New phase for Morningside community garden

WORK has started again on a permaculture garden and Sutton Park Pool in Morningside.

Talking about the project, ward councillor Ernest Smith said the garden started as a community initiative in 2013 with former councillor Martin Meyer, Sean Kuryszczuk, and Emeric Gauthier.

The initial spot for the community garden was in Percy Osborn Road, commonly known as “Devils Dip”, however efforts around this were thwarted due to consistent illegal dumping in the area.

In 2016 a community project in the small open space opposite Zack’s Restuarant in Windermere Centre was started in order to improve the area and uplift the overall feel of the area, which is still there today.

The Sutton Park Permaculture Garden was the brain child of officials who work at the pool, the community and local eco enthusiasts who saw the larger picture of how backyard gardens can contribute to long term sustainability of the area.

Smith said: “Unfortunately, the garden became dormant when a few members left due to personal reasons which is why now myself, alongside members of the community, have decided to reignite the flame of this project to not only create an awareness for the environment but to also create a harmony where humanity can co-exist with nature.”

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Delwyn Pillay, who is a volunteer with Greenpeace Africa and is passionate about the environment, said when the project was started, this area at the entrance of the pool was just a grassed space.

“We did a permaculture workshop on site last year, however there have been ups and downs since. We now have different community members and the ward councillor who are interested in getting involved in this new phase at the garden. Ernest has come in with new ideas and has been very helpful, and it is crucial to have the buy in from him,” he said.

The other part of this project is aimed at helping indigent families in the area during difficult times such as the Covid-19 pandemic where people are faced with unemployment and ultimately are struggling to put food on the table.

“These types of initiatives help people redirect their energies into something positive which has a far-ranging impact for the overall community instead of having people commit their energy to illicit and nefarious activities. The overall aim for this is to take this knowledge and disseminate it at a grass roots level in order to allow economic sustainability, self-education and environmental harmony,” said Smith.

Delwyn said plants which were included in the garden were hardy, indigenous, those that grew fast and didn’t need too much water.

He said previously they had planted sweet potatoes in the garden, which was an example of a crop where the whole plant could be utilised.

“Ultimately, there are a many facets to this community initiative which ultimately empower people and which I look forward to fostering, alongside organisations who share the same goal,” said Smith.

If the public is interested in getting involved, or if anyone has pallets to donate for raised beds and herb planting, contact Councillor Smith on 079 214 0020 or ward27@ethekwini.org.

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At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.

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