Vegetable Garden |
Five residents of
France location in Pietermaritzburg have turned a dump site into a
vegetable garden, selling and donating vegetables to the community .
Mduduzi Hlongwane,
51, Nkosingiphile Chule, 22, Khethiwe Zulu, 29, Xolile Chule, 23 and
Sindisile Stephanis, 24, are the brains behind the garden, which has
become a much-needed source of food for elderly residents.
Hlongwane said the
initiative was prompted by the high rate of unemployment and poverty in
the area, and the increasing use of drugs by young people.
He said he had
started the garden in February, with the four others. They had raised
R200 for seeds and manure. "I don't have much experience in agriculture
but I was prepared to share the little knowledge I have."
They grow spinach, onions, tomatoes, carrot, beetroot and lettuce.
"Little did we know
that the garden would benefit the community. Some buy, but we donate
most of our veggies to the needy without money. We can't make them pay
R10 for spinach which they don't have. The elderly come to us or send
children to ask and we can't say no. You can't refuse when a person is
asking for food."
He said the group
had made a small dam and he had spent R1,500 of his savings on a pump to
water the vegetables. "No one taught us. It was through brainstorming
that we came up with that idea," said Hlongwane.
"To us this is not
just a garden anymore. It has become more of an agricultural course. We
have learnt a lot and we are still learning," said Nkosingiphile.
Nkosingiphile said
he had passed matric but his parents did not have money for further
education and he had no job. Like other young people in the area he
would "wake up and do nothing".
"Since the
involvement in the garden, it is different. We all meet here at 7am and
start working and it feels different. Bab' Hlongwane has taught us a lot
and our mindset is different. We want to continue with this until we
reach a level where we deliver our vegetables to hospitals and prisons,"
said Nkosingiphile.
Hlongwane said he
hoped to raise more money for seeds, sprays, another pump and fencing.
"Our garden is not fenced and therefore it is exposed to cows and goats
eating our vegetables."
Lina Mbhele, 60,
who had come for two bunches of spinach, said she was a regular at the
garden. She hoped other young people would join the initiative. "We are
thankful. One day when I have money I will buy and support them, instead
of just asking for free," said Mbhele.
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