Where my hands plant hope and I teach people to see the life that surrounds them — that nothing is wasted; see gardens rise from small spaces; become a light for many

A Longette Lite by Ruth Akinyi

edited by Catherin J Pascal Dunk

I did not choose the path of easy roads — I chose the soil, where a small seed grows.
I chose the girl who was told, “You cannot,” but whispered, “I can, my story is not over yet.”

Through Wasichana Tunaweza¹ I learned that when one girl rises, many lives are turned.
A young mother with a child in her arms can still hold a dream, carry hope,
return to school, learn a skill — build a future with courage and will.

I teach more than planting seeds in the ground. I teach people to see
the life that surrounds them: the chicken that feeds a family, the compost
that feeds the earth, the garden that feeds a child, the tree
that will shade generations yet unborn.

Through permaculture, I teach that nothing is wasted — not a dry leaf,
not a seed, not a forgotten dream. Waste becomes nourishment.
Bare land becomes a garden. A struggling family starts learning.
Learners become teachers. And teachers become a light for many.

Through APSN² and Earth Restorer Hubs³ our hands reach farther.
Across communities, across borders, across Africa. We share knowledge;
we listen; we learn. We walk beside those building from what they have.
It’s not charity alone, but dignity. Not dependency, but possibility. Not simply
giving people fish — teaching them how to restore the pond.

I have stood where the soil was tired and watched people breathe
life back into it. I’ve seen gardens rise from small spaces, chickens
become livelihoods, seeds become food, knowledge become confidence.

I teach the young. The mothers. The farmers. I teach the community.
And sometimes — without knowing it — the community teaches me.

Because permaculture is more than farming. It is a way of seeing that
people and planet belong together, that abundance can grow from little, that
cooperation can heal what isolation cannot, and that every pair of hands
has something to give. My work may look like a garden, but beneath the leaves
are dreams. Beneath the soil are possibilities. And among the seeds
are children who      may one day      inherit a better world.

So I keep planting, teaching, listening. Keep connecting hands and hearts.

For the girl who thinks her story has ended — I help her find
another chapter. For the farmer who sees only tired soil — I help them see
life waiting underneath. For the community that believes it has little, I remind them:
“You already have seeds — hands — wisdom. Together, you can grow.”

And perhaps growing people is my greatest work — restoring hope, planting a future:

one girl,
one family,
one garden,
one community,
one seed at a time.

🌱💚🌱🐔

You can support Ruth’s work here: https://givebutter.com/girlswecan

1. Girls We Can ↩︎
2. Africa Permaculture Support Network ↩︎
3. https://jessicaperini.com/earth-restorer-hubs/ ↩︎