GBHS Fontem school garden generating income

Huckle-berry, sweet herbs and cabbage vegetables are some of the outputs from the school garden, which are sold for the financing of GBHS Fontem Environmental Club activities.

Speaking at the end of a two-day workshop on ‘’ Empowering Environmental Club coordinators for the Sustainable Management of School Clubs’’, which took place recently at the Menji Conference Hall, the GBHS Fontem Club Coordinator Njilegac Demian and other members of the Lebialem Environmental Education Association (LEEA) attributed the success of the school garden to constant training and coaching from Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF).

The Club coordinator explained how income generated from the school garden is used.

“Income generated from the sale of garden’s output is used for the purchase of school needs such as pens, pencils, rulers and exercise books for needy students within the club,” Mr. Njilegac said.

He added that some of the farm produce are equally stocked at the school cooperative and are in the course of the year retailed to students at prices far lower than normal market prices.

Tree species donated by ERuDeF are also planted in the school garden to serve as organic and green manure given that the excessive application of chemical fertilizer is detrimental to the environment.

With the coming of the rainy season, the Environmental Club of GBHS Fontem, just like others, are setting up new nurseries

The Club Coordinator explained that vegetables take about 2weeks after nursing to be transplanted to the garden while tree species take about two months.

He said the Environmental Club initiated the school garden in line with second-generation agriculture (sustainable agriculture) for sustainable development that is being promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.