Green fingers come together

Scouts and Rovers from the 1st Greenside Scout Group gathered at Roosevelt Extension Nursery School (Rens) to harvest some of the winter crops and to plant new seeds for spring on 24 September.

The organic community vegetable garden was started in May as a joint effort between the 1st Greenside Scout Group and Rens. The garden provides fresh vegetables for the children at Rens, as well as to the local community at large.

Scouts and Rovers came together in May to assist some of the Rens staff in breaking ground, setting up the beds and planting seeds and seedlings. Some branches from a tree also needed to be removed in order to provide more sunlight for the garden, and some agapanthus needed to be thinned out.

“This has been a great learning experience for everyone involved. Unfortunately some of the plants, such as the cauliflower and carrots, didn’t do so well, as we didn’t dig their beds quite deep enough, but it’s been great to see the plants that did do well, such as the peas, beets, spring onions, radishes and beans,” said 1st Greenside Troop Scouter, Jearóid Harris.

“Community service is a big part of the Scout programme, both for Scouts and Rovers so it has been wonderful to partner with the Roosevelt Extension Nursery School and work together on this project. Rens has been serving the community for 52 years and we prize working together with, not only the Scouts, but businesses and residents in the area,” said Lee-Anne Hodge, administrator at Rens.

The local community is welcome to help themselves to some vegetables, but they are asked to pick only from big, mature plants, and leave some behind for others living in the Roosevelt Park area.

Scouts is for youths aged 11 to 17, and Rovers are for young adults aged 18 to 35.

Details: www.1stgreenside.co.za; www.roosevelt.co.za