Enviro Week zooms into North Beach urban farm
A highlight of the eThekwini Enviro Week is a citywide initiative to connect communities with nature and sustainability, celebrate the beauty and diversity of the environment, and to showcase to Durbanites the great efforts that many organisations are investing in their local environment.
GREEN Corridors and the Environmental Education and Public Awareness Network, in partnership with local conservation, environmental, and education organisations, has been inviting the public to participate in the annual eThekwini Enviro Week, which ends on Sunday, June 8.
One urban green project, among others, has been spotlighted during this time. The North Beach-based Sisonke City Farm has provided an accessible green space for underprivileged communities, and the new green zone will further enhance this by creating jobs and fostering a circular economy through composting local food waste, thereby supporting new growth.
Originally a community-led project initiated during the Covid-19 lockdown, Sisonke City Farm has blossomed from humble beginnings into a thriving urban farm. The farm now features enhanced infrastructure, such as a nursery, a water catchment system and an assortment of vegetables, herbs and fruits.
“The Sisonke City Farm green zone does more than green the landscape – it builds community pride and offers hands-on ecological education through a closed-loop system that composts local food waste to support new growth, and directly benefits local hotels and restaurants. This sustainable approach aligns with environmental resilience, bringing lasting value to Durban’s communities,” said Sarah Alsen, founder of the Sisonke Farm.
“This has been a week for everyone, families, schools, civic organisations and businesses,” said Andiswa Dlamini from Green Corridors. “Whether you’re interested in cleaning up beaches or learning to grow food sustainably or getting outdoors, swimming, hiking or gardening, you’ll find something meaningful to be involved in.”
The week has featured a variety of events that enable citizens to experience nature hands-on. There were more than 40 events planned, including beach clean-ups, storytelling sessions, film evenings, guided nature walks, food garden demonstrations, compost-making, educational displays, and community discussions and workshops.
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