How Sack Gardens Are Helping Zambian Families Beat Hunger, Poverty and Climate Change

By Alain Kabinda 

LUSAKA – In the heart of Garden House Compound in Lusaka where space is limited and seasonal floods often destroy backyard gardens, 62-year-old Agness Mwanza has found an unlikely solution to feeding her family.

Lined neatly behind modest home are 12 mealie-meal sacks bursting with green vegetables. From these sacks, Zambia Homeless and Peoples Federation harvests rape, spinach, onions and tomatoes that help feed their families and reduce household expenses.

" We used to lose our garden every rainy season when floods came," she says. 

"Now, even when water enters the compound, the vegetables survive because the sacks can be moved. It also save money because we make our own manure from kitchen waste.and dump sides waste"

For Christabel Chimba and many others across Zambia, sack gardening is proving to be more than just an innovative farming method. It is becoming a powerful tool for climate adaptation, food security and poverty reduction.

As climate change continues to affect agricultural production through prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall and devastating floods, communities are increasingly turning to simple, low-cost solutions to protect their livelihoods.

Traditionally, farming has been associated with large fields and fertile land. But for thousands of families living in urban settlements, access to land is limited or non-existent.

Using old mealie-meal sacks filled with layers of soil, compost and organic matter, households can grow dozens of vegetables in a space as small as one square metre. The vertical design allows plants to develop extensive root systems while using significantly less water than conventional gardens.

According to urban agriculture advocates, a single sack can support between 60 and 80 vegetable plants, providing a steady supply of nutritious food throughout the year.

"This is one of the most practical climate adaptation strategies available to vulnerable communities," said Ms. Phiri. "It requires very little space, conserves water and helps households continue producing food even during extreme weather events."

The technique is gaining popularity in compounds across Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe and other urban centres where food prices continue to rise and climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent.

The success of sack gardening is closely linked to another growing movement – household composting.

Faced with rising fertilizer costs, many families are discovering the value hidden in everyday waste.

Vegetable peelings, leftover food, dry leaves and grass cuttings are being transformed into nutrient-rich compost that nourishes crops and reduces dependence on expensive chemical fertilizers.

In Garden House of Lusaka Zambia Homeless and Peoples Federation have established community compost pits that convert household waste into organic manure.

( Ms Alice Phiri and Ms Harriet Phiri)

Zambia Homeless and Peoples Federation National Facilitator Ms. Alice Phiri said that the initiative has helped families improve nutrition while generating additional income.

"We used to throw away most of this waste," she says. "Now we turn it into compost, grow vegetables and sell the surplus. What was once rubbish is now helping us pay school fees and support our families."

The environmental benefits are equally significant. By reducing waste dumped in drainage systems, composting helps prevent blockages that often contribute to flooding and disease outbreaks during the rainy season.

Across Zambia, women and young people are emerging as the driving force behind the sack gardening movement.

For women, particularly those living in informal settlements, sack gardens offer a practical way to secure household food supplies despite limited access to land.

Women entrepreneurs are also finding opportunities in the growing demand for urban agriculture solutions. Some women groups are producing and selling ready-made gardening sacks, while others provide training services to communities interested in adopting the technology.

She added that this grassroots approach is critical because it allows families to start small and expand gradually.

Many households begin with only a few sacks. After seeing the benefits, they reinvest profits from vegetable sales into larger gardens.

As Zambia strengthens efforts to adapt to climate change, sack gardening is increasingly being recognised as an important component of community resilience.

The practice contributes to improved nutrition, household income generation, environmental protection and disaster preparedness.

Development practitioners argue that wider access to quality seeds, training and extension services could help thousands more households benefit from the innovation.

Every harvest means fewer trips to the market, lower food expenses and greater peace of mind.

Standing beside the federation's flourishing sacks of vegetables, she reflects on how a simple idea transformed her family's circumstances and the federation.

"I never imagined a sack could feed a family," she says with a smile. "But now it does." Ms. Phiri said.

In communities facing the combined challenges of poverty, food insecurity and climate change, that simple sack is proving to be much more than a container. It is becoming a symbol of resilience, innovation and hope for a sustainable future.