Building Wicking Beds in Tongogara

From November 2023 to May 2024, Re-Alliance partnered with the Fambidzani Permaculture Centre (FPC) and the Transformative Innovative Hub (TIH) to build wicking beds in the Tongogara Refugee Camp. The project introduced wicking bed technology to address water scarcity, aiming to improve the community’s nutrition and health through access to fresh vegetables.

A wicking bed is a garden bed design that uses capillary action to draw water from the base of the bed, making it perfect for maximum water efficiency in arid climates. By placing a reservoir of water at the bottom, fed through a tube, moisture is drawn upward directly to the plant roots. This ‘wicking’ process ensures plants receive consistent hydration while significantly minimising evaporation. In hot and dry climates, a large percentage of water can be lost to evaporation, so simple designs to maximise water use is ideal.

The project engaged 75 residents and provided comprehensive training on the construction and maintenance of diverse wicking bed models. Following the workshops, participants successfully installed their own home-based wicking beds and harvested a wide range of crops, including spinach, rapeseed, tomatoes, and onions.

The wicking beds enabled participants to reduce water consumption by more than 50% compared to conventional beds. An FPC survey showed that a single 60-litre reservoir could sustain a garden for an entire week, offering a buffer against the region’s frequent droughts. Beyond water resilience, the project integrated Permaculture training, empowering residents to shift from expensive, toxic chemicals to nature-inspired and organic methods of growing.

For long-term success, the initiative has evolved to focus on growing the health of soil. Drawing on lessons from the implementation in Tongogara, the team recognised that using locally made compost, and empowering communities to be self-sufficient, are vital to community resilience. Re-Alliance worked with Fambidzanai to develop a 'how-to' guide on developing wicking beds, which you can download below.