Teaching kids how to develop green fingers

Surviving in modern times, people are opting to shift away from how they previously lived, with a specific focus on ‘off the grid’ living.

The North Coast is no exception to this with solar panels, JoJo tanks and home-grown vegetables becoming a regular occurrence.

But the digital age is getting in the way of our children possibly adopting this very same approach, shares local businessman Daniel van Wyngaardt who heads up the River’s Edge Garden Centre at Foxhill, Salt Rock.

River’s Edge will be partnering with The Beast Foundation, a non-profit started by South African rugby player and Salt Rock local, Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira, aimed at educating children across Africa, starting with helping children at Sizani Primary School run vegetable garden.

This is just the start, said Daniel, who said there are ways to ensure that vegetable gardens remain sustainable and free of pests without the use of harsh chemicals and pesticides – something he will be teaching to more children as part of a project launched at the garden centre.

“The goal is to teach future generations how to be self-sustainable. Parents will be able to join in on the fun with their kids while we teach them how to grow their own vegetables and even make things such as bird feeders.”

The entire process is also to teach children how to not only do things themselves, but open the door for them to the entrepreneurial market. They hope to introduce the same project at other rural schools going forward.

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