Community food producers empowered by Amangwe

RECOGNISING the importance of a diet that includes fresh vegetables, one of Amangwe Village’s many areas of service delivery is educating communities on organic food gardening.

Thanks to Amangwe Village’s expertise and funding from the uThungulu Community Foundation, 40 community members from Fuyeni, Slovo and Amangwe are now fully trained.

The five-day course covered many subjects, including soil types, minerals and their function in plants, inter-cropping, manure types, pest control, nutrition and growing herbs.

The final day was spent on HIV/Aids awareness and the use of medicinal herbs and plants in treating minor ailments.

Each participant received a gardening starter kit, which included a watering can, rake, hand spade, hand fork and seedlings.

Each person could start their own organic garden at home, but many decided to start community gardens at schools, clinics or churches.

The biggest factor negatively influencing community gardens is the drought and a lack of water availability.

Many community members must walk long distances to collect water.

‘The vegetable tunnels donated last year to Amangwe Village by Coca Cola Bottling SA had a positive impact on the produce, and the seedlings and plants are more protected against the severe weather conditions,’ said Amangwe Village Manager, Erna Steynberg.

Amangwe’s own organic food garden supplies fresh vegetables to the 40 children at Amangwe’s crèche, who each receive two balanced meals every day.

Any surplus vegetables are distributed among patients or rural crèches within the local community.

‘It is important for individuals to have access to fresh vegetables and fruit, to build their immune systems and fight diseases, but more importantly for children who are vulnerable when it comes to diseases.’

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