A garden club in Umgababa, Siyaphambili Womens Club has become a source of friendship, fellowship and mentorship for 11 female farmers.
Each of the ladies tend to their own dedicated space on the land, which is about 2.5 hectares in total. There they grow vegetables which they use to feed their families and sell to the local community to earn a living.
As part of Shoprite’s ongoing efforts to provide hunger relief to communities in need, the retailer partnered with the ladies last year, and assisted them with gardening resources including gardening tools, seedlings, seeds and compost.
As access to water in the area is a challenge, Shoprite is also putting in a water harvesting system.
Nonhlanhla Mkhize, one of the co-founders said; “Shoprite has given us hope. If an organisation as big as them show an interest in what we are doing it proves that they believe in what we are doing. We now all have this belief that if we continue working hard, we can go far.”
She said that the training has helped them to understand techniques such as intercropping and raised beds.
“We have learnt, for example, that planting cabbage and onions alongside each other is beneficial because the onion acts as an insect repellent, keeping the bugs away from the cabbage. It has taught us to use what nature is giving us, as well as what we have at our disposal,” says Mkhize.
The ladies, who range in age from 40 to over 70 years old and are all grandmothers, learn from each other.
“The garden has become part of our lives. It is more than just a source of income. The gogos of the group often give us advice and teach us about things such as herbs and natural medicine. Together we also share friendship and jokes. It is beautiful,” Mkhize explains.
The members of the club have all experienced the benefits of small-scale farming first-hand.
“Having a food garden provides food security for us, our families and the community. I love that I can give visiting family members something I have grown for Umphakho (a departure gift) when they leave. Growing our own vegetables is really the way to go,” continues Mkhize.
Shoprite also donated ‘garden in a bucket’ starter kits to neighbouring community members to address food insecurity at a household level. The kits contain essential garden resources – including seedlings, garden tools, organic fertiliser and a training manual to equip community members to start their own household food gardens.