Farm in the City in Robertsham
This farm has already fed families in need with harvests of fresh, healthy produce.
The Salaam Foundation has decided that growing food as a means of survival as a sustainable project is the best option to help the most vulnerable.
One of the directors of the foundation, Fatima Sookharia, said the idea of a Farm in the City was thus born.
Very soon thereafter a farming project followed where a piece of barren land was rented out with the idea of turning it into a flourishing farm in the heart of Robertsham. The intent is to provide wholesome and healthy produce for those most in need.
“Through the peak of the pandemic, our small team worked hard at turning this vision into a reality.
“Within a four-month period, the Salaam Foundation team has managed to turn it into a functional, productive farm. The Farm in the City is home to six greenhouse tunnels which are 12 metres long, a farm stall and a garden around the premises,” said Sookharia.
“A borehole that has been dug sees to the water requirements needed to bring life to the plants. To maximise the space of just 850m², we are farming organically on the ground and vertically in hydroponic systems.
“Inside our tunnels, we have an organic and hydroponic range of a variety of crops which include beetroot, kale, carrots, cabbage, a variety of spinach, coriander and fenugreek to name a few. “The portion of our produce that is sold goes back into the foundation to sustainably cover the running costs and assist in our various projects,” explained Fatima.
This farm has already fed families in need with harvests of fresh and healthy produce. About 75kg of Chinese cabbage was the foundation’s first distributed. Other distributions of spinach and cauliflower followed as produce of a substantial amount became available.
However, only small amounts of produce can be grown, which is proving not to be enough.
“As our appetite for this farming project grows, we begin to see the benefit of what the fruits of these harvests can do. We would like to take this farming project to the next level.
“A farm in the Free State, measuring 37 hectares, has been identified. We would like to turn this land into productive vegetation that will feed the hungry and alleviate some of the poverty that exists in our country. Help us to secure and establish this land,” she said.
For more information, visit Salaam Foundation at 90 Xavier Street, Robertsham, or call them on 081 706 4622 or 072 122 8400. Alternatively, email az@salaamfoundation.com
