learn grow - a rotary project which helps the hungry help themselves
DESCRIPTION
The Learn/Grow Project teaches people in economically challenged countries how to best utilize their own local resources more effectively rather than rely on introduced farming methods and imported crops. Learn/Grow takes the best of both traditional local agriculture and combines it with the best of modern agricultural knowledge to help locals proudly create sensible home gardens that produce foods closely matched to the nutritional needs for themselves and their families and are easily sustainable. Locally adapted plants with higher overall nutritional values can be chosen than many of the traditional western food plants can be chosen using the tool that Bruce has developed. The project emphasizes the need for people who are suffering from nutritional deficiencies to grow a wide variety of these locally adapted plants in their gardens in order to meet their needs more completely. For instance, it has been documented that many Solomon Island women have anemia, a condition that can often be cured by simply eating more leafy greens that contain iron. Using Food Plants International’s unique database, Learn/Grow takes the lead in helping determine which locally adapted food plants offer the greatest food values for people known to be suffering from nutritional deficiencies like anemia and teaches them how to grow them and prepare them so they may be safely eaten.TRANSCRIPT
A project that helps people in developing
countries learn about and grow the best
local foods to meet their nutritional needs
A project that shows hungry
developing world communities
how to feed themselves with
locally grown foods.
Currently a project of Rotary District 9830
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Devonport North
In partnership with Food Plants International
Food Plants International
A not-for-profit organisation lead
by founder, Bruce French, who has created the Food Plants
International database
This unique database which includes 18,000 species
represents the most comprehensive scientific information
available on edible plants for all countries of the world.
Buz Green, an agri-business consultant, and a member of the Rotary Club of Devonport North of District 9830, Tasmania, Australia heads the Rotary Committee for the Learn/Grow project.
A Vital ToolThe database developed over 30 years
by Food Plants International provides:Scientific and common names of edible
plants
Photos and drawings of the plants
Information on how to grow them
Nutritional information
How each plant can be prepared and eaten
Aim
To sustainably reduce malnutrition in developing countries and reduce illness
disease
and mortality
…caused by nutritional deficiencies.
ObjectiveTo assist developing world communities LEARN about and GROW, in their own ‘backyard’, the best local food plants that match their nutritional needs.
Why Many local plants are nutritionally far
superior than ‘Western’ food crops.
Local plants thrive because they are naturally adapted to local conditions.
Wrong plantWrong plant Wrong placeWrong place
Wrong methodsWrong methods Wrong foodWrong food
Cabbage: Wrong Plant - Wrong Place
Many plants have 10 to 100 times the amount of ironiron when compared to cabbage.
But how would you know?
The iron content of just some of the leafy green vegetables found in tropical regions of the world.
Protein deficiency is a major problem in the tropical world, especially amongst women, children and the sick. Protein is needed for growth, health and overcoming sickness.
Green leafy vegetables – protein content
4 times4 timesProtein
8 times8 timesVitamin A
20 times20 timesVitamin C
8 times8 timesIron
4 times4 timesZinc
And it suits the tropics!
Cabbage
Momienh
OR
An example Vitamin C content tree fruits
• Solomon Islands • Papua New Guinea• The Philippines• Other
Measuring success
Adoption of local plant production
Increased levels of critical
nutrients in the population
A direct reduction in nutritional
deficiencies and disorders
A reduction in infant mortality at age 1 and age 5
…these benchmarks will be monitored over time
The next step - $100,000+
Deliver the Solomons’ program
Engage a partner
Bring external funding providers on board
Extend this program through Rotary
International
Provide an information support base
Act Directly
It is simple for any club or district to
incorporate LEARN ♦ GROW into existing
or new aid projects – identify the local
nutritional deficiencies in the population
and LEARN ♦ GROW can provide the
information!
Learn ♦ Grow Support Group
$10,000 = ‘Learn ♦ Grow Champion’
$1,0000 = ‘Learn ♦ Grow Ally’
Donation = ‘Learn ♦ Grow Mate’
‘Learn ♦ Grow Team’
The Learn Grow Team:
Volunteers are being sought to join the Learn Grow team.
Do you have a skill in: writing, communication, IT, project management, program leaders, marketing, sales, promotion, graphic design, agronomy, science or whatever, there is an opportunity for you in this project.
“Not only will nutritional food be more available... but those most at risk will have the DIGNITY of managing their own needs.”
Dr Eileen Gentilcore, RI
Your help will mean….
Rotary Rotary can make a difference!can make a difference!
www.learngrow.org