Amon’s garden grows hope in gardening OR Amon’s garden grows hope
Mr Amon Maluleke is a 43-year-old man whose love for gardening started as a young boy growing up in Venda in the province of Limpopo.
“For me, gardening is part and parcel of my life,” said Mr Amon (the name everyone knows him by). He cited gardening as way in which communities can sustain themselves and ensure that poverty can be kept out.
“My story is similar to that of the former president, Mr Nelson Mandela,” said a giggling Mr Amon. He said he had to run away from home in Venda and came to the city in order to avoid being the future Chief at his village.
He came to the city in the late ’80s and worked for companies in Betrams and Killarney. Even then, his green fingers kept reminding him of who he was.
It was in the year 2010 that he decided to start a garden that could create jobs in the community and also sustain the community. The Bambanani Food and Herb co-operative was formed.
“We supply to stores such as the local Spar and some hawkers come and buy from us as well,” explained Mr Amon. The co-operative also helps charities for a number of initiatives.
Mr Amon plans to study further in order to familiarise himself with all aspects of farming. He has obtained a certificate and a diploma in farming and plans to obtain a Level B National certificate in agriculture. He encouraged communities to make use of open spaces to grow gardens.
“The space where this garden is, used to be an old bowling turf and we have transformed it,” said Mr Amon.
