Learn ♦ Grow Program Launched in Solomon Islands
The Learn Grow Program, which promotes the growing of local food crops, took a major step forward with the launch of the program in Solomon Islands on August 17th 2010. Forty people were expected to turn up at the launch, but one hundred attended. The event received wide media coverage in Honiara with reports and photos in the three Honiara newspapers and a report on the evening television news.
Centrepieces of the launch were the three high quality Learn Grow publications, the reference text “Food Plants of Solomon Islands”, and two field guides, “Good Gardening and Growing Root Crops in Solomon Islands” and “Leafy Greens and Vegetables in Solomon Islands”. Such was the demand for the publications that some rationing was necessary. Reprinting of the publications is anticipated for future stages of the Learn Grow Program.
VIPs attending the launch included the Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock, the Under Secretary for Health and newly elected MP, Connelly Sandakabatu, who was previously Head of the School of Natural Resources, and a strong supporter of the Learn Grow Program. Two of the Learn Grow team’s leading lights, Buz Green and Bruce French, spoke at the launch.
While in Solomon Islands, the Learn Grow team of Buz, Bruce, Mary Wharton (from USA), Colin McQueen, and Solomon Islands Learn Grow Project Manager, Mark Johnston, wasted no time and fitted in meetings with 28 organisations. All these organisations were committed to assisting with the distribution of the publications to local communities, and to extending the Learn Grow Program throughout Solomon Islands. The team was heartened to learn that the information provided in digital format at a previous visit was being used to good effect by some people. A common concern of people spoken to was that rice and noodles had displaced traditional foods in the Solomon Islanders. This was really at the heart of the Learn Grow philosophy.
Contact Person:
Buz Green Chairperson buzgreen@bigpond.net.au
Learn Grow Programme
Tel: (H): (03) 6424 4720
(B): (03)6498 6800 Mob:
0419 306 900