Garden sprouts community spirit

Kwa-Thema – Ward 74 committee members received garden tools and netting from a local company on Thursday morning.

A group of men started the project in December after receiving gardening tools from the ward committee member responsible for the environment, Mzonjani Sithole.

After many hours of work on Mothwa Street, the community members involved in the project expressed they needed more equipment, and Plastic Bubbles responded.

“We work very closely with Thulani (Simelane, the ward councillor) and we also see where we can help.

“The netting stops frostbite from damaging the plants during winter.

“This will help to keep the plants healthy,” explained Casandra Mouton, marketing and communications manager at Plastic Bubbles.

An avid gardener herself, Mouton commended the group for the work they have done in just a few months.

“We decided to get them smaller tools because there is less risk of damaging the plants. When you use big tools, you cannot be precise and break the roots, which decreases the longevity of the plant’s life,” she added.

The community garden is slowly becoming a solid point of collaboration.

“The big dream is to convert this whole field into a garden. I know we can achieve it in the next two years.

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“I hope more people from the community will come on board because we need more hands,” explained Mxolisi Majeke, the founder and caretaker of the project.

Excellent Sibanyoni (16) said he will spend many hours during the school holidays helping Majeke with the garden.

“The garden is life. I believe all the years the area was a dumping site made the ground fertile. We learn so much by being here, and soon we will help some of our neighbours with nutritious food,” he said excitedly.

Majeke thanked everyone for contributing to what he believes will be one of the greatest accomplishments of his community.

Ward 74 has another garden on Baduza Street.