{"title":"Mauti-Sibomana Farm","description":"\u003cp\u003ePaul Mauti and Estache Sibomana are both African gardeners who met at the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/greaterlansingfoodbank.org\/gardens\/roots-community-garden\"\u003eRoots Community Garden\u003c\/a\u003e in Mason, MI. Paul moved to Michigan from Kenya to support his son who is studing to be a doctor. Estache is refugee from Burundi, who came to Lansing with his wife and 10 kids. He grows produce to feed his family and communities as far away as Pennsylvania.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, they share a love of farming and growing produce from their home. They share with friends and neighbors and support local grocery stores.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/greaterlansingfoodbank.org\/gardens\/roots-community-garden\"\u003eLearn more about Roots Community Garden here.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"copy-of-mnavu-leafy-green-nightshade","title":"Managu (Kenyan Nightshade Leaf)","description":"\u003cp\u003eManagu is an important African vegetable. The leaves are eaten as a cooked green. Technically in the eggplant family, it also produces many small black berries that can be used to replace blueberries in almost any recipe. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMany Africans use it as a way to help treat high blood pressure and diabetes. They soak it in water like a tea and drink the water as a medicine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis particular seed is from Kenya. This vegetable is also known as Mnavu, \u003cspan\u003eMboga Chungu, Isogo, Njama Njama, and Garden Huckleberry.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eManagu was grown for Truelove Seeds by Paul Mauti and Estache Sibomana, Kenyan and Burundi farmers who farm at the Roots Community Garden in Mason, MI. They share a love of growing culturally relevant crops for their communities, especially eggplant.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotos by \u003cspan\u003eGreater Lansing Food Bank Garden Project.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30-45\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 300\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan\u003e69%\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (total viability: 73%) on 05\/28\/2025 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e(\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/pages\/faq\/#seedviability\" title=\"What is the difference between germination rate and total viability?\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eread more about viability\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eManagu can be direct seeded or transplanted.  Germinates in 5-7 days.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe recommend sowing them indoors to get a head start on the season in cooler climates. Sow seeds ¼\" deep 3-4 weeks before the last frost, and transplant 2-3' apart in the field when soil is warm after frost. That said, our Cameroonian grower friends in Texas and Oregon sow them directly in the soil in a \"nursery,\" mixing them lightly into the soil, sown very close together, and then transplanting them well-spaced into the garden when they've reached 2\" tall. They will grow bushy and sprawling. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCan be harvested 30 days after transplanting. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHarvest the berries when fully ripe, dark, and plump. Squish out the seeds, clean them off, and dry them for two weeks in a well-ventilated place away from direct sunlight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOr dry the ripe fruit, use your hands to break apart the dried fruit, and separate the seeds.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOr place in a blender with lots of water. Set mixture aside. Seeds will sink. Separate seeds and dry thoroughly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mauti-Sibomana Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44793616597230,"sku":"GRN-012","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/files\/2023purpleeggplantGardenHuckleberryBakerCreekSeedsJanetHendonAirportGardenAugust_1.jpg?v=1709757327"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/collections\/1000008017.jpg?v=1709758240","url":"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/collections\/mauti-sibomana-farm.oembed","provider":"Truelove Seeds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}