This diversity gives him food security, for if some crops fail due to drought, disease or pests, others will survive. The use of open pollinated varieties enables Mr. Phiri to collect, select and use his own seed from one year to the next. Nitrogen-fixing plants abound. The pigeon pea is one example, and is also used for fodder and mulch. Apply manure and nitrogen-fixing plants once, and the plants continue to do well year after year.
Fertilized soil is bitter.
The food and fruit Mr. Phiri produces is anything but bitter. He's been generous in his abundance, giving away trees to anyone who wants them. Unfortunately, as Mr. Phiri points out, the majority of the trees he gives away die when people do not implement rainwater-harvesting techniques before planting. He propagates his trees in old rice and grain bags near one of three open wells near the bottom of his property. Mr. Phiri describes the open wells with another analogy.