Fass Koffe cooperative members are able to water their crops thanks to a hand dug well (background) and a solar-powered pump.
The evolution of the Fass Koffe cooperative garden over the past four years has been astounding! On her recent visit to Fass Koffe, CREATE! Chief Operating Officer Louise Ruhr was once again impressed with all of the work that cooperative members have done, in collaboration with CREATE! field staff, to make the garden site an oasis in a dry landscape.
Since 2010, the Fass Koffe cooperative has worked to expand their garden and create a living, sustainable resource for their community.
The Fass Koffe garden includes thriving cashew trees and vegetables such as eggplant, pepper, cabbage, and tomatoes. Cooperative members have exploited every square inch of the garden site to maximize vegetable production – even under the shade of the cashew trees – thanks to water from a hand dug well and solar-powered pumping system.
Cooperative members grow vegetables that are important staples in Senegalese cuisine. Their families love having access to fresh, locally grown produce! These cashews and vegetables also provide a much-needed source of income for residents of Fass Koffe.
Cooperative members cleared land for the garden in 2010. The garden is located next to CREATE!’s Appropriate Technology Training and Demonstration Center in Fass Koffe.
In the future, the Fass Koffe garden will continue to grow and flourish thanks to the dedication of the community’s cooperative members and CREATE!’s knowledgeable agricultural technicians.