SEEDS of hope and communal development were planted recently as Bluff youth were exposed to the benefits of leaping into sustainable agriculture at the launch of the Dutch Club Gardens.
The event was held under the theme of ‘A Year of Giving’ where Bluff grannies passed the baton in the form of agricultural skills to the youth to teach them how to grow their own food. Through this end, less fortunate families were empowered against food insecurity.
“I met the two grannies, Thandi Mazongolo and Beauty Makhonjwa, in church. They began farming at the Dutch Club Gardens a long time ago on a subsistent scale with their own resources. They are committed to doing the Lord’s work through using the goodness of soil to help feed those in need.
Together, we have already started helping to feed disadvantaged families from food grown at these gardens. We have now taken it a step further by encouraging the community to come and learn how to farm and grow their own food both at the gardens as well as their own homes. The goal is to make this a sustainable garden project for all. This is why we are targeting the children because they are our hope for the future and success of this project,” said event organiser Liziwe Mkhulisi.
Community volunteer and Bluff resident Pam Freeman, has supported the project from its infancy by helping provide seeds and water. She shared her hopes to see the project grow further and benefit the community on a greater scale.
“I am so proud of all the work that has been done so far. I am also part of an agricultural sector of women who are working on a cooperative to teach farming skills. I am trying to get someone to test our soil so we can embark on a potato farming project where the community will be taught how to farm potatoes as part of the sustainable garden project. It is all about helping and giving back to the community,” said Freeman.
Alsina Karakisi is also a dedicated supporter of the community project. “The Bluff is our home and sadly there is also a lot of poverty here. God said we have to love one another and help those who are less fortunate. If we don’t uplift our community then who will? Things are hard enough in this country. We need to stand together and remember that not everything needs to be commercialised. There are some things, such as this project, that we just need to do from humanity,” she said.
