Salt Rock verge veggie garden aims to feed and inspire

The heart of a Malawian gardener, who tends to a community vegetable garden he and his employer started, beats with kindness.

Samuel Phili and his employer, Nelfrie Kent, came up with the idea of planting a community vegetable garden on their Scott Lane property verge, possibly one of the shortest roads in Salt Rock.

“I am excited to see our efforts pay off,” said Samuel.

“We have vegetables inside (referring to the property grounds) so why shouldn’t the community?” he said.

Although the vegetables will only be ready in a few months and are intended for the domestic workers of nearby homes, anyone in need can help themselves to either the cabbage or spinach once ready for harvest.

Samuel and Nelfrie started working on the vegetable garden in June and say that they are happy to be able to do something for the domestic workforce of Salt Rock, especially since many people are struggling to put food on their tables given the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nelfrie said that she was tired of hearing people say that they wanted to make a difference in their community but never doing it.

She hopes that through the creation of a community vegetable garden, others will see it and be inspired to do the same.

“People need to have a creative mindset. Be the solution to the problems you see in your community,” said Nelfrie.

She started on the garden when lockdown regulations eased and allowed for hardware stores to reopen.

“We did not go buy booze, instead we opted for vegetable seeds knowing that tougher times lay ahead for many struggling to make ends meet.”

Samuel has taken ‘The Garden of Hope’ under his wing and he considers it his baby.

Inspired by his passion, Nelfrie said that they hope to continue expanding the garden with more variety.

Have you also started a community vegetable garden in your neighbourhood? Post a photo of it to our Facebook page.

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