There were two people who taught Koketso Bereng the value of growing his own vegetables – his grandfather Lucas Bereng, and his late uncle Sipho Bereng.

Since this knowledge was imparted to him at a young age, Koketso, 24, today grows mint, okra, spinach, potatoes, pumpkin and even chili – all in his own backyard.

He said when he was young, he would tend to his family’s garden with his grandfather. It was during this bonding time that he learned a great deal about vegetables and the upkeep of gardens.

One of the most important things I learnt was that a garden not only provides fresh food but it has health benefits. It can also be very therapeutic! By planting a beautiful flower and watch it grow, for example, can lighten up a person’s mood and improve your overall well-being,” Koketso said.

“My grandfather also taught me that harvesting your own vegetables is cheaper than buying food from main-stream markets.”

Koketso said after he acquired additional knowledge about planting, he soon realised that growing food went far beyond just planting seeds and seeing them grow.

“It takes a lot of hard work. You need to be patient with your crops and always tend to them with consistency and care. You need to talk to them,” he added.

He explained further that while certain foods are seasonal, it is important to understand the conditions certain crops prefer so that they can flourish.
I’ve realised this is quite easy but the problem is that we make it more complicated than it actually is,” Koketso said.

He added that potato and spinach are among the easiest crops to produce, and went on to encourage people to plant their own food.

It’s the way to go instead of consuming food products that have additives in them, as we do not always really know what is in them. When you eat the food that your produce, you know exactly what you’re putting into your body,” Kekotso said.