-The Poultry Project: Summer 2021- Presently, we are raising money to purchase chickens, as while as to build a chicken coop. Hopes are to have the coop completed before the start of the rainy season in the Gambia [July-August]. During early may of 2021, community committee members meet with an engineer to draw up designs and estimate costs for the chicken coop. The blueprint includes six small coops for chickens. The plan is to buy 300-400 chickens to start off the poultry project, once the coop is built. A portion of the eggs from the poultry project will be sold at market, providing an additional source of income to the local citizens. Chickens are poor quality and very expensive in the Gambia markets. Adding a poultry component will cost exactly $10,000. Any new donations to The Vermont-Gambia Garden Project will go towards completing the poultry project. No contribution is too small or too large, we greatly appreciate the support. *Thanks to everyone who venmoed, wrote a check, or donated cash, flowers, & tent space and otherwise helped, the Vermont Gambia Garden Project is pleased (beyond belief!) to report we are at the HALFWAY! We have raised $5,000 (total goal $10K) and work is currently underway to complete block construction of the new Poultry Project facility before the Rainy Session begins early next month (August) in the Gambia. -Storage Shed- Security will be enhanced by enclosing the Garden Project with a solid block wall. This phase of construction will include building a facility for washing and storing produce before it goes to market or home for consumption. The construction is estimated to cost $2,500.
Poultry Project Images
Phase I
-Upgrade Solar Powered Water Pump: Late 2018- Thanks to the generosity of friends and a no-interest loan, the original solar-powered water pump was replaced with a faster version that can fill the water tank every two hours. The new pump allowed the garden project to expand from four families to fifteen families. [Go to images tab at the top of the page to see pictures of the garden solar panels and water pump.] -Wire Fence: 2019- After the garden was operational it quickly became clear a fence would be necessary to protect the garden from unwanted pests. The supplies for a wire fence were purchased thanks to a contribution from Cathrine Cover Wilson and in 2019 a wire fence was installed around the garden.
