Essentials of Healthy Garden Healthy Home

Cecial Adhikari, Recovery Programme Manager, DanChurchAid

We have already written couple of notes https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/healthy-garden-home-cecial-adhikari  about our thinking on the “Healthy Garden Healthy Homes” (HGHH). It was great to feel a wider  acceptance of an idea that was conceived just  few months ago, aiming to contribute towards recovery from the impact of earthquake and further reinforcing resilience of the communities through Healthy Garden Healthy Home. I have just returned from insightful visits in various recovery project locations. I had an opportunity to discuss with the various stakeholders in the districts, mainly the beneficiaries, local partners and the technical service providers. At this point, it will be too early to conclude that the idea has been successful. However, it has added excitements to note the early positive indications. As this is the first time that we have been implementing the concept, we are continuously learning and accordingly adapting our approaches. At this point, we have at least learned where it works very well and where extra efforts are required. We will be sharing our learning once we complete the first cycle. The major concern for us now is its continuation having a question “will the same communities be able to continue the next cycle?”

It is a great pleasure to read briefs and narratives from the colleagues highlighting the importance about the concept and on how we do it. On another recent brief, Pabitra Gurung, WASH colleague has noted HGHH adds value on the equitable water distribution for multiple purpose especially during the water scarce times and locations https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/drinking-water-scheme-dws-healthy-garden-home-hghh-pabitra-gurung. Additionally, there have been efforts to integrate this into other projects. I believe these different attentions signals us about its growing interest. The idea was conceived thinking all about how do we comprehensively develop a package which could contribute to reinforcing the resilience of the households and the wider communities. While we are currently working on the clear indicators for the results that we aim to achieve through HGHH, I wanted to reiterate and remind ourselves here that following elements are essential for a Healthy Garden Healthy Home;

• Access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene behavior
• Kitchen garden that contributes to the nutrition uptake of the family
• Plastic houses and micro-irrigation technologies for off-season vegetable production that contributes to income generation
• Practice of insurance at the household and community level such as for livestock and crop and community assets such as water and irrigation systems
• Households and communities are aware of risk and vulnerabilities and are prepared accordingly

During our various interactions, we noted that the major attention now has been around the plastic houses and micro-irrigation technologies (MIT). Though the entry point is water prioritizing domestic use and surplus for productive use, the concept is way beyond just the vegetable production and irrigation technologies. The concept is about bringing multiple sectors together vis a vis; water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), nutrition, disaster risk reduction and psycho-social support. The overall aim of HGHH is well being and enhanced resilience. Therefore, we have given an equal importance to the psycho-social support in the communities. For others, technologies, approaches or activities may differ from one location to other to achieve bullet points mentioned above. One of the examples is the application of Multiple Use Water Services (MUS) where domestic and productive water uses comes together. It is important to diversify income sources therefore even if one fails people’s coping mechanism does not get weak, decreases shocks and stresses and can recover quickly. Other important aspects are their social structures coming together to support each other for example cooperatives and easy access to credit etc.