The DA launched the first of their pioneering food gardens last Tuesday, April 8, in the Delport informal settlement.
DA Gauteng caucus leader Jack Bloom obtained sponsorship for this food garden as part of the DA’s long-running “Don’t forget the forgotten” campaign, in Gauteng.
The food garden is fenced off and features overhead awnings to protect the fruits and vegetables being grown there.
The vegetables planted for the launch include spinach, cabbage and lettuce.
Food garden expert Themba Mthethwa was present throughout the process of setting up the garden.
“A unique feature of this project was the use of old tyres to grow vegetables in the gardens of individual shacks,” said Mthethwa.
He was on hand at the launch, to demonstrate how to grow vegetables in the tyres.
This is the first of many food garden initiatives that Bloom hopes to establish in informal settlements all over Gauteng.
“I am very pleased to launch the first of what I hope will be one of many food gardens built in informal settlements throughout Gauteng,” he said.
“According to a survey by the Gauteng City Region Observatory, one in five Gauteng residents said they skipped a number of meals over the past year, because there was no money to buy food.
“Thirty-seven per cent of respondents said that they ate far fewer than three meals a day.
“These are very worrying figures, that should concern us all.
“Only 3.6 per cent of Gauteng residents grow their own food, a figure that can be boosted dramatically by household agriculture.
“We need to do more to promote sustainable food gardens, by involving the private sector and people of expertise and goodwill.
“Old tyres are a valuable resource in growing vegetables, as has been demonstrated.
“We need to pay more attention to nutrition in boosting the health of Gauteng residents through a government, business and community partnership.”
