Pout Urban Gardening Training

Urban gardening a la Peace Corps has made its debut in Pout! Since the training actually happened several weeks ago, this post is a bit belated (I’ll do my best to remember things correctly).

After being delayed for a week due to the schedule of the attendees, the first ever Pout urban gardening training finally started on Monday, March 28th. Emily and Clare headed out to Pout early that morning and we spent a large chunk of the day consolidating our materials at the Mayor’s office and clearing piles of dirt to be used for planting. We had wanted to start promptly at 4, but...this is Senegal so women started trickling in around 4:30 and by 5 we were ready to go. I was pleasantly surprised to see we had more than the original 20 invitees, 2 of which were male, not to mention at least a dozen young kids hovering around the courtyard, curious as to what we were up to. We started off with introductions and an ice breaker (telling everyone what your favorite Senegalese meal is…always a crowd pleaser). Emily led a group discussion about the goals of the training and the attendees’ expectations. I was surprised at the range in experience with urban gardening; it seemed like a few of the women had already attended trainings and knew their stuff while others had no experience whatsoever.

We spent the majority of the first day talking about how to make healthy soil and how to prepare various containers for use. The women were able to make their own compost pile together, and then check out the one I made to see what the end product should look like. We ended the first day by cutting various water bottles, oil drums, and tires to be used for the actual gardening. The women seemed invigorated by the first day's activities, and we told them to come back the next day prepared to get dirty.

preparing a square meter plot for a compost pile

the finished product!

cutting the top of a tire to prepare it for gardening

Day 2 started almost on time, and while there were a few less people in attendance, the ones who were really interested were there and ready to work. We started the second day’s activities by preparing enough soil to be used in all of our containers. Emily and Clare showed the women how to prep regular soil when compost isn’t available by sifting out rocks and debris, and mixing the soil with plenty of manure (…I did not smell good that night).

Then we were able to actually fill the containers with the fresh, new soil and begin discussing planting techniques. Emily demonstrated how to direct plant various seeds and also how to start a pepineer, or vegetable nursery. She was also able to bring some lettuce seedlings in from Thies to demonstrate out planting techniques once the plant is too big for the nursery. The women all seemed to really enjoy getting their hands in the dirt and learning how to cultivate various vegetables (and they even came dressed like they could potentially get dirty which was very impressive).

Emily explaining how to make a vegetable nursery

seeding and watering

The third and final day was a bit less intense than the first two, but the women who showed up were very intent on finishing strong. The afternoon started with a round-table discussion about proper container garden management once the women return home and do it on their own. Emily demonstrated how to make natural pesticides using cheap ingredients like tobacco, soap, hot pepper, and garlic and mixing them with water. The women posed loads of questions about how and when to water, how to know when to out-plant, and what to do if things aren't growing. We also made mint propagation containers by cutting holes in empty water bottles and fixing the mint cuttings in place with pieces of sponge (basically all mint needs to keep growing is water until it's big enough to replant, so this way you can grow several cuttings using one old water bottle). Cool, huh?

spectators and their new hats

We ended the day by indulging in soda and delicious beignets made by one of the women. I had certificates printed in Thies for all those in attendance so we had a small ceremony to congratulate the women on completion of the training. I could tell they were all proud of themselves and based on their interest throughout the training, it is my hope that they will continue the gardening techniques in their own homes. Most of the women were very adamant on bringing the containers home with them and several paid local horse cart drivers to load up their tires and take them away. In the end, I'm extremely grateful that everything somehow managed to come together and the training came to fruition. Gardening may not be my main work focus, and it's certainly not my forte, but I'm glad I could bring a dose of it to Pout. Now I've got the itch to start gardening...I might not end up doing it here, but watch out future apartment in America!


I've put the rest of the pictures up in an album on Picasa.

Jamm ak jamm!