The Harvest of Hope community garden was a hive of activity as residents, businesses and community organisations came together to spend their 67 minutes for Mandela Day planting thousands of vegetable seedlings on July 17 and 18.

The project, based in the Willowbrook, Ruimsig, Amorosa and Poortview (WRAP) area, is a community food garden that aims to grow fresh vegetables for schools, charities and organisations supporting vulnerable people. It is a joint initiative between the WRAP Residents Association, Toolbox Empowerment Hub, CFAO Mobility Toyota Clearwater and several other local businesses and community organisations working together to improve food security.

Toolbox manager Andrew Holdsworth said the Mandela Day planting weekend marked an important milestone for the project.

He said over 8 000 seedlings were planted over the two days.

Holdsworth said the project is driven by community involvement and encouraged residents to continue supporting it.

Members of CFAO Mobility Toyota Clearwater took part in the planting on Friday. They were joined on Saturday by volunteers from organisations including the Little Falls and Strubens Valley Residential Community Association (LIFCO), Golden Tiger Realtors, learners from Eagle House High School and residents.

LIFCO deputy chairperson Hélène de Villiers said the garden will become an important resource for local charities.
“LIFCO is part of this initiative because it’s going to be a community garden where food can be given to the different charities,” she said.

“By helping ourselves, we are not going to be asking residents for money to support all these different institutions and charities that require food,” Hélène added.

She said the support received from local businesses has been key to getting the project off the ground.

“With Nissan, Toyota, Renault and JMC’s support with watering this garden, we think this is going to be a great success, and we look forward to seeing it in a couple of months when it’s already grown,” Hélène explained.

For resident Junior Sofunwa, the event was an opportunity to give back while spending time with family.

“I wasn’t planning on being here today, but I think this is a really great thing. I’m grateful to be here with my grandmother and enjoy the moment with her planting plants,” he said.

The Harvest of Hope project has been more than two years in the making. Following months of clearing the land and preparing the soil, planting is now well underway, with some vegetables already beginning to grow.

Organisers hope the garden will become a sustainable source of fresh produce for local beneficiaries and a lasting example of what can be achieved when a community works together.