Patients at the Thoko Mngoma Clinic in Marlboro will soon be nourished from a new crop of vegetables that are sprouting in the clinic garden.
The garden which is maintained by Petrus Leshaba has been aiding in nursing TB and HIV/Aids patients back to health by complementing their medical treatment with fresh vegetables.
Leshaba’s love for gardening has seen him grow crops all year round with some being given to the local community whenever there is a surplus. He is now growing Chinese cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, onions and beans.
Support for the garden is provided by the Department of Agriculture and Food and Trees for Africa.
Leshaba is from Jane Furse in Limpopo and grew up in an environment that thrives on agricultural work. He said it had been a passion of his since childhood and urged residents of Alexandra and Marlboro to use agriculture to reduce their dependency on buying food from supermarkets.
“The problem is that urban people regard agriculture as a menial and degrading job, yet it’s the basis of survival,” he said. “It’s a skill that can be acquired by anyone, but requires passion, commitment and patience as some crops take long to mature.”
The clinic has also received a donation of garden equipment from Creative Business Solutions to help Leshaba improve his productivity. The company is contracted by the city councils’s Department of Social Development to help residents and community organisations establish agricultural initiatives for their food security.
Leshaba said he was also looking for help from the company to operate a gardening co-operative where he can pass on his agricultural skills to youths.
Details: Petrus Leshaba: 079 012 6981
