Farmhouse accommodation in Kenya
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
1.Forest conservation - As members of the local community forest management association, we contribute towards tree planting and protecting the local Aberdare forest.
It is our policy that all guests visiting Mboi farm plant a tree each in the forest to help promote reforestation. This is also part of our carbon offsets program to help our guests cover their carbon footprint.
2.Renewable energy - We are also promoting the use of renewable energy such as biogas and solar to help in protecting the local forest from deforestation by the community in search of woodfuel.
3.Local birdlife - To help protect the local birdlife, we are educating members of the community and creating awareness on its uniqueness and promoting activities such as birdwatching to help villagers earn from it, which will in turn motivate them to protect the birds.
4.Waste seperationa dn recycling - As a policy, Mboi farm's waste separation system recycles most of its organic compost, which is turned into manure for crops. Inorganic compost such as plastics are sent to a local environment group that recycles them.
5.Water - We collect rain water and use it in cleaning at the farm house.
6.Local culture and heritage - To preserve the local heritage and culture, we have built traditional mud and wattle houses with traditional fittings and furniture. We have also helped the community to put together a cultural center at the farm where guests can learn about the unique culture of the Kikuyu tribe.
Community
1.Friends and Neighbors - Through the Homestays concept, we are helping to bring revenue from tourism down to the grassroots.
Most of the areas residents have never earned anything from tourism, though Kenya continues to receive billions of dollars from growing tourism.
By taking guests to the grassroots and facilitating their interaction with the community, we provide a link that is enabling them to earn from the growing tourism industry.
2.Local hosts - Our local hosts have a unique knowledge of the region's local insights and its attractions and they assists guests in interacting with villagers.
Campaigning for a change - Part of the income at the farm is set aside for supporting awareness creating campaigns to help community members realize the value of their environment to tourism and helping them to start income generation activities such as weaving and basketry to create souvenirs for tourists.
3.A fair deal - At the farm, we employ local villagers and pay them at rates above the average income in the area as our contribution to improving living standards in the area.
4.Volunteering and charity - Mboi farm supports the local primary school through provision of books, and other learning facilities. We also encourage our guests to pack along something for the kids while packing for the holiday.
We also working to revive the local blind people training institute that had closed down due to lack of support.
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