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One of our goals during this period was to
expand our work to schools. Even with a few hitches which we managed to turn into
learning experiences, we succeeded in training about five
hundred people — trainees and trainers.
We have seen a growing commitment and confidence
from the garden committees in the community gardens.
When our fieldworker is away, they happily take on
responsibility for the work. The community gardeners
gain independence through their own committee and
bank account, but they still need help with training in
planting, harvesting and food preservation. Backyard gardens
are still expanding, benefiting the health of families,
and providing income from the sale of any surplus.
The new embroidery machine for the Sewing
Project means that trainees can make more money.
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Patricia
I used to walk down the street past the garden and one
day I walked in. I talked to the woman working there,
and asked if I could have a vegetable garden in my backyard. She
took my name and address. She asked me questions like; Am
I working? Am I married? Is my husband working? How
many children do we have? I answered them all. She promised to
visit me, and I went home to wait. One day I was cleaning my
house when a lady called and asked me to choose a day, because
she wanted to come and do a small demonstration in my backyard
or in front of my house wherever I wanted the garden. I was
taught how to grow vegetables in my front garden. I live for my
garden. People are always stopping to say what a clever person I am
to have my own vegetables and their comments make me very happy.
The only disadvantage we have in the backyard gardens are
dogs. It is not an easy thing to build a fence around your garden,
especially for people who are unemployed. But I searched for bits of wood
and built a strong fence, and now the dogs do not disturb my garden.
One real advantage is that you can work on your garden even
in the evening or early in the morning.
Last but not least, I love my garden because I can feed my
family with fresh vegetables from the ground."
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Jonase
When I came here
to the Nyanga Community Garden I was sick and hungry, but now I feel
much better. I think starvation made me feel sick. Since I started
planting vegetables I have felt much better than I did before. The small
plot I have manages to feed my family and I sell some of the left-over
vegetables to my neighbours, and with that money I am able to buy bread
and paraffin".
Mavis
Mavis is
a widow who has been sick for a long time. She said she was very
poor and had no work. She used to borrow money from her neighbours so
that she could buy bread for her children. She could not afford to pay
school fees or buy uniforms. Her friends often had to buy food for her.
Now that she
is a gardener her life has changed. Her health is better as she and
her family eat healthier food and she gets some exercise. She manages
to sell some of the food she grows which helps her to live her life
in a happier way.
Laying of
an irrigation system in Nyanga
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Richard Wotsa, QPC driver —
Community Development staff |
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Nosakele Gingqishe
What is so important to me is to plant
veggies on my own without any help, and to take care of the garden. This small plot helps me a lot, because sometimes, people from
the community buy spinach and cabbage. Then with
the money, I buy electricity and bread for my
family. Most of the time, I am here keeping myself busy
by cleaning it —
and as a result I am not involved in
the bad things of the community. At least I am not lonely anymore —
this is something that I am
doing everyday! Before this, I used to borrow
everything from neighbours to cook for my children and I
would make small loans to get electricity and paraffin,
but now there is a change because I got money from
my plot from selling veggies. I used to stay in my
house and neighbours were gossiping, but now nobody
can find me in my house like that because I am in
the garden!"
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Anita Mosele
I was
suffering. As a result I was buying fruit and vegetables
to sell here in the community. Since the community garden is here, my
life has changed. In the garden I am growing vegetables which I cook
for my family. Before that, I cooked the same vegetables for my family
which I also sold. I am still selling vegetables which I buy. I also
grow seedlings on my plot in the garden which I sell for money. I am
happy and I feel free now and go every day to the community garden."
Nosakele Gingqishe and Anita Mosele
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