Sustainable
Agriculture
Program
An intensive 22 week program that addresses the integrated physical, social and spiritual dynamics of hunger, poverty, and resource stewardship through a biblical grid.
Sustainable Agriculture Program
An intensive 22 week program that addresses the integrated physical, social, and spiritual dynamics of hunger, poverty, and resource stewardship through a biblical grid.
- NEXT SCHOOL -
January 30th through July 1st, 2023
UGANDA
- THE PROGRAM -
Living Seeds Initiative in collaboration with Youth With A Mission created the Sustainable Agriculture Training program to equip people to engage in the complex issues of world hunger and poverty. Participants, primarily African nationals, gain applicable answers to food security issues, farming skills in sustainable, regenerative food production methods, and an understanding of a biblical approach to agriculture and agriculture development.
Participants live, work, and study together in an intense 22 week course which uses a participatory approach combining classroom theory, group processing, and hands on learning techniques. The program addresses the integrated physical, social and spiritual dynamics of hunger, poverty, and resource stewardship through a biblical grid.
As caretakers of God’s creation and the garden we desire to learn God’s intentions for man as steward and caretaker and that in Christ man has a role in reconciliation and restoration in all areas of life.
The foundational topics in the school include God’s view for life and agriculture, God’s view of hunger, food and poverty, God’s view of relationships, including His and our relationship with creation, soil/plant relationships, and numerous food growing techniques integrated into life application.
Added onto this foundation we delve into topics of regenerative agricultural science and technologies, agroforestry, bee keeping, natural medicine, water issues, post harvest management, leadership development, integrating livestock, human nutrition, business development including each student developing a business plan for when they leave the course.
Life discussions that impact poverty and hunger are encouraged. Discussions and questions arise often during a teaching that reveal the traditional beliefs that keep them bound. If you break traditions of your ancestors, is your land cursed? If the soil is dead and worn out, must you sell and find new land? Understanding a biblical view brings hope and answers.
Participants grow their own gardens using methods that often are extremely new and challenging to their mindset. They also have a large demonstration plot area that they work together as a team to cultivate as they would in a small farm setting. Former students serve on staff to coach and help process the new farming approach. This practical time is invaluable to their growth and the change we see in their mindset over the 22 weeks is truly amazing. Their awe and excitement of seeing the yield increase of their crops is extremely rewarding.
In this live-learn environment, participants also engage weekly in their small teams where they collaborate with a local community to teach what they are learning. Weekly debriefs and processing of their village visits further equip participants in community development and leadership principles and prove extremely valuable as they return home with the new ideas and methods.
