2022 Ethiopia
Thanks to the experience shared through virtual training by USANA-Foundation we have prepared the first 11 garden towers in our department. We have planted up to 150 different types of vegetables in each garden tower. we have started harvesting vegetables from the garden tower four weeks after transplanting.
The Benefits of the garden tower that I have observed from my first experience is:
• It is space saving and we can produce different vegetables in small areas.
• It can be grown at any leveled area.
• We can use in unproductive spaces using mixed soil.
• We can get different organic vegetables from small areas
• We can get organic vegetables for consecutive years by replanting and maintaining in the same garden tower.
• It can be used to produce vegetables throughout the year.
• One or two garden towers can be enough for a household vegetable consumption more than 5 consecutive year
• It can be used as a source of income for the unemployed youth.
• By Training vulnerable women, unemployed youth groups and house wives, they can use as a source of income for their livelihoods.
• In urban areas, there is shortage of land for vegetable production; garden tower is the best alternative to produce vegetables in any small vacant available city spaces.
• Any interested person can adopt garden towers in a living compound, spaces inside any organization compound, on building terraces, small spaces at condominium and living apartment areas.
• Planning to include garden tower technology in any urban agriculture trainings.
Challenges we faced through the process of garden tower preparation
• As first experience preparing the garden tower net was challenging. But thanks to the garment department we can be able to have
• Packing the first two garden towers was challenging. The soil spelled out from the bottom two to three times.
• The first garden tower at the first day of preparation was damaged by Hyena overnight
• After the Hayna problem, fencing the site was also another challenge.
• Two much rain damage some garden towers.
• Shortage of seedlings ready for transplanting, because each garden tower needs at list 150 seedlings.
The following were the steps that we followed to produce vegetables on garden towers.
Steps. Following the steps you can observe the detail work done from site preparation to harvest from the pictures.
1. Site selection , clearing and leveling
2. Fencing the site to protect the garden tower from animal damage
3. Preparation of” the garden tower net” with one meter diameter and 1.8meter original height
4. Preparation of garden tools : hoe, spade , hose, watering can
5. Soil and compost preparation: mix in one to one ratio.
6. Preparation of vegetable seedlings: cabbage, kosta, kale, leek, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and cucumber.
7. Pack the garden tower net with the prepared soil
8. Watering the soil
9. Planting the prepared vegetable seedlings
10. Regular watering and follow up
11. Replacing damaged seedlings, if any.
12. Weeding, if any.
13. Regular follow up
14. Harvesting matured vegetables
15. Replanting
Read MoreThe Benefits of the garden tower that I have observed from my first experience is:
• It is space saving and we can produce different vegetables in small areas.
• It can be grown at any leveled area.
• We can use in unproductive spaces using mixed soil.
• We can get different organic vegetables from small areas
• We can get organic vegetables for consecutive years by replanting and maintaining in the same garden tower.
• It can be used to produce vegetables throughout the year.
• One or two garden towers can be enough for a household vegetable consumption more than 5 consecutive year
• It can be used as a source of income for the unemployed youth.
• By Training vulnerable women, unemployed youth groups and house wives, they can use as a source of income for their livelihoods.
• In urban areas, there is shortage of land for vegetable production; garden tower is the best alternative to produce vegetables in any small vacant available city spaces.
• Any interested person can adopt garden towers in a living compound, spaces inside any organization compound, on building terraces, small spaces at condominium and living apartment areas.
• Planning to include garden tower technology in any urban agriculture trainings.
Challenges we faced through the process of garden tower preparation
• As first experience preparing the garden tower net was challenging. But thanks to the garment department we can be able to have
• Packing the first two garden towers was challenging. The soil spelled out from the bottom two to three times.
• The first garden tower at the first day of preparation was damaged by Hyena overnight
• After the Hayna problem, fencing the site was also another challenge.
• Two much rain damage some garden towers.
• Shortage of seedlings ready for transplanting, because each garden tower needs at list 150 seedlings.
The following were the steps that we followed to produce vegetables on garden towers.
Steps. Following the steps you can observe the detail work done from site preparation to harvest from the pictures.
1. Site selection , clearing and leveling
2. Fencing the site to protect the garden tower from animal damage
3. Preparation of” the garden tower net” with one meter diameter and 1.8meter original height
4. Preparation of garden tools : hoe, spade , hose, watering can
5. Soil and compost preparation: mix in one to one ratio.
6. Preparation of vegetable seedlings: cabbage, kosta, kale, leek, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and cucumber.
7. Pack the garden tower net with the prepared soil
8. Watering the soil
9. Planting the prepared vegetable seedlings
10. Regular watering and follow up
11. Replacing damaged seedlings, if any.
12. Weeding, if any.
13. Regular follow up
14. Harvesting matured vegetables
15. Replanting
