Everyday we consume and use food, often never knowing exactly what we are eating or how it arrived on our plate.
The departments of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development together with other relevant departments held a food awareness event.

Despite the windy weather on Thursday, September 18 the Wembezi community came out to park one to equip themselves with handy tips and skills concerning agriculture. The aim of the event was to teach the community how to deal with hunger and know the importance of food and agriculture. Amongst the many topics addressed was organic farming.

Huyton Watts from the Al-Imdaad Foundation, originally from Scotland, shared with attendants that it is possible to farm organically, with out the use of any chemicals or fertilizers. What Mr Watts considers a gift to mankind is water and cow dung. “That is all you need to get a garden going in your very own backyard,” said Mr Watts whilst encouraging people to grow gardens. He believes there is a big gap between knowledge about food during the time of our ancestors and the children of today.

“When I walked in I did not see people by the clothes they wore but I saw the people’s hands; their hands have great knowledge about food and the soil,” said Mr Watts. ” At the Al-Imdaad Foundation we don’t just give people food but we teach them how to feed themselves,” he added. Mrs Mchunu a Dietician from the Health Department promoted healthy eating habits.

To end the event 10 community gardens within Wembezi each received a wheelbarrow, a garden sprayer and a sack of quality gardening seeds, while having their produce on sale to the community.
Mrs SZ Ngcobo, organiser of the event, would like to thank all the guest speakers and the attendants for making the day a successful one.