Organic food growers sow knowledge

WITH the intention to grow and share food, Creating Eden is inviting the Upper Highway area to their community of food growers. Creating Eden is the brainchild of Ghalema Easton and Tawhid Denton who share the common interest of gardening and food growing.

Upon relocating to New Germany, KwaZulu-Natal, from the Western Cape, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the duo continued with their interest and grew a community that has seen tremendous success as they host seed swaps every two months.

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Explaining the purpose of the community, the duo said Creating Eden is all about growing and sharing food plants and, at the same time, growing communities to share advice, information, experiences and the joy of growing your own organic food.

“Across the world, people are seeing the cost of food increasing daily, and eating good, wholesome food is becoming more and more difficult. We have become used to the supermarket being our pantry, but now, with costs rising and unreliable supplies, that can no longer be taken for granted.

“In times not long past, it was normal for people to have a veggie patch and grow their own vegetables. Now, more than ever, we need to return to that practice and become independent of the supermarkets and big corporations whose food is most often grown on an industrial scale with all kinds of chemicals and additives. It’s not only going to save you money to grow your own, but when you eat out of your own garden, it will be healthier and better for you and your family all around,” they explained.

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Creating Eden follows the motto: ‘From Seeds to Food for All’. This stems from their belief that growing your own food is a wonderful experience, and once you have taken those first steps, and seen your produce go from the garden to the pot, to the plate, it will change your life.

“One of our big missions is to encourage people to harvest their own seed from what they grow. Plant ten of anything and harvest nine for your table, but leave one to go to seed. Harvest the seed when ready, process and store the seed and you will never buy another seed again. It is truly amazing to see the huge variety of seeds offered at our seed swaps, helping to save varieties of plants that are not grown on industrial-sized farms. Home-grown food is tastier and healthier than the commercial varieties, which have been bred for big crops,” they said.

They encourage growers to use simple, low-cost techniques and methods that are organic: “Because growing food needs to be achievable for everyone, however big or small their budget,” said Ghalema.

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Every two months, the community has their own Seed and Plant Swap event at the Roseway Waldorf School near Hillcrest. These events offer free slots for swapping enthusiasts to meet and have available a huge variety of seeds and plants to swap and trade with each other and with visitors.

“These meetings are really exciting events where there is a constant buzz of chatter and sharing of advice and experiences – no matter how experienced or inexperienced [you are], there’s always more to learn and share. In addition to the meetings, we have WhatsApp groups and a Facebook page to encourage growing and sharing and to answer questions,” said Ghalema.

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