Women-Led Demonstration Garden - Food Crops & Services              (adapted from Technical Manual - see above)

The central program of Bunyonyi Food Forest Foundation (Bunyonyi FFF) is an experiential farming initiative that reflects gender equality, inter-generational relations, and the role of women - in collaboration with men and youth - to act as leaders, public speakers, and decision-makers within their community(ies). 

Building collaborative, mutually-beneficial relationships with Batwa Indigenous community is equally important for bridging historic relations and bringing Indigenous teachings and practices that support sustainable, viable model(s) for food security and healthy, co-dependent relations between people, domesticated animals, wildlife, land, water, and nature.

Major Characteristics of Bunyonyi Food Forest (BFF):
Maximum Use of Space with Varied, Nutritious Crops   

• A multi-layered arrangement of crops is planted, while avoiding mono-cultured, one-layer crops
• Maximum use of the land is utilized to grow crops - both vertically (from below ground to the top of tree canopies) and horizontally (across the ground)
• A continual supply of nutritious food and other crops (medicinal herbs, native plants...) are planted throughout the year

Environmental Conservation

• Environmental conservation is built into the BFF model through the growing of habitat-and-soil rich trees and co-dependent relations with water, plants, insects, animals, and microbes
  
• The use of natural, biological, organic fertilizers and pest controls are harnessed through the symbiotic relationships of natural systems (i.e., tree canopies invite natural insect eaters to the land, thereby eliminating the need for commercial, toxic chemicals)

Women Leadership

• Intentional efforts have been made to identify Women Leaders from Kashekye village who will learn Food Forest methods, and determine and direct future initiatives for community wellness and prosperity

Kashekye-Batwa Relations

• Building collaborative relationships between Kashekye community members and Indigenous Batwa community are intentional goals of BFFF.  Engaging in ways to build respectful, trusting, and reciprocating relations will take patience and time, and ongoing collaboration.

Probable Benefits & Impacts:
Food Security, Wellness, & Prosperity

• Bunyonyi Food Forest provides a continuous source of diverse and nutritious foods, and contributes to food security and livelihoods. Maximum use of land with varying production cycles offer Kashekye community a sustainable space to meet their needs and produce a marketable surplus every day, throughout an entire year
• It provides a safety net for households when food is scarce. BFF not only provides important sources of food, fodder, fuel, medicines, spices, herbs, flowers, construction materials and income, it is also important for the conservation of a wide range of unique genetic resources for food and agriculture 

Addresses Climate Change through Conservation

• As BFF incorporates many perennials with deep root systems, it is far less vulnerable to destruction from environmental shocks and stresses such as droughts, floods, landslides, etc. than are similar sites planted with annual crops. This makes Kashekye families less vulnerable and more resilient
• Plant diversity is characterized predominantly by multi-purpose plants in various vegetation layers, allowing for good utilization of necessary elements like water, nutrients, and sunlight
• Plant diversity serves to enrich the local biological diversity. BFF also does not depend on expensive or fossil fuel-based inputs such as chemical fertilizers, fuel-powered machinery, or pesticides
• Natural land and and water systems of Lake Bunyonyi will be healthy and well for future generations to survive and enjoy 

Cultural Collaboration and Understandings:

• Through the building of open and positive relationships between Kashekye and Batwa communities, reconciliation, healing, hope, health, and prosperity can grow for all involved.

Socialization and Relaxation:

• Bunyonyi Food Forest also offers a shady place for community groups to relax and socialize. It offers an alternative to laborious, ineffective farming methods, provides respite from the hot sun, and a safe, natural environment for children to play

Space for Related Programs:

• Given the location and design features of the Bunyonyi Food Forest, this model also offers an abundance of space (on land and in water) for related community-led programs to take place