FOOD FORESTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION: BWIZI PRIMARY SCHOOL TREE PLANTING

Posted March 13, 2023

Thursday 09 March 2023 Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe partnered with Bwizi Primary School in Ward 19, Marange and other partners planting one hundred (100) fruits trees at BWIZI Primary school in Marange setting a foundation for a food forest at the school.

What is a Food Forest?

A food forest is a type of garden where you grow many different fruits, herbs, and even vegetables. Food forests are not orchards, which are merely trees planted in rows. They are designed to imitate a natural forest and usually they have many different layers, from trees to shrubs, ground cover plants, and more. These plants in a food forests all work together, help each other grow, and create a balanced ecosystem that provides an abundance of food and resources for humans and an ideal habitat for wildlife.

A food forest typically is comprised of several layers:

Layer 1: Canopy layer. The canopy layer is comprised of tall trees — typically large fruit and nut trees.

Layer 2: Low growing dwarf fruit trees up to 4metres.

Layer 3: Shrubs. Mostly by currants and berries.

Layer 5: Herbaceous layer, these are the culinary and medicinal herbs, companion plants, bee-forage plants and poultry forage plants.

Bwizi Primary School tree planting was attended by close to five hundred (500) students and three hundred (300) community members. The increase in the number of people participating in tree planting shows that communities are seeing the need to protect and repair forests for their own benefits. As an organisation we strongly believe that community based reforestation projects are a vital tool to change attitude of communities towards forest resources, in order to build resilience against climate change.

Members of the Jekenisheni Church planting a guava tree

Planting a tree is an act of hope for the future and children need to have hope now more than ever. It’s about supporting environmental education programs for children by giving kids a tree to plant at their school that is native to their region, and an opportunity to connect with nature and contribute positively to their world.

Bwizi Primary Students ready to plant trees

While the children were planting trees they learnt hands-on experience changing the world by learning how to plant and care for a tree ,linkages in ecosystem management, fruit tree production ,compassion for trees and tree conservation.

We always say this; there is something magical about the act of planting a tree. It is one of the best ways to foster hope and empowerment for a greener future. Kids must be encouraged to take part in this meaningful act.

Mrs Constance Manzai the Head of the school had this to say,

Mrs C. Manzai, Head, Bwizi primary School

‘We are happy to host such a big event. Bwizi Primary School is not a well known school as it is located in the remote parts of Marange, but today trees have put Bwizi on the Map and opened dialogue with various stakeholders we need as a school for development purposes.

As you can see our school is surrounded by lots of trees but what we lacked were fruit trees or a food forest.

As schools we get to spend more time with children than parents and guardians. A total of five days out of 7days in a week. And most times we will be teaching them theory work, but because of this tree planting they are putting theory into practice. They now hands on experience for tree planting such as; digging holes, backfilling with compost with nutrients vital for tree growth, tree planting, and after tree planting care such as irrigation, pests and disease control, mulching and tree protection.

Now that they have learnt to plant trees at school they will go home and do the same at home, creating a tree movement or treevolution for the Bwizi Community. This school has 526 students, imagine if each student plants and care for one tree per month at home. In a year this community will have an additional 6 312 trees and in a decade- 63 120 trees.

The trees will also improve the health of our children as they will have fruits to compliment their rural diet which is mainly composed of starch (sadza) and leaf vegetables.

The biggest take home for today was to learn that there is money in trees. After today, our children do not necessarily have to wait to be employed; rather they can create their own jobs in the Forestry value chain. ‘

Kuda Gondo from Zimbabwe Church and Community Transformation Network, teaching about the importance of trees

The children had a great day outside learning about fruit tree planting and care via poems, songs, dance and art. As the trees grow, they will provide food, important habitat and their shade will help maintain a healthy, cool temperature in Marange Community.

Patricia Chibato from ZIDAWU, speaking about the need for land reclamation in areas degraded by extractive industries in Marange.

Several religious groups also attended the event. They include The United Methodist Church, Jekenisheni, Zion Chritian Church, Anglican and more. Rev Chibvuri from Anglican Church had this to say,

‘Religious organisations have a lot of influence in the community and loads of followers. As religious leaders, if we persistently teach tree planting and sustainable management of forests the way we teach salvation and refraining from sin, we will have many trees in this country in no time.

From here, I will go and encourage congregants to plant trees. I have been a fervent tree planter myself, planting both native and exotic trees at my place of residence. If they also copy from me as their leader, we will all have good tree success as Joshua says. ‘