MODEL FOR SUSTAINABILITY

MCF is striving towards self-sustainability. Charles Mulli’s vision is for MCF to one day be able to internally fund their entire program without the need for external support. Through the help of his friends from Canada and around the world, MCF has been able to produce enough crops to feed all of MCF.  Surplus crops are exported to the EU and monies earned is used  to purchase materials, medicines, clothing, the food they cannot grow and other items needed for life at MCF.  It isn't an easy road.   Droughts, post election violence, escalating food costs and overwhelming cries for MCF to care for additional street children stretch the MCF budget to capacity.   Through donor help, more farms can be create to provide MCF with the ability to become self sustainable.  AGRICULTURE   AGRICULTURE OPERATION The MCF Farm was born from the necessity to provide food for the children. MCF grows French beans, maize, tomatoes, cabbage, eggplant, kale, watermelon, papaya, mango, and a variety of crops to supply a wide nutrient base for children which provides a balanced diet.  MCF discovered  French beans grew remarkably well in their soil and climate so they began growing excess for sale. For the past 10 years they have been exporting beans as an alternate source of income to meet other needs in the home such as books and medicine for the children. They are one of only two farms (one a greenhouse in the US) who meet the strict regulations required to enable them to export French green beans to the European Union. The green beans offer a high return as they grow quickly  - only 7 weeks to harvest which lasts between 3 and 4 weeks, enabling outdoor production year round.  In addition to meeting the nutritional needs of the children, the farm is a great source of employment to the surrounding community. A large percentage of MCF's farm employees are widowed women or women who are the sole providers for their families as husbands have gone to  find work in the city.  In the low season, workers harvest 2 or 3 times a week and each day they work, they bring home 5-8 kilograms worth of vegetables to their families.  During high season  employees work daily and bring home 10 kilos of produce for their families.    In addition to supplying food for their children, the women are compensated 100-300% above common wages which  significantly  impact their ability to provide for their children.   INDOOR PRODUCTION Thanks to generous donations from friends in Canada and Australia, MCF has been blessed with a significant opportunity to increase both the quantity and quality of their produce.  This  large scale agricultural operation utilizes state of the art Israeli micro-drip irrigation technology as well as Greenhouse hydroponic technology.   The processes MCF employs for its agriculrutal operations are ISO certified and include detailed record keeping and the implementation of multiple levels of quality improvements and quality control.  MCF Ndalani employs between 800 - 1000 local workers during peak harvest season.   The first crops were planted in the Ndalani greenhouse in July of '06 and offered MCF a quantum leap in terms of production. The greenhouse is irrigated by drip line, offering a very efficient conveyance of water (and electricity). The overhead irrigation system outside uses 260,000 litres of water to irrigate 2,500 meters squared yet only 50,000 litres is required to water 1 hectare (10,000 meters squared). The greenhouse contains 83,000 bags of pumice so green beans are grown hydroponically. The greenhouse is divided into 4 quadrants offering a steady harvest for MCF. After a crop is harvested outdoors, the land must rest for one year. This time allows the soil to replenish its nutrients and allow time for aeration. With pumice as a base, indoor crops are planted continuously. 1 hectare outdoors yields 10 tons of produce per year however, because of increased production values, (less water to irrigate, less fertilizer, less crop protection spray, added protection from UV radiation) an indoor hectare yields 20 - 25 tons of produce PLUS the pumice can be used continually so 5 crops can be taken off in one year offering MCF a 1000% increase in production. The greenhouse has two types of irrigation - drip irrigation which feeds individual bags the exact amount of water required for optimum daily growth. A sophisticated computer program distributes minerals and fertilizers on a rotating basis. The water is also treated with small amounts of acid to bring the PH level to 6.2 - the optimum requirement for green beans crop. The second type of irrigation is a fine mist of overhead irrigation which not only supplies surface water to the smaller crops but can cool the temperature in the greenhouse 3 degrees which aids in increased production.  The most significant aspect of MCF's greenhouse operation is the example of excellence to which MCF serves. Most neighbors in the Ndalani farm area are not able to afford outdoor irrigation yet dream of a system as complex and sophisticated as the greenhouse operation. As is the case in everything Charles Mulli does, each action he puts into place has more than one benefit. The farm feeds his children, offers a community a source of employment, and the money received from the export of the beans helps MCF come closer to a dream of sustainability.  MCF is actively involved in training community members the best practises in agriculture in an effort to lift the poverty level in their community.   MCF is also sharing their expertise on the high standards required for certification in exporting produce to the European Union.      WATER   MCF's  boreholes  supply all the drinking and cooking water for the family at Ndalani as well as supply many neighbors with water for domestic use.   The safe water from  Jacob's well prevents many illnesses associated with drinking untreated water.    The miracle of Jacob's well is highlighted in Charles biography "Father to the Fatherless".  The heartbeat of the community is the Thika River which runs through the property at  Ndalani.   It provides water for the agricultural operation and visitors to MCF marvel at the number of MCF children and community ladies do their laundry at the rivers edge.    At separate times of the day,  boys and girls come to bathe  in the river.  MCF has a project underway which will eventually provide clean water for the children to shower which will significantly cut down on water born diseases.    Kenya is facing huge difficulties as parts of the country have not seen rain for over a year.   MCF has recently finished constructing dams which wll help them through future droughts however, the dams are currently empty.  The importance of the sustaining power of water is highlighted once again as in January 2009, Kenya's president declared the country's food crisis a national disaster  and asked international donors to contribute $406 million toward emergency food aid.    Nearly a third of Kenya's 34 million people face food shortages because of crop failures after  last year's drought.  Without the Thika river, MCF could not sustain it's agricultural crops.   The river is currently in danger of drying up as the rocks on the bottom of the river are beginning to show.   Please join us in prayers for rain over Kenya.

FARMING / AQUACULTURE

MCF Yatta has developed 5 large fish ponds that are filled with Tilapia fingerlings as a much needed source of meat for the children.   The fish ponds are fed with the water from the reservoirs created by harvesting rain.  Plans are underway to increase the number of ponds as this has great potential to provide another source of revenue through the sale of excess fish.

Cattle are part of the herd at Yatta and are used to serve the meat requirements for all the MCF sites.   The children currently have meat every 2 weeks and get a large percentage of their protein through vegetarian diets.

Chickens are also kept at Yatta and serve some of the requirements for the children.   A large poultry farm is being built thanks to a CIDA grant through long time friend, Crossroads Christian Ministries.

Plans are being considered to help further the children's nutritional needs by creating a dairy farm  and crocodile farming is also being considered to offer another source of meat protein.

MCF is actively involved in creating awareness and educating community members on environmental issues.    MCF offers free workshops on soil conservation, agro forestry and  offers post workshop communication  to ensure that the community members are  practicing  the skills they were taught.   Due to the poor economic status in the area, MCF  provides tree seedlings to community members  to aid in environmental conservation and improve the microclimates of their area. 

MAIN GOALS OF THE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

• Provision of food through the supply of vegetables, fruits, milk, poultry, beef, fish and other products to the MCF kitchen for the children's diet.  The nutritional needs of the children are a prerequisite to their rehabilitation. Access to surplus food offers MCF the ability to provide food to other institutions catering for destitute children in Nairobi and Thika.
• Train MCF beneficiaries in basic and advanced agriculture skills which will enable them to acquire good jobs after graduating from MCF.
• Train  MCF beneficiaries on agricultural practises to improve the production of the home's farm and the country in general by producing qualified,  well trained agriculturalists.
• Generate income for the home through export production of horticulture produce such as French beans to enable  self sustainability.
• Eradicate poverty in the surrounding community at Ndalani through training of the community in good agricultural practice to aid their  own small scale farming.
• Employ  members of the community at MCF to improve  the income levels of the poor, particularly the women who are most affected by poverty.  At MCF's peak season, over 200 women are employed and receive in addition to fresh produce for their families, 100% - 300%   above the average farm worker's wages.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

MCF seeks to improve and develop the environment not only for itself but to the surrounding community.   MCF is making the environment stronger to the community through soil conservation, planting of trees, preventing soil erosion,proper use of pesticides and fertilizer, planting of grass and digging of terraces.  MCF has reserved some areas of the farm without interfering with its natural fauna and it remains  inhabited by its natural and indigenous trees, snakes, birds, butterflies and other wildlife.