An initiative launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to tackle food insecurity has expanded from 20 to more than 90 food gardens across four Witzenberg communities, the Perdekraal East Wind Farm confirmed this week.
The Food Garden Project equips schools, families and community facilities with training and resources to grow their own fresh produce, reducing grocery costs and improving access to healthy food.
Ceres Secondary School has integrated its garden into the agricultural curriculum, supplying vegetables to the school’s feeding scheme and hostel, and selling surplus produce to local supermarkets to generate income.
“Through the food garden our learners have gained practical agricultural knowledge and the community benefits as vegetables are donated to food schemes and hostels,” said Mr G Pharo, a teacher at the school.
Economic Development Manager Gwynne-Lee Borcherds said the project is “not only cultivating gardens but also resilience, self-reliance and stronger, healthier communities.”
The gardens are maintained by beneficiaries with training and ongoing support from Ikamvaletu Tunnel Farming. The wind farm donates seedlings and seeds to 50 gardens, while Ikamvaletu supports 43 more.
According to the project partners, the gardens also provide therapeutic benefits by giving participants a sense of purpose, wellbeing and environmental responsibility.
