Residents united on October 17 to help restore the gardens at Strubens Valley Library through a community initiative that attracted more donations than organisers anticipated.

The Donate a Plant initiative, organised by the Little Falls and Upper Strubensvalley Community Association (LIFCO), invited residents to contribute plants, cuttings and rooted offshoots from their own gardens rather than buying new ones.

LIFCO representative Gerda Oberholzer said the project aimed to give residents a simple way to improve a shared community space while encouraging a stronger sense of neighbourhood.

“We wanted to give residents a simple, meaningful way to improve a shared community space,” Oberholzer said. “Our vision is to create a village where neighbours know one another, contribute and care for their surroundings.”

The donated plants were used to refresh garden beds, fill bare spaces and introduce colour and variety. The response was so generous that residents also helped source additional compost, and a follow-up planting day was arranged for October 20.

Oberholzer said the willingness of residents to contribute demonstrated what could be achieved through collective effort.

“When residents realised that we needed more compost, they went out and bought some for the project,” she said, adding that contributions could take the form of plants, gardening knowledge or time.

The initiative also saw support from a local real estate franchise, Golden Tiger Realtors, which contributed towards the cost of cleaning up and preparing the garden for planting.

Luvash Callakoppen, who runs the franchise and lives and works in neighbouring Little Falls, said the library was important to her family and the wider community.

“My kids use the library, but what drove my decision was when I found out that our elderly also use the library for their Silver Circle and Book Club,” she said. “I want them to be in a place of serenity and peace, and for our kids to learn to appreciate their local library.”

Callakoppen said her involvement grew after attending the launch of the elderly book club, where she sponsored biscuits for tea and coffee. She subsequently discussed the garden project with Oberholzer and LIFCO deputy chairperson Hélène de Villiers.

De Villiers also assisted with the planting and guided the gardening team on the day while the business distributed bottled water and cut oranges to volunteers. The traffic circle near the library was also repainted.

LIFCO has also approached Andrew Hankey, specialist horticulturist and assistant curator at Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden, who offered to help arrange horticultural guidance for the garden’s continued development.

Oberholzer said an attractive, well-maintained garden could make the library more welcoming to readers, families, older residents and people attending community activities.

Callakoppen said the project demonstrated the importance of local businesses supporting initiatives that benefit the communities in which they operate.

“Our businesses are rooted in this community, and it is our responsibility to contribute to its growth and well-being,” she said.

She added that community improvement was about more than financial contributions, but also about residents working together and taking responsibility for their surroundings.

Oberholzer encouraged residents who would still like to contribute plants, skills or gardening time to contact her on 082 655 9570.

“Share a plant. Grow a garden. Build a village,” she said.