Garden project motivates kids to grow veggies
All of this work has been made possible through donations of plant materials and labour from a number of individuals and companies.
The Rotary Club of Widenham has adopted District 49, a non-profit, as its first project of support since its recent inception.
The Umkomaas based NPO’s primary role is to take care of vulnerable children.
One of the sub-projects, initiated by Rotary, is to launch the Garden and Vegetable Growing Project.
The project is on site to teach the children the art of growing their own food, and to instil entrepreneurship skills in them.
The incentive for the children to participate is that 50% of the produce will be supplied to the kitchen and the other 50% will be sold. The funds generated by these sales will be returned to the children in the form of pocket money.
The children will have formal instruction on all the aspects of growing vegetables and do practical tasks every Friday afternoon after school.
Phase one of the project is to establish a shaded vegetable growing tunnel (monkey proof) and raised growing beds to start the vegetable project.
A set of garden tools has been donated by Lasher Tools, the garden site has been levelled and cleaned of old concrete structures and slabs, and a tunnel with 20% shade cloth has been donated and erected on the site.
The tunnel is 8mx15m in dimension and it is envisaged that some 900 units of vegetables can be planted. This can potentially yield 2.7 tons of vegetables valued at R30 000 per annum.
Gum poles which will form the edges of the growing beds have been donated and are on site. The raised beds have been filled with good quality growing medium. A drip irrigation network has been laid down.
A 10 000l water storage tank has been ordered and together with a water pump will be installed shortly, ensuring water security.
Formal training and planting will start this month.
The commercial value of materials, plant and labour donated to this project is estimated at R130 000 to date.
All of this work has been made possible through donations of plant materials and labour from a number of individuals and companies.
Several resources are still needed such as a retractable hose pipe, poles, compost bins, small garden equipment, seedlings and more.
To get the full list of resources, further information and banking details should you wish to donate to this project, contact Bill Pirrie on 082 4961953 or email infraservfinance@gmail.com
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