BROMHOF – In an effort to give back to the community, Randpark Ridge United Church has started its Threshold Project, which promises to impact the community for many years to come.
Utilising the empty land behind the church, a three-stage project will slowly hatch as funds become available. The first stage, implemented on 15, 16 and 18 July, included volunteers from the church, corporate companies and clubs who built three permaculture planting beds, erected shade cloth, made biodegradable seedling cups, and cleared alien vegetation and turned it into mulch.
Permaculture uses nature, such as natural compost, to nourish the plants. According to project manager and the council secretary of the church, Angela Smith, permaculture planting ensures a more nutritious crop, keeps pests and disease down and gives the crop more flavour.
The church plans to sell the vegetables produced back to the community to fund the project, supply a healthy source of food to the community and feed the hungry.
“We didn’t want to get rid of the land so we decided to start a sustainable form of income for the church and a way to give something back to the community,” said Smith.
After all the hard work accomplished by volunteers, the area cleared is now ready for the next stage and the erection of the composting area which the community can contribute to.
Eventually, the church wishes to plant fruit trees, open a facility to teach the community and less fortunate about permaculture and have a craft market on the premises.
The church is looking for sponsors, big and small, so that they can continue their project and hopefully have the funds to progress every six months.
Details: Randpark Ridge United Church, 011 792 2133.
