The Craigpark resident saved what she could of her flowering plants, and once the trenches had been filled in, set about replanting her pavement with vegetables.
Posted with signs encouraging passers-by to help themselves, her garden has helped fill hungry mouths with tomatoes, spinach, and morogo.
“When I heard my pretty garden would be dug up, I thought I would turn this lemon into lemonade. I had heard about pavement vegetable gardens, and it made sense to me, so I thought I’d give it a try,” said Klette.
At one of her garden club meetings, she met a woman who had started a similar project.
“We chatted about our pavement gardens, and I decided to try her suggestion of (using) signs encouraging people to help themselves but to leave something for their brothers and sisters. The signs work – I don’t police or control the garden,” she said.
Klette devoted hours to getting the right mix of soil, exploring companion-planting with nasturtium and calendula as an alternative to insecticide, and the use of tyres and teepees to protect the soil and plants.
“I’m not trying to feed the nation, because I can’t do that. This has created a good feeling in people, and I enjoy interacting with passers-by, hearing their stories, and meeting them on a more human level,” she said.
News of Klette’s garden has begun to spread, and she has found herself networking with people from around the world because of it.
“I run a guest house, and some of the foreign visitors have been really interested in the concept. They said they would try implement it in their home countries. Some of my friends said it has also inspired them. I’ve also been in contact with people overseas about it through my Facebook page. I love how this has inspired people,” said Klette.
Details: 011-880-0205; info@amanziguesthouse.co.za
