Norah was selected as a candidate for training in GardenAfrica's programme in Swaziland. Norah is a highly resourceful woman, but at that time she didn't grow any food at home because she was busy building herself a homestead from scratch. Her husband and his second wife lived close by, but she received no help from her husband who had suffered from a stroke. 

During training, we watched as Norah finish the walls, thatched and glazed her new home. She also found time to create her garden fence to protect her produce from livestock. Once this fencing was in place, she gradually filled it with cuttings and seed from the training - adding to her stock by sharing and trading with neighbours. She has set up a simple water harvesting system using reclaimed plastic on her roof, and drains water to her garden by deep channels from her water storage. Her handmade fence is now reinforced by a line of indigenous plants which over time will provide protection and mean that she doesn't need to spend time replacing the hard fence once it degrades. 

Outside of her regular support visits during her years training, we have visited her twice to find out how she fared, and if training was useful to her. We also noted that her husband was so impressed with what he heard, that he has since moved back in (but occasionally forgets to close the garden gate - allowing the goats in to graze). Despite this, the incredible Norah remains upbeat - growing a vast range of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Norah has become a convert to Moringa - a tree which, as well as adding nitrogen to the soil, its leaves are an excellent vitamin supplement. This is increasingly popular, and an excellent source of income for Norah.

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