Just Earth Uganda
Just Earth Uganda trains ordinary people to become farmers using modern and sustainable farming techniques through our 'Farmers Field Schools'. This enables them to feed their own families and also, by selling their surplus crops, improve their living situation.
Training
The work is based on a structure where learning is carried out in what we call “Farmer Field Schools”. 36 people have proven to be the optimal size per school. In these, 36 men and women work and learn together for two years. The education is lead by our own university-educated agronomist Amos and with him he has two former students who work as facilitators.
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The training lasts two years and covers 4 seasons of harvest.
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The training consists of theoretical and practical elements. Some of the practical skills that students learn are:
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Land preparation, weed and pest control, manure production, correct fertilizer application, crop classification, and agricultural practices such as pruning, thinning, cover crops, and terracing.
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Planting is a central part of the training. Some examples of crops that are planted are:
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Corn, potatoes, cassava, sweet potatoes, beets.
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Vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, eggplant and onions.
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Fruits like watermelons, mangoes and bananas.
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Discipleship
At Just Earth Uganda, faith is a central part of our work. Through our Farmer Field Schools, students not only gain practical skills in modern agriculture, but also the opportunity to participate in gatherings at local churches.
Here they encounter God through praise, prayer, and teaching of God's Word. These moments create a deeper community and strengthen the participants' spiritual journey, helping them build a stable and meaningful life in both faith and work.
Sustainability
All work at Just Earth is done with sustainability in mind. This means not only training students in sustainable practices for the sake of the environment and society, but also for the project as a whole. Just Earth Uganda aspires to one day be self-sufficient and independent of donations in order to continue educating farmers. Two of the initiatives to achieve this are as follows:
A coffee plantation where the first coffee plants were planted in September 2024. A project that is expected to generate revenue and grow rapidly, but also a place for students to participate and learn.
We are working hard to get a dairy farm up and running as there is a great need in the local market. This will also be a place that will provide good opportunities for Just Earth Uganda to grow but also to broaden the education that the students receive.
Kenya
Since that first school, 3,940 farmers have been trained through the Farmer Field School model in Kenya. The experiences and insights gained there laid the foundation for expanding the project into Uganda. What started with a handful of farmers in Maseno has grown into a movement that now reaches hundreds across several districts—but the core idea remains the same: to equip people with knowledge, community, and faith so they can shape their own future.
Visist Just Earth Kenya's website
Just Earth's journey began in the Maseno region of western Kenya, where the very first Farmer Field School (FFS) was started back in 2005. Maseno is an area with many small farms – most families farm about an acre of land, which is just over 4,000 square meters. Many people here live close to the land and depend on their farming to make ends meet.
Traditionally, Maseno grew mostly maize and beans, two staple crops common in the region. But through FFS, farmers learned for the first time about the importance of crop rotation, nutritious diets, and biodiversity in their fields. It was the start of a transformation – not just in agriculture, but in the entire lifestyle of many families.