Community Garden

A community garden has been established at the Emkhuzweni Community Partnership Center (ECPC) to help relieve the extra burden that has been placed on child-run families brought on by drought and the lack of facilities needed for the production of food to sustain self-sufficiency.  Unfortunately, food aid is sporadic and often non-existent in this region. 

There are at least 40 families (more by the time you read this) within a 5km radius of the ECPC that have been orphaned.  These families are struggling to survive alone or are dependent on married siblings or extended families to help them.  In many cases, the extended families do not have sufficient means to provide for their orphaned siblings, nieces, nephews or grandchildren.

The desire to grow food exists, however there are many obstacles that prevent them from rendering a successful production of vegetables at home.  Fencing, which is expensive and beyond the means of most, is definitely needed  to keep out animals that want to graze in the garden.  Water needed to sustain the crops is often far away, and rainfall is sporadic or non-existent.  Seed and fertilizer are costly.  Again, out of the reach of many.

Our solution was to create a community garden, a fenced and secure area, at the ECPC where traditional drought-resistant crops can be grown by the affected families on plots assigned to them within the Center.  Each family will keep 90% of what they grow.  The remaining 10% will be kept at the Center to be held in reserve for emergencies.

Our new irrigation system has enabled us to grow nutritious vegetables and fruit.  Crops that have been successfully grown at ECPC include: corn, cassava, cowpeas, jugo beans, spinach and tomatoes.  We are also trying to grow peanuts, sweet potatoes, bananas, mangos, papaya, and macadamia nuts.   The battle is to find ways to improve the condition of the soil.

Partnership and coordination is being established with the Ministry of Agriculture Field Officer based at the Mayiwane RDA.  This person will train the families on how to successfully grow and maintain their crops.  Each family's plot will also be monitored and evaluated.

Satellite gardens are being placed closer to the homesteads of orphaned children.   Access to nearby water  and a lot of hard work by the people of these communities will help them become more self sufficient.  In order for the gardens to succeed we also need the materials necessary for fencing.  Contributions are vital to the success of this program.