Linden gardens will still bloom
LINDEN – Voluntary gardener and community servant Roy Carlsson will after two years, leave the gardens in the hands of another.
Who is responsible for taking care of roadside gardens? In Linden, it’s Roy Carlsson, of his own accord.
Carlsson (62), encouraged by his church two years ago, headed the Scratch Initiative, the social arm of the Akker Christian Church, in Linden where he was tasked to maintain and grow gardens in the leafy suburb streets.
Carlsson, who held managerial positions in Mechanical and Civil Engineering for many years, was not too keen at first, but eventually became excited by the idea.
After being supplied with a bakkie, Carlsson immediately took to the streets.
“I prayed over where the gardens would be and asked that it be blessed by God, ” he said.
Two years later he became known by the locals as Scratch, the friendly and kind man who keeps Linden’s Central Business District gardens in pristine condition.
But Carlsson, who was born in Zimbabwe and later moved to KwaZulu-Natal, and his wife Diane will soon relocate to Port Elizabeth to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren.
“I have created a platform for the next person to continue with the initiative.
“It has been a privilege for me to find myself through this initiative. I am very grateful for the supportive community and my wife for always encouraging me,” he said.
Carlsson had been responsible for maintaining various gardens. From donated plants, he said he received plants worth R25 000 once, to voluntary co-gardeners and landscapers, the greenery alongside the busy street has lit up the surrounding buildings and brought happiness to the people walking past it.
“And one day I would love to see someone else take it over and see beautiful flowers lining the streets of Linden.”
Playing in the garden with his grandchildren reminded Carlsson about the influence nature has on people. He said, “There is just something that comes alive”.
Carlsson, who said he has a passion for community, worked with City Parks and the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to keep the initiative alive.
“I believe that if you want to do something, involve the authorities. City Parks and JRA were more than happy to help me”.
Even though he is not a qualified horticulturist, Carlsson applied designs to the gardens.
“I love being creative,” he said.
Agreeing with Carlsson’s sentiment, residents of Linden came out on full support, donating what they could. During the Pikitup strike, Carlsson and volunteers ensured that the trash was taken away.
“By asking: how can we do this together, the Scratch initiative also collected 2000 bags of dropped litter a year,” he said.
Now he bids farewell to all who supported him and wishes to remind residents that changes start with each person doing something small.
“Eventually, it will grow, like the Scratch initiative did.”
Carlsson recently received an award from previous ward councillor, Bruce Herbert for his service to the community.
“The initiative is not over, it is just beginning. This is part of the growth and the development in our cities”.
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