THE WEED:   Poem by Elizabeth Wangeci

It was special in its way

It was planted, watered and matured

It never just happened !

The farmer thought it was best to keep it

For shade, companionship, future use!

Him alone knew, for it had captured

All his interests

His attention was much appreciated

It seemed to have its own intentions

Made sure it fed to the full

Was it a symbiotic relationship?

Was the farmer too naive?

Were the cries of other plants not audible?

Had he closed his eyes?

Was everything too invisible to notice?

TRAGEDY occurred

It started taking over

His affairs COMPLETELY!

Finally the GREAT AWAKENING occurred

The farmer realized, the sooner the better

The weed had to be, done away with

PLUCKED or else he would count ETERNAL LOSS

It had to die, it had to be forgotten

That it ever occurred, on planet earth

Not counted as a priority

ANYMORE!

WE TURNED LEMON INTO LEMONADE:  

Poem by Sande

Lemon, very bitter lemon

That’s what you are

But you looked beautiful

Like some deceptive things in life

So beautiful were you

That we grew you in our homesteads

Oops, Oops! What a tragedy

Your beauty had spread

Not just like too much of everything is poisonous

You were real poison, indeed

Much more bitter than beautiful

We mourned, and our fish choked

Our pockets were constricted, and intellectuals confused

Rumors and Suspicions marked those days of turmoil

Till we had to stop

We had had too much grief

Then we arose, yes we really did

Slowly but surely, we are conquering you

We left the floor of gloom

And sat on the seats of love

Mats beautified our doors

Baskets, paperwork and even crowns!

Yes, though you caused us pain

We cried tears of joy

And we are not yet through

With the possibilities in mind

Fodder, manure, briquettes,…the list is endless

Like we have done before,

We’ll turn you lemon, into lemonade

SUSTAINABILITY:  poem by Jennifer Etyang

Sustainability, the talk all over the world.

Sustainability, what does it exactly mean.

Dear friend, how do you define this word.

As for me, it means good management of our resources.

Sustainable agriculture! Hope for all Kenyans.

Agriculture, the backbone of our economy.

Agriculture, the source of food for all Kenyans.

Without sustainability, how will be our economy be like?

Without sustainability, how will be our food security?

Sustainable agriculture! Hope for all Kenyans.

Sustainable agriculture technologies, the joy of St. Mark women group.

Single and double digging, sustainable vegetable and legume production.

5-9 seed hole, sustainable maize and vegetable production.

Multi-storey garden, the “mobile phone” in farming.

SACRED Africa, a source of information for all these!

Sustainable agriculture! Hope for all Kenyans

Sustainable agriculture technologies, may need time and energy to establish.

Once set up, they are easy maintain at low costs.

If well maintained, production is promising for many years.

St. Mark women group, no women gossip, no begging for money from our husbands.

Sustainable agriculture! Hope for all Kenyans

FORMAT participants, here is an appeal from St. Mark women group.

As you use the organics, ensure to harmonize with the inorganics.

Dear friends we must reduce the rate of our environmental degradation.

We must leave a heritage for our children, this world is theirs, not ours.  

Sustainable agriculture! Hope for all Kenyans