Homestead Helpers for Benoni and the City of Ekurhuleni parks division tackled a community garden on the intersection of Atlas Road and North Rand Road on August 30.
While the work began a day earlier with a small team of helpers removing reeds and overgrown grass, the intersection was a hive of activity on August 30, as the municipality sent out a team of landscapers and grass cutters to spruce up the garden.
They cut the grass, turned the soil, added compost and trimmed some plants, while they also removed litter.
“We are extremely grateful to Ekurhuleni for joining us on Friday morning, in an extremely merry atmosphere, as well as for supplying us with plant boxes that will add to the aesthetics of this main entrance,” said Jacqui Keel from the Helpers.
This project began just before winter when the Helpers, with the support of Heckers Nursery and community members, uncovered a terraced garden structure underneath a pile of litter.
“This is the main entrance welcoming people to Benoni and Boksburg,” Keel said.
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“Built by our forefathers, it was hidden beneath a grassy heap of neglected, overgrown and litter-ridden mess. We planted an oasis of succulents and other hardy plants. Our generous community donated many of the plants to uplift and beautify this major intersection.”
The dryness brought by winter saw the garden lose some plants and its beauty because of a lack of water, but through the help of organisations such as the CPF, Rotary Club of Aurora and Ripple Creek Nursery, it was on its way to recovery.
“We know if we work together, with a common goal we can instil hope into the lives of our community and collectively with other NPOs regain our title of ‘The Jewel of the East’ because Benonians are a rare and phenomenal people.”
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