New vegetable garden brings healing and growth to Guild Cottage girls
At Guild Cottage in Parktown West, a new vegetable garden is giving girls who have faced hardship a chance to grow, heal and find hope again.
In a quiet corner of Parktown West, the sound of soil being turned and seedlings placed gently into the ground marked a new beginning for Guild Cottage.
The home, which provides care for girls who are Wards of the Court after suffering abuse, is facing one of its most difficult financial periods. Yet even in challenging times, hope is finding a way to grow.
On October 29, the first seedlings for Guild Cottage’s new vegetable garden were planted early in the morning. The planting was led by Derek Cheesman and Nico Visser from the Harvest of Hope project, working side by side with Emily Molefe, a dedicated child and youth care worker at the home.
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Together, they laid the groundwork for what promises to be a sustainable source of nourishment and renewal for the girls and staff.
This heartfelt initiative comes through a partnership between St Columba’s Kindness Kitchen and Andrew Murray NG Church’s Harvest of Hope project, two community groups joining forces to help Guild Cottage grow its own fresh produce, restore dignity, and strengthen resilience.
Generous donations from Furstenberg supplied fertiliser and topsoil, helping the garden thrive. The first crops planted included tomato and spinach seedlings, with spring onions and chillies to follow. Each tomato plot is expected to yield five to 10 tomatoes, ensuring a steady supply of fresh produce for the home’s kitchen.
Tasneem Bhula from Guild Cottage expressed her pride in the project, saying, “I am extremely proud of the dedication and effort being put into this project by our child and youth care worker, Emily Molefe.
The vegetable garden they’ve cultivated is more than just a source of nourishment; it stands as a powerful symbol of hope and resilience during this challenging time for the Guild. Their commitment reflects the spirit of growth and healing that we all strive for.”
For Cheesman, the planting marks more than just the start of a garden. “Today’s planting marks the next step in the growth of this project, which started with a workshop run by Tony Bensusan at Victoria Yards,” he said. “Emily has already put into practice the principles set out by Bensusan, along with her wide knowledge of growing veggies.
The real positive results will now start to become evident as the plants mature and contribute to their kitchen.
The excitement and satisfaction are just about to start. As more seedlings are planted, the garden will gather its own momentum. I hope that the children will take a leading role in caring for the garden, recognising the worthwhile life skills it gives them.”
As the seedlings take root, so too does a renewed sense of hope at Guild Cottage. What began as a simple act of planting has become a living symbol of resilience, a reminder that even in the toughest seasons, something beautiful can still grow.
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