and traditional knowledge. The workshops helped to further build trust and to ensure that all the stakeholders have a sense of ownership. The argument is that it becomes easier to implement a design resulting from a co-creation process

because those responsible for implementation own the ideas and understands them. The dissemination and democratisation of knowledge when involving stakeholders is also a sought after effect.

Co-deisgn session with Megan and Dennis

Workshop to plant seeds in the nursery

Workshops We conducted several workshops on the farm with a focus group of involved adults living in Obunga. This was a strategy for us to absorb local knowledge and understand local expectations.It was also a way of creating trust and to ensure continutity after we leave buy building a sense of community and ownership based on the Demo-Farm project. It was also a necessary way of creating a bridge between the Akili Organisation and the settlement they hope to reach. But this events gave alos an idea of what can take place in the future demo-farm as workshops.

Prototyping A prototype of a vertical nursery was built and tested as a to way kick-start demonstration practice on the farm. This nursery was meant to begin the demonstrating of efficient low-tech solutions to urban farming challenges and to be start of the 25 years evolutionary master plan. The prototype was built using local wood, waste plastic bottles, rice sacks and papyrus reeds mat. This makes it easy to replicate, repair and maintain. It has a water efficient dripping system installed. It is therefore also a way to show water efficient methods of farming and that soil can be imported from other farms and put into the bottles to create specific environments for specific crops. Although it is a nursery, lower crops with high value such as coriander and onions can grow here to maturity. A planting workshop was organized to test how the locals perceived it, and how they could use it. The

participants were able to understand its applicability within the context in which they farm and how it could be up-scaled and replicated, and were given a manual on how to do so. Prototyping helped us to test ideas in small scale and to see how other external factors may affect the nursery before we propose it for commitment. This also allowed the potential users to test and give feedback hence giving the final product the quality of being user friendly. It also served to start a the transformation and to ensure committment from the Akili organisation.

Workshop to plant seeds in the nursery

Building the nursery

Review of secondary data Different publications from government documents, articles and journals were reviewed to get the statistics, other scholarsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; argument on the topic and to acquire references for inspiration.

Site Mapping To understand patterns in the site and its surroundings, different characteristics such as soil depth, flooding regions, crops and soil quality were mapped. The maps were based on the analysis of the site. For example have seen the level of pollution and the extent of inversion by polluted sewer, we mapped areas that are fit for higher crops and those that are fit for vegetables. We mapped by regions the

need interventions to mitigate damage by flood and crops that can survive in these regions. This maps are compiled inside a booklet to hand in to Dennis and the farmers on site so that they can use these datas for selecting the crops that fit the conditions of the field. Since we are not agricultors, our role, as architects, is about collecting datas and giving them the right tools. Flooding areas

Polluted soil

Regions with polluted soil. There is a threat of sewage influx and inversion byb solid plastic from the neighbours.

Regions most affeceted by flood. the river burst and leave its course one a year. Crops in this regions must therefore withstand strong water for a short duration

Soil depth

Less contact with poluated water Shallow Average Deep

Map of soil depth guiding what crop is best suited for what region

Fertilized soil

Cover crops

Areas where vegetables can be planted. In this regions the lower vegetables will not be contamined with polluted water.

Regions suitablle for higher crops that withstand water such as sugercane, cassava and groundnuts. Note that water last for hours

5 The NURSERY

How we kick-started We decided to make a prototype on site to kick-start the process of transformation of the Akili-Farm. The prototype we where to build had to be something that would help in the establishing of better farmland, something that showcases low-tech and innovative solutions for farming in Obunga and somehow adresses the water management problem. What we decided to do was a plant-nursery. It is a structure that has a roof that gathers rain water, making it self

sustaining for water supply. It is equipped with a effective watering system that builds on its verticality that also makes it space efficient. In principle a plant-nursery is a tool for bringing up new plants that can be transferred to fields, pots or sacks. So it is by default a tool for creating a more varied farmland. It was also a great process to build confidence and commitment of all stakeholders involved in the Akili Demo-Farm project.

A SYSTEM OF CRITERIAS The conception of a design for the nursery is the first step in the application of the conceptual strategy. It has to serve the whole development of the Demo Farm, and all the aspects that it encompasses. The diagram below depicts tracks, thematics relevant for

the farm, becoming a real system of components working together. Therefore, they appear to be major design criterias for our nursery, which aims at kickstarting the whole process of the demo farm.

Water management

Social interaction

Built together with members of the community and organisations.

Go the wit flo h w!

r! in he W get to

Buildings and facilities

tech, cost effective and locally sourced materials.

Small but generous!

for de ! Tra wth gro

Le pr arn ac b tic y e!

Slum tech!

Akili Sustainable Demo-farm

Includes rain water harvesting and efficient watering system to face drought and flood.

Farmland efficiency

A tool to create varied farmland.

Education

A practical learning experience.

Economy

A platform for the cultivation of small plants with high value.

Education

Buildings and Facilities

Education will be the primary concern of Akili farm and therefore is a major theme of this project. The project must lead to a design of an interactive educational platform. The design must be inspirational, invoking thought and allow visitors to move around in a pattern that promote exhibition of various products, methods and processes. The final design must also allow people to learn about farming techniques not only by looking, but also by practical experience. In this regard, it will provide opportunities for action research as well. The design will also allow space for organizing workshops, seminars and events, and for individuals to just meet. Since hunger is also a subject to dietary choices, the farm will showcase how diets can be varied in relation to seasonal crops, so that people do not over depend on one crop, say corn meal, which is scarce and expensive during certain seasons.

We are proposing an evolutionary design of both the masterplan and the facilities. To conform to the plan, the facilities must be able to evolve with the emerging demand, taking new shape, character and functions with time. For example we propose a vertical structure that currently function as a nursery, but will later be developed to function as part of the fence, and later a shopping table added to it. Due to the existing laws restricting the type of development in this land, we propose that the structures should be temporary, portable and easy to bring down. Some facilities will be designed as landmarks so as to give character and improve the image of both Akili farm and Obunga informal settlement. When the image is improved, it motivates the local residents to identify with their neighbourhood, which therefore contribute to social resilience. The land mark will also attract outsiders to locate and visit the farm. This attraction will therefore help in ensuring sustained interaction between the community and the outsiders.

Farmland efficiency

Water Management

At present land is a limiting factor to urban farming in Obunga. How to produce food in a limited space is one of the questions that this project will address in order to overcome the hunger problem. In this regard therefore, we seek to showcase methods of land management and efficient spatial organization. The fact that the farm operates on a limited space will help create conditions to create exemplary spatial organization for this purpose. We will propose addition to the diversity of the farm by proposing different crop varieties suited different ecological conditions in the farm. This way we will teach the public, especially Akili pupils, on the importance of biodiversity and techniques of environmental protection as well.

This study appreciates the existence of water problems on the site. The water situation toggles between the period of water shortage and that of storm. The design should therefore provide solution that compromise to find a balance between these two extreme ends, preferably reducing the damages that usually occur due to water shortage or excess rains. This include adapting crop rotation patterns in relation to the seasons and proposing water resistant crops and structures at strategic locations in the plot. The farm will also showcase different examples of efficient water use, including permaculture, water efficient crops, and soil erosion control and water efficient infrastructures.

Social interaction The project will function as a platform within the community to build systems of mutual gain, sharing of knowledge and resources between the engaged residents and the Akili Organization. The aim is also that it should be an inspirational place that attracts and makes available to Obunga, the resources from external actors. It should also have potential to be a place for sharing and creation of knowledge through the exchange between actors external to Obunga and its residents concerning food production in informal settlements. This is seen also as a way of generating social capital vital in building social

resilience in the community and improving the overall image of Obunga. Indeed living in a socially cohesive society and frequent exposure to nature/plants could be a way to reduce stress levels, improve general health and thereby reducing the incidences of conflicts and mortality respectively. Through weekly market, booked workshops and tours with lunch and volunteering (refers to the diagram of activities and users below), the Akili Demo Farm aim at engaging a wider and wider spectrum of actors throughout time and scale.

Schools Kisumu of School s Obung of a

Local a s or grou socia ps tio ns

Obunga associa tion s

Kisumu associati ons

Akili Pr e Schoo para l to ry

C D o h a rit y n a ti o ns

Interest e Kisumu d peo ple

Hou s e h o Obung lds of a

DEMO FARM

Paren ts engag & e d pe op

AKILI

Fo re i V olu g n e r n t e e rs

Experts

TIV

ITI

and

users

Visit and observe

volunteer

Guided tours

Involvement in building and farming

Learn and train

gather

Workshops and training sessions

Community event

buy and trade

eat

Crops, veggies, compost, manure and seeds

Lunch and snack from local production

Economy In a long-term design strategy the goal is to minimize the dependency on external funding. This means that the design components proposed should be considered as generating value. To us the aim is to establish a position within the local economy, based on the resources of the demo-farm, where the farm will create systems of exchange, not necessarily by way of monetary exchange. For instance the farm could forge partnerships with local livestock farmers to exchange manure for animal feeds and

other items. These kind of arrangement provide possibilities for win-win scenarios since the Akili farm will have livestock feed in abundance but will need organic manure, while livestock keepers on the other hand lacks feeds during planting seasons but have farm yard manure. It should be considered a platform where the value created can be accessed in many different ways by community members to increase the options of income available and also to increase food resilience.

Workshops fees 2

s th on m

Retail of compost and manure

AKILI DEMO FARM

Donations from Charity Organisation

STRA

s ar ye

Fees from external volunteers and visitors

Retail of crops and vegetables

Orton Riley Foundation

TEGY

Nursery as a small demo-farm Rain water harvesting and efficient watering system.

Including community members in using the nursery

Use of locally sourced materials.

Rice bag

M es h Mama Faith Petroni

Plas

tic bottle

k oden stic

Violette

A lot of green on a small space due to verticality. Providing possibilities of non monetary economic structures

The nursery is the beginning of all the thematics

Showcasing new ways to grow food and explaining how to use the nursery thought tags, a memory and a user manual

NURSERY

AKILI FARM

nursery’s User Manual

Step 1 : Reuse old plastic bottles. Cut them open and fill them with soil.

Step 2 : Plant the seeds and add manure if needed. Even out the soil.

Jambo! Here is the nursery of Akili Farm! It is a place where a diverse range of plants are grown to a usable sizez Vegetables and crops will be utilized to supply and support a variety of crops to the farm and, also to showcase and sell to the public. The plants are displayed on shelves in an easily replicable wooden structure, making the most of reused materials and upcycling. The nursery is besides a way to implement vertical farming to ensure an efficient production on a small piece of land (until 250 crops for 5 square meters). The structure is built so that the plants are grown in the best conditions. They benefit from the shade thanks to the roofing installation and the presence of the other plants but, still enjoy a filtered sunlight through the net. Next and crucial step is the water! The harvesting system makes sure that the rainwater is collected from the roof, then the gutter, to a column of reused plastic bottles until a collector placed on the ground. This harvested water is subsequently used to fill plastic bottles up only once a week, watering continuously the soil thanks to a slow dripping process.

Step 3 : Install Jambo the water system:

the side of the bottle and put the other end in the soil, about 7 cm deep -Cut holes in a plastic bottle -Fill the bottles with water -Wet cotton strings to suck water and moisten soil -Insert string deep in holes on kabla -Leave Hi ni kifaa chacotton kupanda naquite kutunza mimea changa ya kupandwa kwa shamba kubwa-’nursery’. Mimea itapandwa hapa kwa njia ya gorofa, ili kuonyesha jinsi wakulima wanavyo weza kutumia nafasi ndogo kupanda mazao tofauti bila kuhitaji shamba kubwa na maji mengi. Wakulima wataweza kupata mimea changa hapa ilikupanda kwa shamba yao siku zijaazo. Hi mtambo imeundwa kutumia mbao, chupa za maji –vitu ambavyo ni rahisi kupata na kuunganisha. Kifaa hiki kinaweza kupa maji ya mvua ilikutumia kupanda mimea. Kwa hivyo ni njia Step 4 : Make drainage holes in bottom mzuri ya kutunza maji, of udosngo na mimea changa. Maoni yako containers imekaribishwa kusaidia kuunda fifaa kama hizi vizuri zaidi kwa siku zijaazo.

SUN TOLERANCE

SOIL DEPTH

TIME NURSERY

TIME FIELDS

Carrot

30 cm

2-3 weeks

12 weeks

Sukuma wiki

20 cm

2-3 weeks

3 weeks

10 cm

4 weeks

Karibu tena Akili Farm!

Therefore the nursery is a developing tool for Akili Farm, but a learning tool as well! Visitors are most welcome to observe, learn, share, buy and nurture their inspiration.

Coriander

Karibu Akili Farm!

15 cm

2-3 weeks

12 weeks

Cow peas

20 cm

16 weeks

Cabbage

20 cm

2-3 weeks

8 weeks

Bean

20 cm

16 weeks

Night shade

20 cm

2-3 weeks

5 weeks

20 cm SOIL DEPTH

2-3TIME weeks

12TIME weeks

5 weeks

Millet Carrot

25 cm 30 cm

2-3 weeks

20 weeks 12 weeks

Red onion

Carrot

WATER

then

Step 5 : Let plants grow!

Tomato

SUN TOLERANCE

WATER

Spider plant

SUN TOLERANCE

Step 6 : Transplant to fields

WATER

20 cm

NURSERY

FIELDS

SOIL DEPTH

TIME NURSERY

TIME FIELDS

30 cm

2-3 weeks

12 weeks

Maize Sukuma wiki

25 cm 20 cm

2-3 weeks

16 weeks 3 weeks

Casava Coriander

30 cm 10 cm

4 weeks

48 weeks -

50 cm 15 cm

2-3 weeks

80 weeks 12 weeks

Sukuma wiki

20 cm

2-3 weeks

3 weeks

Coriander

10 cm

4 weeks

15 cm

2-3 weeks

12 weeks

Sweet potato Cow peas

30 cm 20 cm

16 weeks 16 weeks

Cow peas

20 cm

16 weeks

Irish potato Cabbage

30 cm 20 cm

2-3 weeks

16 weeks 8 weeks

Cabbage

20 cm

2-3 weeks

8 weeks

Banana Bean

60 cm 20 cm

68 weeks 16 weeks

Bean

20 cm

16 weeks

Arrow roots Night shade

60 cm 20 cm

2-3 weeks

48 weeks 5 weeks

Night shade

20 cm

2-3 weeks

5 weeks

Pawpaw Tomato

100 cm 20 cm

4 weeks 2-3 weeks

48 weeks 12 weeks

Tomato

20 cm

2-3 weeks

12 weeks

Spider plant

20 cm

5 weeks

Spider plant

20 cm

5 weeks

Millet

25 cm

20 weeks

Millet

25 cm

20 weeks

Maize

25 cm

16 weeks

Maize

25 cm

16 weeks

Casava

30 cm

48 weeks

Casava

30 cm

48 weeks

50 cm

80 weeks

Red onion

then

Documents to explain how to use the nursery to the community

Sugar cane Red onion

37 Sugar cane

then

Impact of the nursery in a long term perspective The nursery examplifies how we want to make small interventions that can have big impact over time. From how it is made to how it can be remade it is envisioned as generative in different phases. Empower the community and give them a sens of ownership Give motivation to Dennis Use it as a tool to communicate Test our ideas Start the demo/learning process Mix the crops within the farmland Earn money through retail to develop the farm Replicate, complete, improve to develop facilities

conclusion -IThe prototype was a great tool to strenghten commitment and social relations with involved community members. This was due to passing a sense of ownership of a physical object and to ensure commitment through handing something over to be cared for by them. - II It is very efficient to show practically how something can adress more abstract formulations of goals and criterias to anchor a project.

6 The design proposal

What we envision

Here we will provide drawings and other material that are to be seen as a vision, an inspiring example, of how this project could look like in the future. We will go in to details of the timeline and all the interventions that we have mapped out together with Dennis and Megan. We will also give specific design proposals that adresses many of these needed interventions. To support this chapter there are three other booklets containing in depth thematic site plans, evolutionary site plans and analytic site plans. This is a design proposal showcasing what this project could become.

Materials

We aim to use locally produced materials and â&#x20AC;&#x153;slumtechâ&#x20AC;? solutions, re-using discarded things in innovative ways, being very economic with resources and making use of low-tech solutions. In the long run the farm itself could provide materials like bamboo

or thatch while Obunga is full of waste that can be recycled for a low cost. To provide inspiring examples that are relevant to the residents of Obunga it is important to work with materials that are cost effective, low-tech but still effective.

Materials from the farm

Re-use materials

Local materials to buy

Grass

Tire

Wood

B a m b oo

Soil

B an

f ana lea

Pla

stic bottle

Cement

M esh

Chi cken net

Rice bag

Wo k oden stic

Ba mato bricks

Pe rm acu l t u re

According to David Holmgren permaculture is an approach for creating permanent agriculture. The focus is on local conditions by working with local people, nature and the interlink between them. This should result in improved food production, soil quality,

biodiversity and strengthened community possibilities to support itself as well as increased health. We are proposing different design components in resonance with this philosophy: COMPONENTS OF A SUSTIANABLE FARM

Sacks forest

Make a garden in a tall sack! The idea is to inspire people to reproduce this at home and be able to produce food in small amount of space with few resources required.

Mixed fields

Each crop or plant could benefit from an other, providing nutrients, shade or water. This loop/system thinking is a way the fields more efficient in a natural sustainable way.

Compost station

Organic wastes are a great natural source of fertilizer. The idea of a station is to link with the community.

Food forest

This is a place to experience â&#x20AC;&#x153;designedâ&#x20AC;? and managed as a ecosystem rich in biodiversity and productivity with varied layers and levels (height) of plants

Insects hotel

Insects are also part of the farming experience! The hotel is a shelter, made out of natural materials,for them , built as a small ecosystem that provide nesting facilities.

Keyhole garden

It is a concept of a 2 meters wide circular raised garden with a composting basket in the center to nourrish the plants from the core. It is a very effective system to grow qulitative plants.

Farmland management Economy

Water managemen Social interaction Education

Develop the Facebook page to reach out the community of Obunga

Start swapping seeds with the community

Build a partnership with Obunga Residents Association

Connect with the Obunga Residents Association, the Department of Agriculture of Kisumu

Legend of the timeline Implement a sacks forest

Dig a tranche along the pathway

Start the experimental field

Plant the living fence

Plant the food forest

Clean the soil from all trashes

FUNCTION LIVING A N D S EE - T H RO U G H F E N C E

Apply for grants

Establish a budget

Departure of the Reality Studio

Launching event

Prototype a nursery /micro demo-farm

Set up a strategy for the Akili Farm

Arrival of the Reality Studio

Begining of the Akili Farm

2014

2017

Creation of the Akili School

Implementation of a library in Obunga

F U N CT IO N N U R S E RY / M I C RO D E M O - FA R M

Empower the engaged people through workshops and discussions

Building and faciliti

Farmland managem Economy

Water management Social interaction Education

Seek for permaculture references

Building and facilities

2013

2010

Water management Social interaction Education

Farmland management Economy

Building and facilities

0m 50 m

SOLUTION SACKS FOREST

6 MONTHS The first step in creating a Demo-Farm is to make sure that the farm you come to see is worth the visit. The first step is therefore go straight to the ground

and shape a sustainable farmland more focus on the water flooding management.

High flooding risk area River

Provide most of the lunch for the APS kids

LE AB SHAPE A S U S TA I N Begin sack gardening workshops for parents

Begin training lessons for APS kids

Collaborate with Obambo for food supply and knowledge exchange

Engage volunteers to help fordevelopment

Establish a regular market for retail

Terrass with napier grass and dig tranches

Mix the crops

Harvest the maize

Install a manure station

FLOODING RISKS

R FA

MLA

Working plan for the farmland Focus on the already engaged people to build a base Strategy to face flooding implemented Mainly charity donations Retail of crops and veggies Workshops fees Start of the workshops Diversified diet for APS kids

Be part of a volunteering package from Obambo

FLOODING RISKS

Dig a compost pit

Te r r a s s m e n t o f t h e p l o t

FUNCTION TRANCHES AND TERRASSMENT

F U N CT IO N S LO W- TE C H R A I N W ATE R H A RV E ST M E N T

Harvest rainwater from the roof via low-tech

10m

Building and facilities

Farmland management Economy

Water managemen Social interaction Education

Building and faciliti

Farmland managem Economy

Water management Social interaction Education

Legend of the timeline

SOLUTION MIXED FIELDS

Inform about plants and crops through tags

Cover partially the tranches to form a pathway in the plot

Plant trees within the cropsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fields

Build a shade in the food forest

Signal the farm on the gate FUNCTION SIGN

Collect and trade organic wastes within the community

Water management Social interaction Education

Farmland management Economy

Building and facilities

0m 50 m

FUNCTION MAIN PATHWAY

1 YEAR The second step on the timeline would be to establish permaculture systems and supporting structures to create inspiring and productive ecosystems. This need work over time and is therefore important to start as early as possible. The effort is more focus on the farmland efficiency to develop a good ground for the demo farm.

FUNCTION KITCHEN AND SHADES for lunches, discussions and workshops

Variety of sustainable solutions Interaction on a regular basis Extension to the whole community Strategy to face flooding implemented Charity donations Retail of crops and veggies Workshops fees Regular workshops Inspiration for the community Basic structures to evoluate

Variety of sustainable solutions Interaction on a regular basis Extension to the whole community

Strategy to face flooding implemented Charity donations Retail of crops and veggies Workshops fees Regular workshops Inspiration for the community Basic structures to evoluate

YE Extend the workshops and visits to the whole community of Obunga (booking and promotion through Residents Asso)

ECOSYSTEM

ESTABLISH A P E R M

Build a common kitchen and a shade

U LT

Develop the nursery with two walls

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Implement key hole gardens

F U N CT IO N N U R S E RY / M I C RO D E M O - F A R M with more shelves

After the harvesting season for the maize, it is time to implement productive farmland by mixing the crops and planting trees. Moreover, it enables to initiate the experience of a sustainable farm by setting up a real pathway and a proper shade.

Building and facilities

Farmland management Economy

Water managemen Social interaction Education

Building and faciliti

Farmland managem Economy

Water management Social interaction Education

Get crops and veggies from Obambo to sell in the market

Buy a tank for rainwater harvestment

SOLUTION KEY HOLE GARDEN

Finish to cover the tranches

Set up a various programs for workshops and visits

Form a path between the nursery and the food forest

Use of key hole garden and fruit forest

Start the interface towards the outside

FUNCTION MARKET

Collaborate with KLIP House

Water management Social interaction Education

Farmland management Economy

Building and facilities

0m 50 m

SOLUTION FOOD FOREST FUNCTION S E CO N D A RY P A T H W A Y WITHIN THE FIELDS

Legend of the timeline

2 YEARS

Put up an information station Plan community events

Food forest and living fence fully grown Rotating plantations Interaction on a regular basis Extension to the whole community Collection and prevention Charity donations Retail of crops and veggies Workshops fees Regular workshops Inspiration for the community Public facilities

Collect plastic bottles within the community

HE FARM TE T

Extend the shadesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; structure (flooring, tank shelter)

ACCESSIBLE AND VISIBLE FARM

FUNCTION INFORMATIN STATION at the entrance

FUNCTION TANK

Collaborate with other schools in Obunga

At that point, the farm is developed the implementations of the first year are taking life. This year is about communicating and informing about the farm to link with the community with a focused work on the entrance area.

DEMONST R AT E A N

Third major goal is to start demonstrating. To promote the farm and start having visitors come for an inspiring 46 inspiring experience. The education to schools around and to the community takes more importance.

Legend of the timeline

Building and facilities

Farmland management Economy

Water managemen Social interaction Education

Building and faciliti

Farmland managem Economy

Water management Social interaction Education

48 Put an insects hotel

FUNCTION D O U B L E N U R S E RY

Extend the interface

Upscale the information station

Add nurseries in the educational path

Open an entrance to the west side

FUNCTION INTERFACE ENTRANCE

Launch a website for contact, booking, informations and programs

Engage volunteers for harvesting sessions

Water management Social interaction Education

Farmland management Economy

Building and facilities

0m 50 m

FUNCTION INTERFACE AND MARKET SOLUTION INSECT HOTEL

5 YEARS The fourth major focus would be to establish the collaborations with institutions in Kisumu and also abroad to support the farm and push the project towards international relevance. The sense of owner ship in the community is strong.

The farm welcomes more and more people and can afford more. It becomes a central point to cross and expericne within Obunga with two entrances as interfaces and a multiplication of gathering spots inside the plot.

FUNCTION FARMING FURNITURE

FUNCTION HOUSE/DISPLAY OF TECHNIQUES

SOCIAL SPACES, GATHERING POINTS

Collaborate with other schools in Kisumu

GATHER P E O P L E

Extend the flooring in the common area Connect with a sorting organisation, up-cycling wastes

Engage the households of Kisumu

Rotating plantations Diversified ways of farming Great reputation (collaborations and promotion) Ability to face extreme situation (drought-flooding) Few grants Retail and fees Support from Orton Riley Educational and demo platform (path and experience) Comfort and quality

Build a new house

Y EA

Cover the tranches with living structure

Building and facilities

Farmland management Economy

Water managemen Social interaction Education

Building and faciliti

Farmland managem Economy

Water management Social interaction Education

Engage external visitors

Legend of the timeline Add nurseries in the educational path

FUNCTION GREEN LANDMARK

Set a new gate

Dig a deeper bore hole

Extend the interface

Have a landmark within Obunga

Extend to west entrance

FUNCTION INTERFACE ENTRANCE

Collaborate with hotels in Kisumu for promotion, food supply

Get steady economic support from Orton Riley Foundation

Water management Social interaction Education

Farmland management Economy

Building and facilities

0m 50 m

FUNCTION INTERFACE AND MARKET

10 YEARS After ten years and as a fifth major step is for the Akili Demo-Farm to sustain itself. To not be dependent financially on international donors. All the facilities works and the farm is economically independant. It known and noticeable thanks to a landmark, the place possesses its own identity but with an inspirational ability.

I N S PI R I N G G R E E N L A N D TO E X P E R I E N C E

LF SUSTAIN F O R I T S E

Working as a sustainable farm Part of a great network Engagement of foreigners Water self-sufficiency Independant from external donations Retail and fees Educational and demo platform within Kisumu

Receive experts

Final step of the evolutionary structures

Collaborate Masseno and Chalmers for monitoring and evaluating

Built a compost station

Experience the living structure of the tranches

SOLUTION COMPOST STATION

Research for a treatment of the stream

FUNCTION URBAN FURNITURE

M MM M R RA RA R O NO N O NO N GS/ASG/AG G OR OCO RHC ROAH CRRH RHSD R/AD R D S/ ACDA

F OF OF OF O S SS S O DOO D DO D RSFERTOSERTSETS T FO FRO FEO

FAFRAFM A SRSM S RFSM RAM

The Akili Demo Farm could be the first step of green productive Obunga. Either at their own household scale or a community scale, residents of the Obunga slum have been given the tools to produce and consume their own food, becomingrealprosumers. This is the possibility to build a sharing network This model of Obunga could be replicated iwithin the slum belt of Kisumu where hunger is a real everyday struggle, giving a healthier environment to these dense areas in the urbanscape

O D F O R ESTS

Treat and use the stream water

OBUNGA

Connect to the department of agriculture of Kisumu county

Collaborate with the Obunga farms for the market and tours

Implement more farming plots within Obunga with different specialisations

Select forsaken or potential plots for small scale farming in Obunga

Initiate researches about stream water treatment

DE DENS DENS DENS NS

M CO M CO M CO M CO

A NA N A AN M MM M I MN IA MILM ASIA LMFSLASFRLAFSRAFRA R

25 YEARS After the farm itself has been established the long term aim is to spread capacity for and ensure food resilience within informal settlement in a larger context. As a model of inspiration, the demo farm could give birth to several other farming, productive areas in such a context. In that respect, people fitted with skills, techniques and knowledge had been given the ÂŤgrow-howÂť to provide for themself and pursue this transmission sharing process, at the household scale or bigger, in order to increase food availability and accessibility and improve the diet. Eventually, through this small scales implementations appears the possibility to reach food security and food resilience to be spread out. The farm is, by 25 years, an inspiring model for farming within urban settlements but also fo urban farming in general, showing the potential to bring volunteers, researchers, experts, investors with interest, curiosity or knowledge and proposals to share.

KISUMU

WORLD

IE RESIL NCE

Food security in Obunga Known throughout the world Part of an urban farmers association Water self-sufficiency Retail and fees Support from Orton Riley Foundation Inspiration model for urban farming in slums

Spread farming within informal settlements to the slum belt of Obunga

Replicated in other plots

25 ARS

SPREAD A N D E NS U

Slum belt full of farming lands Potential green areas along the river

AN INSPIRATIONAL SPACE in 10 years, when the farm is self-efficien Within a span of 10 years we expect the farm to be in a self-sufficient state. In these drawings the added components from the catalougue we have developed are marked in red.

A demo-farm has to demonstrate, educate, drive visitors into a real experience displaying a variety of solutions and ideas. Hence, the design of the master plan is the conception of a pathway throughout the plot, the flow, the pace, the components constituting it, their functions within the experience. The section represents the different steps inside the Akili Farm and the element that the visitors can encounter to enrich his mind, skills, techniques and knowhow through activities or only through observation and inspiration.

Entering the farm

Immersed into a farming experience

On the way

10m

Taking the main pathway

Approaching the central common sspace

Taking shelter in the food forest

A living farm We have worked with a lot of smaller components to create spaces that has qualities that provide functions and experiences strenghtening the purpose of the Demo-Farm. These two perspectives are examples of the qualities we propose for two of the main spaces - the entrance and the central gathering space. The entrance is a place for community evens and temporary market. The central gathering space propose a shade, a kitchen and a free space to meet and do workshop. We would like these ares of inspiring space.

Pe rs pec tive fro m t h e e n t ra n c e o n Casarina bridge

CONCLUSION Pe rs pec tive o f c e n t ra l gathering space

- I -The design that we have proposed builds on elements made out of locally available and cost effective materials. - II - They are a catalogue evolutionary of structures that together can be composed to create a wholeness that is an interesting and an inspiring sensatory experience. - III - We have put a lot of focus on making specific incremental designs suitable to the visions inherent in the project and adapted to the context of Obunga. - IV - We think that it is important to give examples that are replicable and relevant in technique and cost to the residents of Obunga.

COMMON CENTRAL AREA

Interface entrance area

EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY ON THE TRANCHES

FUNCTION

SLOW-TECH RAINWATER HARVESTMENT

KITCHEN AND SHADES for lunches, discussions and workshops

TANK

HOUSE/DISPLAY OF TECHNIQUES

GREEN LANDMARK

LIVING AND SEE-THROUGH FENCE

SIGN

TRANCHES AND TERRASSMENT

MAIN PATHWAY

MARKET

SECONDARY PATHWAY WITHIN THE FIELDS

INTERFACE AND MARKET

FARMING FURNITURE

URBAN FURNITURE

MAIN CONCLUSION The Obunga Grow-How is a stratigic framework for the development of an educational community platform in the specific informal settlement of Obunga. It is also a catalogue of specific structures suitable to this context and to the visions set up for the project. It is also a document outlining approaches for co-creation and community involvment in design processes in informal settlements that we have used. We like to think of the project as a evolutionary master plan for the transformation of a green field in an informal settlement in to a platform for creating food resiliance and increased quality of life in Obunga that can serve as an example of an incremental strategy to inspire sustainable development in similar situations in other parts of the world.

THANKS TO We would like to thank all the members and staff of Orton Riley Foundation, especially Dennis Osiolo. We also want to thank Megan Sonier (representing Mama Hope), the persons involved in KLIP, Maxwell Otieno, Mama and Papa Faith for all the help during our time in Kisumu. We hope to see you all again.

Vocabulary Demo-farm- A demonstration farm where methods of sustainable food production are experimented with and displayed. Food poverty- A situation where a household can not meet their basic nutritional needs. Food Resilience- State of being able to anticipate food shortage, cushion yourself from possible hunger and recover from the shortage, without significant damage or deprivation of the human right to food. Foodprints- Used instead of footprints. The space needed to produce, process and make food accessable to individuals Grow-How- the know-how of cultivating plants. Informal Settlement- A densely populated human settlement characterized by scarcity of space, resources, critical infrastructure, alternatives of livelihood and not formally planned or sanctioned. ORA- Obunga Residents Association Prosumers- A consumer and producer combined in one individual

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