The Learn/Grow Project teaches people in economically challenged countries how to best utilize their own local resources more effectively rather than rely on introduced farming methods and imported crops. Learn/Grow takes the best of both traditional local agriculture and combines it with the best of modern agricultural knowledge to help locals proudly create sensible home gardens that produce foods closely matched to the nutritional needs for themselves and their families and are easily sustainable. Locally adapted plants with higher overall nutritional values can be chosen than many of the traditional western food plants can be chosen using the tool that Bruce has developed. The project emphasizes the need for people who are suffering from nutritional deficiencies to grow a wide variety of these locally adapted plants in their gardens in order to meet their needs more completely. For instance, it has been documented that many Solomon Island women have anemia, a condition that can often be cured by simply eating more leafy greens that contain iron. Using Food Plants International’s unique database, Learn/Grow takes the lead in helping determine which locally adapted food plants offer the greatest food values for people known to be suffering from nutritional deficiencies like anemia and teaches them how to grow them and prepare them so they may be safely eaten.

1. A project that helps people in developing countries learn about and grow the best local foods to meet their nutritional needs

2. This Rotary year our International President, D K Lee, challenged all Rotarians to “ Keep the service emphasis on water, health and hunger and literacy….but to focus your efforts in each of these areas on children and reducing the terrible rate of child mortality in our world.”

3. A tangible response to one of his challenges has emerged from within District 9830.

4. A project that shows hungry developing world communities how to feed themselves with locally grown foods.

7. Buz Green, an agri-business consultant, and a member of the Rotary Club of Devonport North of District 9830, Tasmania, Australia heads the Rotary Committee for the Learn/Grow project.

10. Objective To assist developing world communities LEARN about and GROW, in their own ‘backyard’, the best local food plants that match their nutritional needs.

12. Wrong plant Wrong place Wrong methods Wrong food

13. Cabbage: Wrong Plant - Wrong Place Many plants have 10 to 100 times the amount of iron when compared to cabbage. But how would you know? The iron content of just some of the leafy green vegetables found in tropical regions of the world.

14. Protein deficiency is a major problem in the tropical world, especially amongst women, children and the sick. Protein is needed for growth, health and overcoming sickness. Green leafy vegetables – protein content

15. 4 times Protein 8 times Vitamin A 20 times Vitamin C 8 times Iron 4 times Zinc Cabbage Momienh OR And it suits the tropics!

16. An example Vitamin C content tree fruits

22. The Learn Grow Team : Volunteers are being sought to join the Learn Grow team. Do you have a skill in: writing, communication, IT, project management, program leaders, marketing, sales, promotion, graphic design, agronomy, science or whatever, there is an opportunity for you in this project.

23. “ Not only will nutritional food be more available... but those most at risk will have the DIGNITY of managing their own needs.” Dr Eileen Gentilcore, RI Your help will mean….

24. Rotary can make a difference! www.learngrow.org