Treeside Permaculture Learning & Feeding Garden

The Green Generation Initiative has long established itself as a leading force in grassroots
environmental stewardship, conservation education, and youth mobilisation in Kenya. At the
heart of its vision lies a commitment to nurturing environmentally conscious generations through
practical and sustainable models.
Treeside Special School, which serves a diverse group of learners with special needs, has
historically struggled with limited funding to meet its nutritional requirements. Recognising this
need and the opportunity to provide inclusive environmental education, GGI partnered with
several public and private stakeholders to develop an on-site Permaculture Learning and Feeding
Garden. This launch marks the culmination of months of collaborative effort to create a centre
that embodies climate-smart agricultural practices while directly addressing the wellbeing of a
particularly vulnerable group of learners.

Project Objectives

The Treeside Permaculture Garden initiative was conceptualized with the following core
objectives:

• To enhance nutritional outcomes for children with special needs through sustainable
  food production.
• To impart climate-smart agricultural skills to learners and educators, promoting long-
  term behavioural change and environmental stewardship.
• To create an inclusive model of environmental education that is both scalable and
  replicable.
• To establish a school-led income-generating platform through the sale of surplus
  produce and eggs.

Project Overview

The newly launched Permaculture Garden at Treeside Special School comprises three primary
components:

Vertical Hydroponic Gardens

Utilising cutting-edge technology that saves up to 80% of water, the hydroponic systems are
already yielding substantial harvests. At full capacity, the gardens are projected to produce up to
20 kilograms of nutrient-rich vegetables per harvest. These crops form a cornerstone of the
school’s enhanced feeding programme, significantly boosting the dietary diversity available to
students.

Chicken Coop

The facility’s poultry project has become a significant contributor to the school's food security.
Currently producing over 6,000 eggs per month, the eggs provide a sustainable source of protein
for the learners. Notably, surplus production is commercialised, creating an income stream for
operational sustainability.

Food Forest

A biodiverse and climate-resilient agroforestry system complements the project, offering a long-
term source of fruits, medicinal plants, and shade, while simultaneously serving as an
educational landscape for learners and community members.

Educational Impact and Climate Action

Beyond its immediate nutritional benefits, the Treeside garden is a living classroom for
environmental and agricultural education. The project incorporates:

• Climate-smart agricultural training tailored for learners with special needs.
• Capacity building for teachers and staff to integrate environmental literacy into curricula.
• Outreach and demonstration opportunities for neighbouring schools and communities.

In her address, Elizabeth Wathuti highlighted that the project is “not just feeding children; it’s
teaching them climate-smart agriculture and what climate action looks like.” The site is now
designated a Centre of Excellence, serving as a knowledge-sharing and training hub for eco-
clubs and educational institutions across Nairobi and beyond.

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