Beans Means Brains is a project run by Sustainable Communities Network (UK) Charity No. 1109945
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A school lunch programme to improve the education, health and life chances of Ugandan children
With no gas or electricity available, firewood remains the main fuel used for cooking. Deforestation and the resulting soil erosion are problems in the area, as is the proliferation of fast-growing Eucalyptus trees. These provide a good source of income and firewood but strip the soil of many nutrients and make it useless for growing other crops. We are keen to minimise these environmental impacts whilst providing lunch.
We have built four fuel efficient stoves in the kitchen. These use around one third less firewood than a traditional open, “three stone” fire; a significant environmental and financial saving.
They work by containing the fire in an insulated brick enclosure with tight fitting spaces for the saucepans and an internal flue which means that the heat travelling from the fire to the chimney heats a second pan on the way.
They also take the smoke outside the kitchen - improving the working environment too.
We considered solar cooking, but there is not enough sun. This part of Uganda has a climate which, at times, is not unlike a British summer!!
Sustainability - cooking
Stove Building workshop
A part-completed stove showing the two pots in place.
These stoves are cleaner, safer and use up to one third less firewood than traditional open fires.