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| Promoters: Diocese of Meru, AES from Padova
Type of activity: agriculture |
The Meru Herbs cooperative was born thanks to the Ng’uuru Gakirwe Water Project, aiming at the distribution of both drinkable and irrigation water to the families in the area. The project promoters are the Diocese of Meru and the AES of Padova (Italy).
mango |
papaya |
Many farmers bring their excess agricultural products (after selling in the market) to the coop, and the coop prepares the products to be distributed through the channels of the Fair Trade (see the member sheet, ). In the centre 42 persons work permanently, in different production steps: drying on beds in the sun (lemon herb, carcadè, camomile), boiling, jam cooking (carcadè, papaya with lemon, mango), infusion preparation (carcadè and camomile), sauce cooking (tomato and basilic, vegetables, pepper), up to the packaging, the label sticking and the carton packaging.
All agricultural products used in the coop are strictly biological, and the rooms where some steps are performed are aseptic.
How to help
The coop is keen to host travellers, and they offer accommodation and meals, shows of traditional music and dance, and visits to some farms around, in the luxurious (at least in rain season) countryside South of Meru. Spending some days in this place is probably the best way to help the coop, besides buying their products, available in any Fair Trade shop in Italy.
Moreover, each Summer IPSIA Kenya (Institution for Peace, Development and Innovation ACLI) organises a work camp of about two weeks, involving 15 youngs from Italy and women and children from the Meru area. For further infos, pls write to ipsiakenya@hotmail.com. | | 
kimeru huts
the countryside around Mitunguu |
Contacts
Meru Herbs is located in Mitunguu (about 17km Est of Nkubu); to get there, from Nairobi get a bus or a matatu to Meru, and get off at Nkubu (20km before Meru); from Nkubu you can get the matatu Victory (you cannot be wrong, you will recognize it from the label on the front): about 45’ to get to the fork where you have to walk for ten minutes. The advise is to contact Lucy in advance (+254.733.544549 / 706885) for a lift from either Meru or Nkubu. Anyway, it is better to get to the coop with an appointment, especially if you wish to spend the night here, since they often host groups and they may have no place; in order to make a reservation, you can even contact Sally (+254.733.704257) in the Nairobi office.
Last update: 2009-09-06 Back to the list of projects
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