Welcome to a Journey of healing for the BODYandSOIL in Africa.
Since the publishing of my award-winning book "Eating with Africa," in March 2020, I've been busy weaving together ideas to leverage my practical knowledge from Africa and newfound expertise as a holistic nutritionist to tackle the crises in food, farming, and nutrition on the continent. Today, at the beginning of 2024, I've come to believe that the solution lies in reconnecting indigenous knowledge with an ecological approach that nourishes both the SOIL and the BODY. These two components have become so disconnected from each other, and we need to reconnect them.
Healthy soil, born from diversity, leads to healthy crops, which leads to a healthy body, and healthy societies.
Here in Karamoja, Uganda, where my next journey begins, over 60% of the population lives in dire poverty. People here, as well as in other parts of Africa, grapple with challenges like population growth, globalization, imports, and climate change. This leads to farmers cutting down local food and medicinal trees to survive on a few dollars a day by selling charcoal and firewood. Subsistence farmers increasingly focus on planting one main staple, which is detrimental to soil organisms, crops, and their own health. With each passing day, the knowledge of their ancestors disappears, and the consequences include drought and malnutrition. Quick fixes such as funding one unbalanced school meal a day or distributing nutritional mixtures in communities are part of daily reality in Africa, but they are not lasting solutions.
Many tell me this cycle is unbreakable, but I refuse to accept that. Together with like-minded individuals who believe in change, I’m about to build something amazing—a place for education in nutrition to heal the BODY and the SOIL in Africa. My vision is clear—a center tailored for the African continent, built on indigenous wisdom combined with the latest nutritional knowledge. Not just a quick fix, but a comprehensive solution involving research, engagement with elders, collaborative changes, and a focus on education in food and farming. AND to produce healthy, local food products from small-scale farmers to nurture and strengthen livelihoods. Leveraging Africa's abundant land and the power of small-scale farmers can lay the groundwork for this transformative inclusive model towards positive change.
About 85% of Africa's food is imported. Imagine the impact that makes on livelihoods and health!
My crucial first step with Body and Soil involves collaboration with Shanita, a boarding home for 250 children. Together we will cultivate a food garden planted for nutrition and diversity, not just to fill hungry stomachs but to nurture, heal, and educate children, parents, and teachers in the future in food and farming. My main focus with Shanita, will be bringing in nutritional knowledge that can be implemented into the children and teachers daily diets.
At the moment, I'm on the lookout for a location to build the first "BODYandSOIL" Academy but in the meanwhile, I'm starting small with what I have. Thanks to the support of two sponsors, I've been able to purchase an oil press to produce local healthy oils that can prevent diseases caused by chronic inflammation in the body (much needed!). I'm beginning with pressing oils and developing new, nurturing recipes, as well as testing indigenous recipes in the villages and in my kitchen. I've conducted my first nutrition courses for small groups of people and more are in planning 🥳. But I've also been researching in schools and deep into communities to find answers on how some of the challenges can be addressed through indigenous knowledge.
I envision BODYandSOIL as a self-sufficient business that one day provides widespread education throughout Africa, supporting livelihoods by producing high-quality local nutritious produce.
Yes, it might all sound a bit crazy, but so did solo traveling and writing a cookbook about Africa. And I'm forever grateful for taking that step.It's revealed my purpose, one that I'm only beginning to uncover today – to effect change, one body and one soil at a time. Africa is the fastest-growing continent today. What happens here will soon influence the rest of the world!
So, if you're driven by the same passion and want to contribute – whether it's through knowledge, ideas, or resources – then drop me a line; let's discuss how we can combine our superpowers to make the greatest impact and invest in healthy growth in harmony with nature.
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Thank you!
Maria