In recent years, the people of western Kenya have been feeling the painful effects of climate change and deforestation. As the practice of chopping down trees for fuel wood continued, “deforestation was getting worse,” says resident Salim Shaban. Removing trees compromises nutrient and water retention in soils, and nutrients lost in the runoff can pollute valuable freshwater lakes and rivers.

To make matters worse, the rainy seasons have been coming later in the year, shortening the growing season. Most farmers in Kenya live hand to mouth, and were having trouble feeding their families.

Frustrated by increasingly meager harvests, Salim vowed to take action. Convinced that environmental problems were compromising soil integrity, “I decided to figure out what was needed to improve the