Jonnes Ellijah Mlegwah (Mlesh)
My name is Jonnes Ellijah Mlegwah, also known as Mlesh. I was born, grew up, and still live in Taita Taveta County in the Coastal region of Kenya, East Africa.
I am a farmer and Community Based Trainer (CBT), and a facilitator of Farmer Field School groups formed with FAO support. I am also the founder of Garden of Hope Community Based Organization.
My journey dates back over 20 years to when Kenya first experienced El Niño rains in 1997–98. My community in Taita Taveta suffered devastating floods, erosion, food crop spoilage, and mass livestock deaths from Bovine pneumonia. It was my first time hearing of such diseases — and of typhoid, which claimed community members' lives.
The community that had previously been food-secure and economically stable became vulnerable overnight — going from self-reliance to dependency on food aid. Rainfall that had sustained two seasons a year (MAM and OND) collapsed to one unpredictable season of reduced length and amount.
That crisis became my calling. Garden of Hope was born to restore and build sustainable community food systems, environmental and livelihood resilience through self-learning and on-farm trials at household level.
Vision, Mission & Goal
Key Objectives
Research Farm
Establish community training and research demonstration farm for GROW BIOINTENSIVE, dry land farming, tree nursery and other appropriate technologies.
Capacity Enhancement
Teaching, Training and Outreach programs for children, youth and rural communities towards sanitation, environment and Eco-friendly technologies.
Health Empowerment
Nutritional knowledge for prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes, and Cancer.
Partnerships
Build a strong technical team and mobilize resources through Partnerships, Networks and linkages with local and international organizations.
Water Access
Improve proper water supplies and usage for both domestic needs and irrigation at the farm and household level.
8 Principles of GROW BIOINTENSIVE
Our motto: GB = Give Back → Get Big → Get Bountiful
Deep Soil Preparation
Double-dig sunken beds to 24 inches, loosening soil for deep root growth and water retention.
Composting
Plant-based and farmyard compost to feed the soil micro-ecosystem and build organic matter.
Intensive Planting
Close plant spacing using a triangular offset pattern maximizes yield per square foot.
Carbon Farming
Grow 60% carbon crops (sorghum, corn, amaranth, sunflowers) to feed compost production.
Nutritional Design
Design the farm with human nutrition in mind — grow for health, not just yield.
Functional Biodiversity
Synergetic planting — companion plants that support each other's growth and resilience.
Open Pollinated Seeds
Use and preserve seeds farmers can save, replant, and share — building independence.
Whole System Method
See the farm as a complete living ecosystem — soil, water, plants, insects, and people.
From Bare Soil to Abundance
