Cape Verde

Although the islands of Cape Verde are not technically classified as desert, with an average of 10.3 inches (26 cm) of rainfall each year, the soil is dry and barren, and water is scarce—hardly ideal conditions for gardening. In addition, most people on these islands, located about 500 miles (800 kilometers) off the western coast of Africa, live in small, cement homes with little outdoor space to plant a garden.

Despite such adverse conditions, in the summer of 2009 several Latter-day Saint families enjoyed home grown vegetables for the first time. Because 90 percent of the food in Cape Verde is imported, most people cannot afford to purchase vegetables. But with help from experienced gardeners serving as humanitarian specialists, these families learned to plant gardens in whatever containers they could find—pots, bowls, bottles, or even used food containers. Families maintained their small gardens on the roofs or porches of their homes.

They learned how to improve the soil they use to plant their gardens by combining fertilizer and potting soil with the soil found in their region. Families also built small containers out of wire netting to create compost piles, where they began collecting table scraps, banana and orange peels, and other organic material. Now, the members are using the compost to make rich soil for their container gardens.

As the gardening season approaches, these families will also teach others in their communities the skills they have learned so more people can benefit from growing their own food. Each year, more families and individuals will be able to save money and enjoy the nutritional benefits as well as the personal satisfaction and financial savings of home grown vegetables as they plant their own gardens.