Garden breathes life into Dowerglen High

Dowerglen High School’s dream of having a vegetable garden to sustain its feeding scheme came to fruition with the community’s help.

On November 16, phase one of the garden was completed with the help of volunteers, Xylem Watermark, Grow ZA, Central Build It and Tim Nectar Farms.

With work starting on November 13, they prepared the land on the school’s western side and, where necessary, cleared vegetation.

During the preparation of the area, Central Build It brought extra muscle with earth-moving machinery to assist the project.

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As the project grows, the school hopes to plant fruit trees, do beekeeping and several other initiatives.

Xylem Watermark’s Africa leader and marketing specialist, Nadia Chraibi, said Xylem’s focus is preserving water and providing water solutions.

She said Xylem works with communities to develop long-term and sustainable projects which benefit local and surrounding communities.

By doing this, community members can learn the necessary skills to continue the projects.

Additionally, by working with learners, they are sensitised to sustainability and provided skills they can share with families at home.

Nadia said a Xylem volunteer nominated Dowerglen High.

She said once the garden is established, the school’s learners and staff and Xylem volunteers will help it grow.

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The head of the school, Dr Larry Harmer, said he was over the moon about the project.

“This is a first for Edenvale. It will greatly benefit us and the surrounding area.

“The mini-farm will assist our feeding scheme and form part of the consumer studies learners’ curriculum,” said Harmer.

When Harmer first took the lead at Dowerglen High, he hoped to have a vegetable garden there to help the feeding scheme.

“I never thought we would actually have a fully functioning farm here at the school,” said Harmer.

Craig Kensley from Grow ZA said several farms were established through this initiative in Alex, Hamenskraal and Soweto.

Kensley said that through these projects, community members can learn that you can start sustainable gardens almost anywhere.

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“You just need to have the right custodians and take your time with the project,” he said.

He said although the project’s seeds come from Tim Nectar Farms, in the future, Dowerglen High School will also be used as a seed bank.

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