What’s a “veggie tunnel”? Short answer: Basically, they’re tubular greenhouses, constructed from simple supplies. Long answer? They’re the latest means of empowerment for community members in Nepal! Budding gardeners in the Outreach-affiliated community of Sikharpa have been busy cultivating a whole new revenue stream for themselves, having accessed funds from their government’s Agricultural Centre to subsidize construction costs. 

Of course, a veggie tunnel without veggies is just a tunnel. With assistance and training from a local cooperative and NGO, 12 members filled their heads with knowledge about quality seedling production of seasonal vegetables, then filled the soil in their tunnels with healthy, happy seedlings.

Each cycle, after a few weeks and a lot of patient, expert care, the new farmers sell their crops at a local market. Since the initial funding for the veggie tunnels came from the government, there’s no debt to repay — each farmer contributes a portion of their profits to a community fund to help cover costs for even more veggie tunnels! 

Their work is the essence of empowered, sustainable community-led development. A way to strengthen their bonds as teammates, deepen their experience with accessing resource institutions, manage community funds, increase their respective household incomes, and occasionally, enjoy a delicious outcome of their efforts, right off the vine.

Take a look at these recent photos of their incredible work!

How to Help

Just as veggies start as seeds, your donation to outreach is the crucial first step in nurturing something beautiful into full bloom. Your generosity inspires generational change. Please give today.