Orant Agroecology Farm: What We’re Harvesting
Perennial Crops
At the Orant Agroecology Farm, we grow a variety of crops year-round. Many of these crops are perennials, meaning that they come back year after year. The perennial crops include Papaya, Banana, Macadamia, Pineapple, Guava, Orange, Gliricidia, Leucaena, Avocado, Bamboo and Mangoes.
Seasonal Crops
The seasonal crops that we grow include Maize, Tomatoes, Soybeans, Groundnuts, Beans, Sunflower, Chili, and Wheat. These crops have to be replanted every year because the plants do not regenerate.
Maize
Maize is a very important crop in Malawi because most households rely on Maize as their main food source. The dried Maize is ground into flour to create Nsima, a common food in Malawi. See our blog about Nsima here.
Groundnuts
Groundnuts are also a popular food in Malawi because they are a reliable source of protein when times are lean and meat is scarce. Futali is a popular recipe created from sweet potatoes and groundnut flour, and we find it to be very delicious! You can find our recipe here.
What's Next for Us
Orant is currently growing Giant Bamboo as a means to provide alternative fuel sources for firewood, rather than cutting down trees around Ngara Mountain in our catchment area. We hope to grow a large crop of bamboo so that there will be less need to cut down trees for firewood.
