Last Saturday was an exciting day for Precious Vision. After 6 months of growing green vegetables, we planted a test trial of tomato plants for the greenhouse project! The seedlings arrived from Nairobi, care of Agrotunnel, the company who set up the greenhouse for us in January of this year.

The tomato seedlings ready for planting

Oliver and Fridah from Agrotunnel preparing the seedlings

Strict instructions were left on how to tend for the seedlings - a lot of watering and fertilizer once a week. A few hours later, care of Jane, her two helpers Rama and Erastus and myself, 100 tomatoes plants were placed into one of the four beds in the greenhouse.

Erastus and Rama planting the tomtoes in the greenhouse

In the remaining three beds we are growing spinach and cow peas. As tomatoes are notoriously difficult to grow we are doing just one bed as we learn what is involved. The tomatoes will take 75 days before they can be harvested. After which, bar any misshaps - TIA! - we will increase the amount we are growing.

Madam Jane watering the seedlings after they had been planted

Tomatoes are a very profitable business here in Mombasa so, if all goes well, we hope to start seeing a regular source of income coming in. To begin with this will be small but, as we learn and expand, the money generated will increase.

The greenhouse was funded by GVI and donations from volunteers Catherine Tye and the Noble family, Catherine, Gavin and their son Craig. The Nobles are currently volunteering with us so it is good timing to have them here to witness the first planting!

Gavin and Catherine Noble with Madam Jane infront of the greenhouse

Louise