Category: Projects

  • STONEFARMS & ABOYERD: Growing Conservation Together in Campo Ma’an

    STONEFARMS & ABOYERD: Growing Conservation Together in Campo Ma’an

    STONEFARMS is thrilled to announce a transformative new partnership with ABOYERD, a seasoned conservation organization, in a landmark biodiversity restoration project in Campo Ma’an National Park, Cameroon. This UNESCO-recognized hotspot is home to over 1,500 plant species and a vast array of wildlife, making it one of Africa’s most ecologically significant regions.

     

    STONEFARMS is thrilled to announce a transformative new partnership with ABOYERD, a seasoned conservation organization, in a landmark biodiversity restoration project in Campo Ma’an National Park, Cameroon. This UNESCO-recognized hotspot is home to over 1,500 plant species and a vast array of wildlife, making it one of Africa’s most ecologically significant regions.

    At the heart of this collaboration is the creation of a 5,000-fruit tree nursery aimed at restoring degraded habitats, increasing food sources for native fauna, and strengthening ecological resilience. The project blends science and community, engaging local populations in every step—from seed germination to nursery management.

    Key goals include:

    • Restoring critical wildlife habitats

    • Building STONEFARMS’ conservation expertise

    • Promoting biodiversity and food security

    • Fostering community ownership and capacity

    The partnership stands as a model of what 21st-century conservation should be: collaborative, community-driven, and deeply rooted in knowledge sharing. With ABOYERD’s mentorship, STONEFARMS is not only planting trees but cultivating a future of environmental leadership and grassroots empowerment.

    Together, we’re planting more than trees—we’re planting the future. 🌱

  • STONEFARMS Nursery: A Living Laboratory for Green Innovation and Sustainable Agriculture

    STONEFARMS Nursery: A Living Laboratory for Green Innovation and Sustainable Agriculture

    At the heart of Dschang, Cameroon, nestled within the lush agroecological environment of the Menoua Division, lies STONEFARMS Nursery a beacon of innovation, biodiversity, and sustainability. More than just a traditional plant nursery, STONEFARMS serves as a living laboratory where regenerative agriculture, circular economy principles, and climate-smart practices converge. Our nursery is organized into six distinct plant categories socio-economic plants, ecological plants, agroforestry species, ornamentals, leafy vegetables, and medicinal plants each contributing uniquely to sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and food and income security.

    1. Socio-Economic Plants: Cultivating Resilience and Prosperity

    Our socio-economic plant section is dedicated to species with high market value and livelihood potential. Here, we propagate and distribute fruit trees and cash crops such as avocado, citruses, papaya, mango, coffee, cocoa, safou, Soursop, Bitter cola, monkey kola, Jackfruit, and plantain suckers, among others. These plants are selected not only for their economic significance but also for their adaptability to local climates and soils. Through this initiative, We contributes to poverty alleviation by equipping farmers, youth, and women’s groups with the tools to establish profitable and resilient agro-enterprises.

    2. Ecological Plants: Restoring Ecosystems and Enhancing Climate Resilience

    Our ecological plants are central to our mission of restoring degraded landscapes and enhancing biodiversity. This section includes a wide range of native trees, nitrogen-fixing species, and pioneer plants that improve soil fertility, prevent erosion, and create microclimates. These species such as Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia spp., Sesbania, and Gliricidia sepium are propagated for reforestation, watershed protection, and the rehabilitation of depleted farmlands. This effort reinforces our commitment to ecological balance and long-term land stewardship.

    3. Agroforestry Plants: Designing Integrated and Productive Systems

    The agroforestry segment of our nursery supports integrated land-use systems that combine trees with crops and livestock. We offer a selection of multipurpose trees and shrubs like Moringa, Calliandra, Grevillea, Neem, and Bamboo , Garcinia cola, Raffia that provide food, fodder, fuel, timber, and soil improvement functions. By promoting agroforestry, STONEFARMS contributes to climate-smart agriculture, carbon sequestration, and farm productivity enhancement, enabling smallholders to maximize land utility while safeguarding the environment.

    4. Ornamentals: Beautifying Spaces, Enriching Lives

    Beauty and biodiversity meet in our ornamentals section. We propagate flowering plants, shrubs, climbers, and decorative grasses that bring color and vitality to homes, public spaces, and ecological gardens. These include hibiscus, bougainvillea, marigold, tradescantia, Royal palms, and crotons, which are increasingly demanded for landscaping, eco-tourism ventures, and urban beautification projects. By encouraging ornamental horticulture, STONEFARMS fosters eco-conscious aesthetics and mental well-being in both rural and urban environments.

    5. Leafy Vegetables: Nutritious Crops for Food Security

    Our leafy vegetable segment supports food sovereignty and urban nutrition. We grow and distribute highly nutritious greens such as amaranth, huckleberry (njama-njama), waterleaf, lettuce, spinach, and celery, Okong obong, Carrots which are essential for balanced diets and accessible year-round farming. These crops are fast-growing and suited for both rural and peri-urban cultivation, making them a key resource for smallholder families, school gardens, and women-led nutrition programs.

    6. Medicinal Plants: Preserving Indigenous Knowledge and Health

    Our medicinal plant collection embodies the rich ethnobotanical heritage of Cameroon. We cultivate a range of species with proven healing properties, including Leaf of Life (Kalanchoe)Aloe vera, Moringa oleifera, Rumex, Desmodium, Artemisia annua, lemon grass, noni, neem, and bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina). These plants are crucial in supporting community health, promoting herbal medicine, and preserving indigenous knowledge systems. We also collaborate with traditional healers, herbalists, and academic institutions for research and education on plant-based wellness.

    – Urban Farming Innovations: Pioneering the Circular and Green Economy

    We believe that sustainable farming must be inclusive, innovative, and accessible especially in urban and peri-urban settings. That’s why we have embraced a suite of urban farming techniques that align with the principles of circular economy and the green economy.

    We are proud pioneers of soilless cultivation systems (hydroponics and substrate-based planting), which allow efficient crop production in space-limited areas using minimal water and no synthetic chemicals. These systems are especially vital for urban residents who seek self-sufficiency without access to arable land.

    Our innovative use of cement bags, plastic bottles, and upcycled containers as planting media exemplifies our commitment to recycling and waste reduction. These solutions serve dual purposes: greening urban environments and diverting plastic and industrial waste from landfills.

    Furthermore, our bamboo farming program introduces this fast-growing, renewable resource as a climate-resilient crop with a multitude of uses from construction and handicrafts to erosion control and carbon capture. Bamboo represents a powerful tool for sustainable land use, especially on marginal or degraded soils.

    – A Green Legacy for Future Generations

    Through our nursery, STONEFARMS is not only propagating plantswe are cultivating knowledge, empowerment, and ecological consciousness. Each seedling represents a step toward a more sustainable, equitable, and regenerative future. We provide training, consulting, and outreach services to ensure that every plant distributed is paired with the capacity to thrive.

    Whether you are a farmer seeking economic opportunity, a community leader restoring your environment, a city dweller growing food on your balcony, or a student exploring agroecology STONEFARMS Nursery is your partner in growing the green economy.

    Visit us in Yangem, Dschang, and experience the heartbeat of sustainable agriculture in action.

  • 🍓 Strawberries on Bamboo: A Model of Intelligent Farming at STONEFARMS Nursery, Dschang

    🍓 Strawberries on Bamboo: A Model of Intelligent Farming at STONEFARMS Nursery, Dschang

    At STONEFARMS, innovation meets sustainability in the heart of Yaguem village, Dschang, West Cameroon. Our latest showcase in agroecological design is a living testament to what intelligent, small-scale farming can look like when guided by creativity, ecological harmony, and community purpose.

    Welcome to our Bamboo Pyramid Cultivation System an eye-catching and highly productive model we developed right within our plant nursery.

    🌿 The Concept: Nature-Inspired, Farmer-Driven

    – In this system, we’ve used locally sourced bamboo to build a tiered pyramid structure and raised beds not just for aesthetics, but for function. Bamboo is durable, renewable, and abundantly available, making it an ideal material for sustainable farming in rural communities.

    What grows on it? A clever polyculture of strawberry, lettuce, cabbage, and okra each plant chosen for its unique growth characteristics and its ecological synergy with the others.

    🍓 Why Strawberries on a Pyramid ?

    Strawberries are often underestimated in African agriculture, yet they offer high value in urban and peri-urban markets. By planting them on a pyramid,

    • We maximize space vertically
    • Improve aeration and drainage
    • Reduce soil-borne diseases through elevation
    • And make harvesting easier a practical bonus
    • The strawberries sprawl gracefully over the tiers, while lettuce and cabbage form lush, water-retaining layers, and okra stands tall, contributing shade and vertical diversity.

    🥬 Intelligent Plant Association

    • This mixed planting isn’t random. It’s a thoughtfully designed system where:
    • Lettuce helps cover soil and retain moisture.
    • Cabbage adds biomass and suppresses weeds.
    • Okra contributes to microclimate regulation and adds vertical diversity.
    • Strawberries benefit from shared nutrients and reduced pest pressure.

    The result? Higher productivity, fewer chemical inputs, and healthier soil.

    🌱 A Living Lab for Eco-Education

    More than a farm bed, this pyramid is a living classroom. Visitors, youth, farmers, and students can learn hands-on about polyculture, vertical farming, bamboo construction, and the economic potential of strawberries in Cameroon.

    📍 Location

    You can see this thriving example of agroecological design in our STONEFARMS nursery at Yaguem village, just outside Dschang, West Cameroon. It is part of our broader mission to empower local farmers, promote biodiversity, and implement sustainable, high-yield farming techniques tailored to our environment.

  • CLIMATE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

    CLIMATE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

    Our recent climate change awareness campaign was at the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Primary and Secondary School Balatsit.

    STONEFARMS team J-nee Mengets and Gabrièle Rodine Ngassa Tchoumi engaged with students and staff, emphasizing the importance of protecting our planet. To promote cleanliness and reduce pollution, we donated buckets to encourage proper waste sorting in the school premises.

    This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically:

    👉SDG 4: Quality Education (promoting education for sustainable development)
    👉SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation (encouraging proper waste management and hygiene practices)
    👉SDG 13: Climate Action (educating and inspiring climate action among young people)

    We’re really committed to supporting the school’s sustainability journey so, our next steps include:

    👉Composting workshops to turn waste into nutrient-rich soil for the school gardens.
    👉Tree planting on school campus to promote biodiversity and mitigate climate change.

    We’re proud to inspire the next generation of climate leaders. Stay tuned for updates on our climate action initiatives.