Self Sustainable Micro Vegetable Farming for Communities and Households

THE PROJECT MANAGER OF A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN ORANGE FARM, SOUTH OF JOHANNESBURG. WITNESSED PARENTS DYING OF AIDS AND THEIR CHILDREN BEING SENT TO OTHER FAMILIES TO BE CARED FOR BY SETTING UP A VEGETABLE GROWING PROGRAMME, HE HELPED THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FEED THESE CHILDREN AND PROVIDE THE PARENTS WITH NOURISHMENT THAT GOT THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET AND CARING FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN AGAIN THESE EXPERIENCES BECAME THE MOTIVATION FOR THE GARDEN OF LIFE PROJECT

WHAT IS THE GARDEN OF LIFE? The Garden of Life is a micro-farming project which focuses on teaching people of all ages, genders and cultures the basic skills of becoming self-sustainable through vegetable farming. This project teaches the skills of raising vegetable crops on a small scale in areas which would be deemed as unsatisfactory for crop development. Through the utilization of a very basic hydroponic type technique, micro farmers can be self sufficient and plant sustainable crops within a period of 8-12 weeks.

FROM TAKING A 2 LITRE COLD DRINK BOTTLE TO A SUSTAINABLE VEGETABLE GARDEN IN 10 WEEKS BY USING 11 EASY STEPS

The Garden of Life has a multi-impact approach. These include: 1.Self sustainability through the planting and harvesting of vegetables for self use and selling. The creation of community based businesses 2.A strong spiritual message related to the Story of Mpho and the Garden of Life, as the little boy placed his faith in God to bring help to his family. 3.Development and encouragement of entrepreneurial skills 4.Environmental conservation through the use of waste plastic bottles, egg trays and newspaper for compost. 5. The story of Mpho and the Garden of Life also supports the integration of the family as a unit. 6.There is also a strong nature conservation message as the story points out the advantages of using your natural surroundings in order to grow organic vegetables.

KIDS HAVEN CHILDRENS HOME SUNSET RANCH GAME FARM PERSONNEL BRENTVALE PRIMARY

50m 40m FENCE GATE CHICKEN RUN AFFORDABLE HOUSE FRUIT TREES CATCHMENT DAM (WATER FROM ROOF AND WASTE WATER) NURSERY/ TOOL SHED SECURITY HEDGE (THORN BUSHES) GROW SQUARES PLANTED IN WEEK 1PLANTED IN WEEK 2PLANTED IN WEEK 3 PLANTED IN WEEK 4PLANTED IN WEEK 5PLANTED IN WEEK 6PLANTED IN WEEK 7 PLANTED IN WEEK 8PLANTED IN WEEK 9 PLANTED IN WEEK 10PLANTED IN WEEK 11PLANTED IN WEEK 12

COMMUNITY STORE EMPLOYEES LOCAL SPAR CLIENTS COMMUNITY BASED VEGETABLE GROWERS COMMUNITY BASED MICRO CO-OP IBO (INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY OWNER – INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANISATION) TRAINED IN GARDEN OF LIFE MICRO VEGETABLE FARMING PROGRAMME, LIFE SKILLS & BUSINESS SKILLS MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME INDEPENDENT SUPPLIER AGREEMENT – PROVIDES STORE WITH ORGANIC VEGETABLES. BUYS SEEDS FROM STORE. COLLECTS FARMING MATERIALS 1.TRAINED IN GOL, BUSINESS SKILLS & LIFE SKILLS 2.PURCHASES SEEDS FROM LOCAL. STORE 3.GROWS SEEDLINGS. 4.TRAINS INDEPENDENT GROWERS 5.SUPPLIES IBO VEGETABLE GROWERS WITH SEEDLING PLANTS 6.QUALITY CONTROL OF GROWING PROGRAMME 7.SUPPLIES LOCAL STORE WITH VEGETABLES AS PER REQUIREMENT AND ORDER 8.OTHER BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES E.G. CHICKENS COMMUNITY BASED MICRO CO-OP IBO (INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY OWNER – INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANISATION) PROVIDES SEEDLINGS SUPPLIES GROWN VEGETABLES – 50% 0F CROP PLASTIC COOLDRINK BOTTLES, EGG TRAYS, NEWS PAPERS FOR GOL, SEEDLING GROWING AND COMPOST LOCAL STORE

CHANGING LIVESBUILDING BETTER FUTURES