By Lucy Czakan
Posted on July 11, 2025

📍 *The Asilomar permaculture garden — a space of growth, learning, and sustainability in Kilifi County.*

🌍 A demonstration Garden takes root

In June this year, we visited Asilomar—which means “house by the sea” in Spanish—where Norbert and Mercy have dedicated their lives to creating sustainable, community-driven solutions for food security. Located in Kilifi County, near Mombasa in southern Kenya, Asilomar is part of PLK’s broader initiative to build sustainable livelihoods in some of the region’s most vulnerable communities.

Kilifi is among Kenya’s most food-insecure areas, where families often rely on erratic rainfall and limited resources. Children are particularly affected, facing poor nutrition and limited access to environmental education.

🌿 From Barren Land to Living Classroom

Thanks to funds raised by the Bledlow community, a demonstration permaculture garden was built with a drought-proof water supply. This space now serves as both a training hub and a living classroom, teaching practical, sustainable farming techniques to individuals, schools, and communities.

🤝 Youth Leading the Way

Last year, Asilomar partnered with ALMT—a charity focused on improving the lives of disadvantaged children—to launch a youth training program at a local secondary school in Msamarini. Sixty students took part, transforming a neglected patch of school land into a flourishing vegetable garden.

🌞 facing challenges and gowing stronger

During our visit, we met with nine of the students who completed the training and continue to maintain the garden. They proudly shared the progress they’ve made, as well as the challenges they face—especially during school holidays and during prolonged droughts, when watering the garden becomes nearly impossible.

To help, we agreed to fund the installation of a water pipe extension from a nearby tap to the garden, making irrigation easier and more consistent.

🖼️ *Fcing challenges and growing stronger*

🌿Planting seeds for the future

The journey doesn’t stop here. These nine students will soon take part in a “train the trainer” initiative, helping to bring permaculture education to a local primary school. With continued support from ALMT, these trained youth will become mentors and educators, sharing their knowledge and expanding the reach of sustainable agriculture across Kilifi.

🖼️ These trained youth will become mentors and educators, sharing their knowledge and expanding the reach of sustainable agriculture across Kilifi.

🌾 a Growing impact

This project is proof that when communities come together, transformation is possible. From barren land to bountiful harvests, and from hungry classrooms to empowered youth, the seeds of change are taking root.

We’re incredibly grateful to our partners at ALMT, the Bledlow community, and the inspiring students of Msamarini. The garden is growing—and so is the impact.