Nabaala

Nabaala Village is located in the Lambussie district in the Upper West of Northern Ghana. It was formed over 300 years ago, when Sissala ancestors settled on the land. Since then, the Sissala people have been stewarding the land and practicing their cultural traditions of grain crops, food forests, and native landscapes.

During our 2025 immersion, we will work together to:

  • Share knowledge about permaculture design and traditional knowledge of place

  • Implement earthworks to ensure rain water harvesting during the rainy season

  • Plant a food forest garden near the Chief’s family compound

  • Start a tree nursery to store a variety of native trees to utilize for reforestation

  • Consult and make plans for improved animal husbandry practices

  • Continue research on the ethnobotany of Sissala People

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Nabaala Village Agroforestry Design

Please note that the satellite photo of Nabaala is from the dry season, hence all the brown areas. In the wet season, the landscape greens up. All areas around family compounds are used to grow various crops, including millets, sorghums, corn, beans, and more.

Draft design proposals for Agroforestry Installations in November and December 2025

  • 3 acre food forest garden.

  • 1,500 ft of fence line (orange line denoted a wire & living fence)

  • Red is Vegetable line

  • Tree lines planted on berms of half moons

  • Primary edible tree list (cash crops): Cashew, Moringa, Mango

  • Secondary edible tree list: Noni, Lemon, Custard apple, Bitter leaf

  • Support trees: Mulberry, Acacias, Native Medicinal

  • Shrub & herb list : In progress…

  • Benefits of chosen trees in system: edible, native, medicinal, biomass production, nitrogen fixing, animal fodder

In the tree line, the primary long term cash crop is the cashew tree that is interplanted with many other types of fruit trees, nitrogen fixing trees, and native medical trees. At this site we will implement planted half moons for water harvesting since compaction, overgrazing & hardpan effect are at play. Annual crops will be grown inside and between half moons.

The house inside the orange fence is Uncle Kwame's two story unfinished home. He passed away many years ago. His son Kwabie & family have agreed for it to become a shared guest house for groups that visit.

In exchange we will help to fund its completion. (The family currently live in Kumasi, not the village). One of the downstairs rooms could also potentially serve as a community room with 2 computers and a small library, accessible everyday to the community.

If funds are acquired prior to the November arrival time, land stewards in Nabaala will work to:

  • Fence & gate installation

  • Conact nurseries/ farmers to start and continue growing desired trees/plants

  • Aquire desired deeds for support species and understory layers

  • Bring compost on site

  • Work on well installation / irrigation assessment / irrigation preparations

    Nabaala 2025 agroforestry site fundraising goal $25,000

    Community House fundraising Goal $20,000

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