GEORGE NEWS - The George Municipality's Food Garden Project continues to grow and 680 gardens have been established since its revitalisation at the end of last year.
Communities across the municipal area had embraced the project as word of it spread, said municipal spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose.
The programme kicked off with 80 gardens in November last year, expanded to 105 gardens by the end of January, 265 by the end of the summer planting season and now stands at 680 (June).
"We are excited about the project's potential as a consistent food source and income generator and are deeply inspired by the communities' sense of pride in bringing food to the table to their own homes and those of neighbours," said Edwards-Klose.
Motivated by this, the municipality's Economic Development Unit handed the project over to the Community Development section so that the food gardens can be integrated with other social projects such as municipal soup kitchens and crèches.
"Economic Development will, however, continue to provide support to gardeners that may be able to extend their food production beyond subsistence," said Edwards-Klose.
"Among our most inspiring stories is Thembalethu resident Asanda Toyise, who has had such an abundant crop of spinach and beetroot this winter he could sell the excess to visitors at the local clinic."
Mentorship
The project continues to be run by coordinators who identify possible gardeners in communities and oversee the establishment of small vegetable gardens in their backyards.
The coordinators guide the process from soil preparation to harvest and visit regularly to mentor and check on their needs and progress. The aim is that the gardens will become sustainable throughout the year, in every season, and that gardeners will ultimately not only put food on the tables of their own families but also have extra to share, sell or barter with.
Jan Kiewiets in his vegetable garden in Conville.
Seeds
George Municipality continues to distribute seeds to participating gardeners in Blanco, Touwsranten, Rosemoor, Thembalethu, Rosedale, Conville, Borcherds, Geelhoutboom, Waboomskraal, Haarlem, Uniondale and Pacaltsdorp.
Each garden is expected to yield a crop to feed five to 10 people, depending on a range of factors such as garden size and growing conditions.
"The municipality welcomes involvement and support from businesses, NGOs and individuals who can assist in the long-term sustainability of the project," said Edwards-Klose. "Ongoing needs include seeds, compost, pesticides, gardening tools and rainwater tanks. We believe the Food Gardens Project can become a life-changing beacon of hope."
Persons in vulnerable communities who are interested in starting food gardens can contact the project coordinators, Amy Kearns 044 801 9173 (until 30 June) or Sophie Fanelo 044 802 2000 (from 1 July).
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