Mamelodi Community Agriculture School feeds homeless people and substance abuse victims three times a week.

The Agriculture School was founded in 2023 by Patch Up SA to educate the community on how to plant vegetables and put food on the table.

Kagiso Mahlangu from Patch Up SA said the school’s main aim is to encourage unemployed residents of Mamelodi, including young entrepreneurs, to start their own backyard vegetable gardens and sell the vegetables to earn an income.

“At this moment, the vegetables that we harvest at the school, we cook meals for substance abuse addicts and homeless people in Mamelodi.”

The agricultural school is based at Dr Phayane Men’s Clinic in Mamelodi East, Khutsong Extension, which has enough space.

“We have about 12 community members working at the garden and we still have space [for more].

“We are planting anything from onions, tomatoes, pumpkins, carrots, cabbage and spinach,” said Mahlangu.

The school plans to maintain a consistent food supply and make profits at the same time to keep the agriculture school running.

“We want to turn the school into an accredited agriculture school working with professionals, teaching the community everything they need to know about planting.”

Mahlangu said they also want to introduce school children to agriculture and train them at an early stage.

She added that this is one of their food security projects and helps protect the environment.

Phakedi Tsiane from the agriculture school also encouraged Mamelodi residents to start planting their own food.

“Food is very expensive. If you start your own small backyard garden, you will have food on your table,” Tsiane said.

“The youth need to get involved in food gardening and stop relying on social media because we offer free planting lessons: turning, planting, how to take care of vegetable gardens and when to harvest.

“The backyard food gardens also ensure that no child or family shall sleep on an empty stomach.

“Coming here is better than staying at home doing nothing,” said Tsiane.

Anyone who wishes to know more about food gardening can contact Kagiso Mahlangu on 068 552 7822.

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