In the midst of a troubled world, it is of great assurance to know that God is our ever steady refuge and hope. He gives us an incredible future to look forward to. The prophet Isaiah’s sees a time  when “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD” - a time when relationships with God, people and the rest of creation will be whole and beautiful (Isaiah 11:1-10). But as we are journeying …  keep looking up to Him, trust in Him who will do it.

There is hope

The gift of trees, the consequences of their absence and a wonderful solution for reforestation

A woman farmer who has adopted reduced tillage for her soya beans. 
Picture: Farmer and Justin 

The rainy season and therefore the main farming season has come to an end here and people are harvesting. A joyful time for many as the fruit of much hard manual work is being enjoyed. Sadly Malawi made the international headlines when cyclone Freddy hit southern districts causing severe flooding and loss of lives and property. Flooding is almost a perennial occurrence. Pray for long term measures to be put in place by the authorities and communities. People living in flood plains or mountain slopes are much more at risk nowadays, as for decades now Malawi has been losing its tree cover and rain storms are more intense, as anticipated by climate science. Thus in our agricultural training we encourage farmers to treasure trees by practicing what has become known as “Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration” (FMNR) to reforest and also keep some beneficial trees in their crop fields. Trees have multiple uses - for production, protection and enjoyment (Gen 2:9a). And to add motivation to manage trees, Jastin taught farmers to make a refreshing juice from the pods of the Chitimbe tree (Philiostigma Thonningii), a common tree here. This went down well, and since the trees are in short supply in the villages near us, a group of women farmers came to collect lots of pods from our growing forest around our house.

Read the incredible story behind FMNR at https://fmnrhub.com.au

“You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly” (Psalm 65:9). God created soil and continues to care for it. Do we? Human and animal life is sustained by a thin layer of what we commonly think of as dirt but President Roosevelt once perceptively remarked: “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself”.

We treat the soil for what it is – an incredible gift of God

Woman farmer intercropped maize, beans and pumpkin. Used urine to fertilize maize on a small plot just outside her house to put into practice the five finger method. A good example of using local resources. 

Some of the farmers we trained last year in soil health have applied what they learnt and have reported improved yields. We use the five finger principle (reduced tillage, soil cover, biodiversity, feed the soil, weed control) to improve soil health. We are happy when farmers begin by making small changes, adopting one or two fingers but of course we hope for more. Materially poor farmers have little to risk when things don’t work and therefore small changes are encouraging. The farm demo plots on our land have been places of learning as farmers have visited us and seen for themselves the difference soil health makes.

Over the next few months, we will begin with several new farmer study groups and continue to support existing groups. Please pray for open hearts and minds and trust in God to grow, as farmers begin to take small steps. Every time we train, we reflect on the wholistic gospel: the four relationships that God established at the beginning, with the forth relationship focused on the responsible and respectful management of creation’s farm resources. On this biblical foundation, we then engage in dialogue about the practical methods to improve farm husbandry. Improved agriculture is contingent on improved relationships with God, self and others (locally and globally), as no farmer is an island. Only the gospel has the power to change people and communities wholistically.