POLOKWANE – Gladys Gaffane, a qualified horticulturist at Greener Tidings, applies the knowledge that she acquired through her studies to offer clients advice on various topics adhering to plants.
“From anything like beautifying the environment, to food security and knowing about medicinal plants makes me an expert.
She also possesses extensive knowledge on invasive and poisonous plants. “These plants affect our daily lives, so we need more people to get involved and specialise in this field in order to spread knowledge on the dangers these plants possess,” she urges.
Gladys believes in making the best of every opportunity presented to her and that every experience builds a person.
“You must always take the opportunity to learn something,” this the golden rule she lives by.
Her plans for the future, she says, include being part of facilitating programmes to introduce agriculture to all age groups within the next 10 years.
She also sees herself giving advice and doing demonstrations to help people generate income, especially with unemployment rates increasing continuously.
“So by teaching others to propagate plants, growing fruit and vegetables themselves, people can try and lift themselves and others out of poverty.
“The right motivation is needed to see the possibilities and I believe that the more people learn the more opportunities and possibilities there will be.”
Gladys says she would like to see more woman take interest in her field of work as opposed to the past where agriculture was perceived to be labor intensive and only suitable for men.
“Go and study. Receive the necessary training. Know that quality work is required and work to supervise so more women can do this job if not better than men,” she jokes.
She says encouraging young girls to follow this advice and not to submit themselves to what others think, is important.
South Africa is a water stressed country, she emphasises, saying water resources are under pressure from growing populations.
Her advice to everyone is to everyone is that, “we need to save as much as we can, plant compatibility is the best way to go in the garden”.
Gladys likes to encourage people to be cautious about what they put into the environment wherever she goes.
