A seedling of an idea.
Our farming project—maybe it was born of hunger, desperation, or nothing more than a lightbulb moment. But in March 2025, out of the blue, we had an idea to grow our own vegetables.
It wasn’t a new idea. People with entrepreneurial skills in refugee camps have been doing it for years, turning hard work into a money-making business.
Our initial goal was to plant some seeds, hope they would germinate, and then wait to pick the crops. It sounded easy until we realised we needed ground to grow on, dig it, add some compost, protect it, water it, and nurture it.
When needs must.
Hunger is a driving force that should not be underestimated. Assertively, we asked the camp authorities for permission to grow, and for land to grow on. The photo shows what we got!
As we started to prepare the ground, we sought funding from our regular supporters. Forks, spades, rakes and seeds cost money, and here in South Sudan, everything is more expensive than in neighbouring countries.
It was hard labour. It fed our fatigue and hunger, and woke our muscles from their dormancy.
Exhaustion, aching joints and a tangible apprehension about what we’d started either kept us awake or helped us sleep like logs.
But, we felt alive, motivated, and for the first time in years, had a reason to get up in the morning.
We became gardeners overnight.
Eventually, the ground was ready, sectioned off for different crops, and the seeds were carefully spread or planted in nursery areas.
Now the waiting game, the anxiety of trial and error, and the worry: harsh sunlight, sweeping winds and heavy rain would make it into a non-event. That did keep us awake at night, as did the near misses when the weather tried its worst.
Ongoing, we expanded the land and planted beans. The kale and okra were thriving on the nursery bed, but after germination, the eggplants died.
Our first crop
All that work, for a handful of beans!
But wait. Everything was growing. Overnight, another thought. Let’s turn the land into a farming project, where we grow food and sell it, while also sharing it with our immediate neighbours.
Ideas flooded our minds, but we knew we needed significantly more funding. Our vision was to cover the entire garden with netting for protection from the sun and wind. Irrigation was also a problem. Chris, a friend and supporter in the UK, generously provided us with the funds needed to purchase the necessary items.
So are we now farmers?
Crops growing.
Erecting the poles. No easy task.
This is how the’ farm’ looked in late August 2025.
We were harvesting every four days. In the five-plus years we have been living in a refugee camp, we have never eaten so many vegetables and roughage.
Crops growing late October 2025.
The next stage is to organise a better irrigation system. We had a DIY plan, but it didn’t work out. Now it’s reliant on more funding to buy a pump. A solar-powered one might be too expensive, so we’re considering a human-powered contraption. Will we have the energy? If it works, we’ll provide an update.
As for a money-making business, it will depend on the time of year, the weather, and the number of seeds that germinate. The farm must help to sustain our health and diet before we consider profit. We’ll keep you posted!
To all the good people who helped us to help ourselves, we are truly grateful. Thank you.
Protus. 
