Chapin Living Waters
Who We Are
Drip Irrigation for Third World Kitchen Gardens
Critical Realities of Our World:
Over half the world lives on less than $2 per day.
Almost 800 million people are chronically malnourished.
Over 30,000 children die each year due to causes related to poverty.
28% of all children in developing countries are underweight or stunted-mostly in south Asia and sub-Sahara Africa
1.1 Billion people will go to bed hungry tonight!
Chapin Living Waters, a Christian ministry offers a solution to the disaster!
Our Mission
Chapin Living Waters exists to help poor people in third world countries grow vegetables when there is insufficient rain. We offer simple, sustainable technologies for subsistence farming, bringing hope to the poorest people and the opportunity to solve their own problems.
We do not sell our "Bucket Kits" retail. They can be purchased at ECHO.
http://echobooks.org/product_info.php?products_id=271
Submit Your Questions-Contact us for information on how to set up a low cost-low risk pilot project!
Bucket Kits for Gardening. Pdf document Instructions for set up and operation of a "Bucket Kit"
Description of Program Activities
Chapin Living Waters serves development groups, relief organizations, and mission groups working with people in third world countries, by introducing programs for sustainable drought resistant vegetable production. Our work involves publishing training materials, conducting workshops and seminars in drip irrigation and basic agricultural methods for subsistence farming, and assisting in the distribution of “Bucket Kits”. In regions where we have done more extensive training and follow-up, we find that “Bucket Kit” programs are becoming largely self-sustaining.
Technology in its Simplest Form
The “Bucket Kit”, consisting of 100 feet of drip hose, fittings and connecting tubing, is ideal for poor families in communities where running water and pumps are not available. The family connects the kit to a 5-gallon bucket elevated at least 1 meter above the ground, and fills the bucket with water twice daily. This simple, inexpensive, gravity fed system will provide enough moisture for a vegetable garden large enough to feed a small family during periods when there is absolutely no rainfall. The availability of vegetables during dry seasons not only improves the nutrients in the diet, but also reduces the need for staples such as maize by as much as one-third. Many families return to purchase additional “Bucket Kits” in order to sell vegetables at a premium during the dry season, providing funds for other family needs such as clothing, schooling, and medical care.
We do not sell "Bucket Kits' retail. They can be purchased at ECHO: http://echobooks.org/product_info.php?products_id=271
Would you like to set up a low cost-low risk pilot project? Yes
See what has been done in other countries using "Drip Irrigation: The Malawi Project. Chapin Living Waters supplied the "Bucket Kits". http://www.malawiproject.org/programs/agriculture/drip/
http://www.malawiproject.org/programs/
http://www.malawiproject.org/programs/agriculture/gardens/
http://www.hhi.org/index.php?cat=27
Introduction to Bucket Kit Gardening
If you have immediate questions, and or want to find out how to get a "Bucket Kit", please fill out the form so we can better serve you!
After submitting the form, we will get back to you.
Super Bucket Kit
We also have a "Super Bucket Kit" which will irrigate 10 rows 33 feet long.
Basics in Vegetable Gardening
Basics in Vegetable Gardening is a one-to-two week curriculum developed by Elizabeth Adams Doerr in connection with her work in the agricultural program at a vocational school in Malawi. The course covers the most basic concepts in growing vegetable when there is no rain. The concepts are simple and mesh beautifully with programs focusing on education and community health. By introducing the “Bucket Kit” with these basic gardening concepts, the program addresses the most critical limiting factor for agriculture in many third world settings…water.
Publication of Training Resources
Chapin Living Waters offers training literature and videos for “Bucket Kit” installation, and basic techniques for small-scale vegetable production when there is no rain. In Addition we publish a periodic newsletter on small scale drip irrigation projects from around the world.
Requests for Information
Chapin Living Waters staff in Watertown, NY fields requests from all over the world for information regarding Bucket Kit Projects, small scale drip irrigation, drought resistant vegetable production, and training seminars. Sample kits have been sent to over 2500 groups in 150 third world countries. Responding to requests for technical information, training materials, and training seminars requires a full time staff person. We have a special price list. You can call or email us for current prices.
Training Programs
Chapin Living Waters, in cooperation with development agencies and mission groups already established in third world countries, conduct demonstrations, workshops, and seminars in Bucket irrigation and drought resistant vegetable production. Typically, demonstrations and 2-3 day workshops are used with local agricultural professionals, extension workers, and development groups involved in agricultural projects. Our 1-2 week seminars are designed to train trainers in the basics of vegetable gardening and use of the “Bucket Kit.” The cooperating local agency selects nationals to be trained as trainers, who are then able to teach their neighbors to use the basic techniques they have learned. We seek to network, collaborate and partner with existing organizations.
Networking
Chapin Living Waters maintains a database of all our contacts with development organizations, mission groups, educational and extension organizations. As larger quantities of Bucket Kits become available for overseas distribution, we are able to direct clients to a local source for information, assistance, and a supply of kits. Whenever we schedule demonstrations, workshops, or seminars, we try to notify our contacts in the region. While this requires a considerable effort in planning and coordinating projects, it is the most efficient way to spread the technology and train as many as possible in a given area. How we can help you?
Promotion
We present Basic Vegetable Gardening techniques and small scale drip irrigation technology at agricultural and mission conferences. In addition, we have recruited retired professionals and train them to conduct demonstrations, workshops, and seminars in third world countries.
Board of Directors
Richard Chapin-Founder of Chapin Watermatics Inc, inventor of first commercial drip irrigation systems in the United States; founder of Chapin Living Waters Foundation Inc.
William Chapin-President, Chapin Watermatics Inc-40 plus years experience in commercial drip irrigation systems
Ralph Freeman-Retired Cooperative Extension Educator for Long Island, specializing in floriculture; advisor New York State Flower Industries, Inc. and Long Island Flower Growers.
James Hargrave-Seed Distributor and Agriculturist.
William Roberts-Retired professor of engineering Rutgers University-extensive experience in agriculture and greenhouse construction
Dr. Otho Wells-Retired professor of Biology University of New Hampshire-specializing in vegetable production
Dr. J. L. Williams-Director of New Directions International
Mary Chapin Westcott-Accountant-20 years experience in cost accounting and non-profit accounting
Resources
Drip Irrigation for Third World Kitchen Gardens
Power Point Slide Show
3-4 minutes to download
"Riego Por Goteo" Spanish version of "Irrigation by Drip" (NEW)
"Sistema de Riego por Goteo con Cubetas" Spanish version of "Drip Irrigation by Bucket" (NEW)
Bucket Kits for Gardening. Pdf document Instructions for set up and operation of a "Bucket Kit"
This is a short pdf document of "Bucket Kit Gardening". Mainly pictures.
Power Point presentation "Drip Irrigation for 3rd World Kit Gardens" By Jon Fripp of USDA-NRCS.
May take up to 5 minutes to download with a DSL or cable.
We do not sell our "Bucket Kits" retail. They can be purchased at ECHO.
http://echobooks.org/product_info.php?products_id=271
Contact us for more information
Latest news from the field:
Excerpts from recent newsletters.
Please return soon for latest news!
Fall 2005
Chapin Living Waters Returns to Malawi
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, struggling with starvation due to the huge population of orphans resulting from the AIDS epidemic, and severe droughts. The purpose of our trip was to follow up on the past shipments of 10,000 Bucket Kits to Lilongwe and several hundred to Mzuzu, and to make contact with other groups which have inquired about Bucket Kit irrigation projects.
On Wednesday, August 34d Dale Robar, retired NY State Trooper, and Dick Chapin left for Lilongwe, Malawi. After arriving on Friday at Blessings Hospital, they visited the new Food Factory which was built the previous Fall with the goal of providing a nutritious Vita Meal daily to 25,000 orphans. By this August, this group was already feeding 33,000 orphans, and now have a new goal of feeding 50,000 orphans daily by 2006. Trucks leave daily to deliver a one months’ ratio to each orphan.
Vita Meals are made up of soybeans and maize corn grown by 33,000 Malawian farmers, with the addition of vitamins and minerals shipped by Nourish the Children. Assistance was received from Feed the Children, USAID, Amigo International, Healing Hands International, Nourish the Children, World Emergency Relief, NuSkin Enterprises, and the Lee Iacocca Foundation.
The next day, we flew to Mzuzu where we stayed at the Presbyterian Guest House. While there, Dale was out on the street passing out Gideon Bibles which he had brought with him. This led to his making contact with twenty-five Mzuzu Gideons who later came to one of our t raining sessions.
While at Mzuzu, we met with the Ladies Guild, visited several Bucket Kit gardens, set up and demonstrated the new equipment for winding the rolls for the Bucket Kits, and met with Mr. Nakandwe and other officers of the Presbyterian CCAP. WE discussed hiring a Field Man to promote Bucket Kits. Randy Judd showed us the gardens at the Church of Christ College which were in excellent condition from the use of Drip Irrigation.
Back at Blessings in Lilongwe, Dale and Dick held Training Sessions with several groups, set up the new equipment for winding rolls for the Bucket Kits, and made contact with several Development Organizations, including World Vision, Action Aid, Malawi Agricultural Ministry, and Total Landscape.
In a meeting with Napoleon Dzombe, we decided to hire a full-time Field Coordinator, Talanga Banda, to oversee Bucket Kit Projects. Contributions to CLWF will fund his salary. Discussions were held regarding importing container loads of Bucket Kits to be divided among the various Development Organizations in the Lilongwe area.
One morning, we observed the monthly nutritious Vita Meal food distribution at an orphanage in Kuma. When compared to most deliveries to two or three thousand orphans, this group of 250 orphans was small. However, there was no lack of enthusiasm as the month’s supply of Vita Meals was given out.
Hunger Crisis in Malawi
President Bingu wa Mutharika has declared all of the southern African nation a “disaster area”. He warned that 5 million people, almost half the population, are threatened with hunger. Agriculture Minister Uladi B. Mussa recently told foreign journalists that “WE are fed up of rain-fed harvests. They are not predictable. We want to use irrigation to wipe out this hunger problem.”
Why do we ship in Bulk” container loads?
The cost to assemble Bucket Kits in third world countries is substantially lower than in U.S. Additional savings can be realized due to the fact that shipping costs are significantly reduced when materials are sent in 20 foot bulk container lots. After the shipment arrives, nationals assemble individual Bucket Kits by cutting and re-rolling 100 foot lengths of drip irrigation hose, cutting tubing required for connections to the bucket, and packing these along with the necessary fittings. WE can get materials for as many as seven thousand Bulk Bucket Kits on one 20 foot overseas container.
Guidepost Article “God’s Gardener”
“Positive People making a difference” was part of the caption on the article published in the August 2005 Guidepost magazine. The story was about our Executive director, Richard Chapin.
Since the Guidepost article, there has been an influx of phone calls, emails, and letters to our office. Many who were unaware of the work of Chapin Living Waters were told the story of how our Bucket Kit work was started and is making a difference in over 150 countries worldwide.
We are thankful to the people who have become donors to CLWF as a result of reading this article. Others have committed to using their talents to go to foreign countries and be used to train others in the use of Bucket Kits.
Chapin Living Waters is grateful for the work of Guidepost magazine. They have made a significant contribution to our work by doing what they do best, telling the stories of positive people making a difference! Thank you Guidepost!
February 2004
Pray for Chapin Living Waters
Almost daily, we are receiving requests from organizations around the world that want to help poor people to be able to grow vegetables during their dry seasons.
Please pray that we will have the wisdom, strength, and resources to meet these needs. THANK YOU!
Spring 2004
Help For All People. Chapin Living Waters was founded as a means to express Christian love to needy people in third world nations through small-scale drip irrigation technology. While much of our effort is directed toward missionaries working among these suffering peoples, Chapin Living Waters stands ready to assist any group, regardless of race, color, or creed. With 1.1 billion people going to bed hungry tonight, we are dedicated to working in partnership with as many organizations as possible.
Excerpt from December 2003 Newsletter:
Christmas is a time to remember, with great joy, all that God had done for us. With the joyful angelic announcement to the shepherds, the world was offered a tangible expression God’s love for all people in the gift of his Son as our savior. When we receive God’s gift of salvation and forgiveness, we receive God’s love. Our joy is sharing the love God has given with others.
Chapin Living Waters exists to provide a means of sharing a bit of God’s love with our brothers and sisters from the countless multitudes struggling with hunger in third world nations. Our vision for 2004 is to spread the joy and bless thousands of people with hope for plenty of fresh vegetables during the dry season!
Present the Bucket Kit Story.
Chapin Living Waters now has a table top Display available on loan for you to be able to present the Bucket Kit Story to your church or organization. It can be sent to you by UPS and returned the same way. You will also receive Literature, a sample Bucket Kit and a Video tape. In this way you can help to raise funds to help people around the world to be able to feed themselves during times of drought. You can contact us by phone or email.
A Christian Organization: Chapin Living Waters seeks to demonstrate Christ’s love by helping needy people. The only way our tiny organization can begin to reach the 1.1 billion who will go to bed hungry tonight is to offer expertise in small scale drip irrigation projects, working in partnership with hundreds of in-country organizations.
How Are Donor Funds Used?
To reach as many people worldwide as possible with our tiny budget, we have taken the following steps:
Office facilities are donated
All board members donate their services and pay their own expenses
Executive Director donates his services
Team traveling to other countries for the organization raise a portion of their expenses
Primary Expenses include:
Bucket Kits for hungry people
Conference for Development Groups
Sample Bucket Kits, videos, and literature sent to needy countries to get projects started
Wages for part-time secretary
Telephone, Internet connection, Web Site
Office supplies, printing, postage
How you can help us
Won't you partner with us in this mission?
Pray for our ministry
Send email to your friends with a link to our website
Present the Bucket Kit story to your organization
Donate for Bucket Kits
Donate for our "sending fund" for travel expenses for our volunteer trainers to needy countries.
You can send a check. Soon we will have an online donation option.
Have you seen our Newsletters?
Return to our Home page
CHAPIN LIVING WATERS is a 501 (c)3 organization. Contributions are fully tax deductible.
368 N. Colorado Avenue, Watertown, NY 13601
PH. 315-788-0891.
email rchapinw@imcnet.net
