New tools for local food garden

Bez Valley’s Siyakhana Food Garden recently welcomed a donation of 90 hand tools from Lasher.

The donation formed part of the South African tool manufacturer’s 90th birthday celebrations, through which 90 causes received donations from the company.

Lasher is the only local manufacturer of quality hand tools and the company believes that by upholding its mandate to provide “tough reliable tools, guaranteed”, it will continue to grow the economy through job creation and support of industries and entrepreneurs.

Food security and the environment are just two of the areas that were identified as opportunities for Lasher to make meaningful contributions towards growing South Africa.

The hand spades and forks are used in the gardens, as well as by participants in Siyakhana’s food gardening workshops, which aim to equip people with the skills to grow their own vegetables and feed themselves.

Anyone can apply to take part in Siyakhana’s workshops, but the financial contributions from participants who can afford to pay are used towards funding workshops for people who cannot.

Siyakhana started in 2005 on the grounds of a dump site, which has been transformed into one of Johannesburg’s most successful urban food gardens.

The initiative was initially started to supply a wide range of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs to local early childhood development centres and NGOs that provide home-based care to HIV/Aids patients and their dependents.

The garden has continued its mission of providing food to children, youth and adults in need, while expanding to become a city-, region- and nationwide demonstration garden for small-scale enterprise, training and research.

Siyakhana offers a range of SETA-accredited training courses and fosters entrepreneurship through food stalls, box schemes and training.