Gifts from generous donors over the past several years have funded improvements to the agriculture infrastructure at JAMS and have boosted the school’s sustainability. In June, the roof of the existing greenhouse, originally provided through a grant from Rotary International, was repaired. In addition, a second greenhouse was constructed. These projects were funded through donations to the Friends of JAMS Entrepreneurship Fund.

Due to the growing unpredictability of the rainy season and recent drought, greenhouses have become essential to supplying the JAMS dining hall with vegetables. Dr. Wasonga, JAMS co-founder and director, reports “we have established that we can increase output by factor of four” by using greenhouses and vertical gardening methods.

The greenhouses are also important to agriculture education at JAMS, offering hands-on experience. This term, the Form 3 (juniors) agriculture students take on the project of designing vertical, or multi-story raised, gardening beds for use in the new greenhouse, using local materials.

The future of Kenyan agriculture, in a region where weather unpredictability and drought are increasing, depends on putting up-to-date knowledge and innovative solutions in the hands of young people like the students at JAMS.