Update: Bedfordview Urban farming project increases to 120 members
"The first lockdown veggies have been harvested and exchanged between members, sparking a lot of interest and motivating members to increase the amount of growing space they had already allocated and committed to the urban farm,"
The Bedfordview urban farm project has increased to over 120 members who have been growing vegetables and herbs on their residential properties.
The NEWS reported in the July 17 edition in the article ‘Bedfordview unites to ensure food security’ which stated community members and schools, along with Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys, began an urban farming project as a result of the lockdown.
“The first lockdown veggies have been harvested and exchanged between members, sparking a lot of interest and motivating members to increase the amount of growing space they had already allocated and committed to the urban farm,” said Janine Carstensen, project leader.
Janine said The FoodXchange donated a substantial portion of land for the establishment of a charity garden at the Italian Club Bedfordview (ICJ).
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“The ICJ has thrown its full support into the project and is eagerly awaiting the planting of our first seedlings and the upcoming harvests,” she said.
The charity garden is seeking sponsorship per metre squared.
“Eighty per cent of all sponsored food grown in the charity garden will be go towards the Bedfordview Care Package System at no additional cost.”Janine said families and friends are clubbing together to plant allotment gardens of 30m² each with the intention of adding to the charity garden programme, while at the same time securing local organically grown, farm-to-table produce for their own use.
The Bedfordview Primary School has also donated, at no cost, 3 000m² to the project for the establishment of a second charity garden at ICJ.
“As we receive the per square meter sponsorships and donations of garden establishment items, such as compost and netting, we add more beds to the charity gardens,” said Janine.
She said this way the charity gardens will be expanded 1m² at a time.
“The speed at which we do so and the extent and number of gardens will be dependent upon the generosity and monthly sponsorships and donations we receive to grow the urban farming network and charity gardens,” said Janine.
Humphreys expressed her support for project.
“We are excited about our progress and the addition to the residential urban gardeners brings us closer to our objectives of creating projects to enhance the sustainability of the food and care parcel outreach undertaken by Bedfordview since April,” said Humphreys.
Humphreys added the project is now even more in need, as the impact of the lockdown and dire need for support in the community escalates daily.
To sponsor, donate or reserve a part of the harvest or a space in the gardens, contact Janine on admin@foodXchange.africa or 074 235 2898.
