Few may know that the Epilepsy SA centre in Boom Street has a 1,26-acre garden on the premises, where residents work and grow fresh produce. The garden is thriving, thanks to their sponsors Shoprite/Checkers for the permaculture training received from FTFA (Food & Trees for Africa).

The garden is fully organic, meaning that they do not use any pesticides, chemicals or artificial fertilisers. Instead, they use natural methods and do their best to mimic mother nature’s ways. Companion planting is an example of this, where plants are grouped together, based on their com- patibility, thus ensuring that soil nutrients are retained and cropping is sustainable. Another ethos of permaculture is to encourage insects and allow them to do their work. Bees are beneficial for pollinating, worms for processing and aerating the soil, and predator insects for eliminating pests that are harmful to the crops.

The veggies are harvested and used in the centre’s kitchen to provide Epilepsy SA’s residents with fresh, nutritious meals daily. Epilepsy shares seeds, seedling and training with The Dome Primary School, the Schonkenville Luncheon Club and The Vredefort/Mokwallo Feeding Scheme projects, so they can grow vegetables for the children and the elderly. Anton Swanepoel from

Tip Top Tuine in Potchefstroom generously repaired and upgraded the irrigation system in the garden and tunnels. The centre can now increase their offering to the Parys community by selling fresh seasonal veggies and seedlings.

The next market day will be at the Checkers centre on Saturday 14 November when you can support Epilepsy SA by buying their vegetables and seedlings.