Words: Kit Heathcock | Images: Supplied
When it comes to buying vegetables, local is always lekker. The shorter distance they’ve travelled, the fresher they are and the less impact on the environment. Now you can buy sparkling fresh produce that has an additional social impact, buying directly from a programme that works within the community to support and develop urban farming in various constructive ways, plus your vegetables are sustainable, pesticide-free, and as fresh as can be.
Umthunzi Farming Community
A weekly vegetable box is a great way to get seasonal variety onto your table. Umthunzi started in March to create market access for a group of small-scale urban organic farmers in Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Nyanga and Mitchell’s Plain. The new initiative packs freshly harvested produce on Thursdays with collection points at Touch of Madness in Obz, Clarkes in the CBD, The Shop in Sea Point and a Kenilworth point planned. From October Umthunzi will be subscription-based to give more stability for planning and planting. Boxes vary according to the season – recent winter boxes included 12 different veg, from carrots and chard to fennel, daikon and cauliflower, and Manelisi’s Urban Farm supplies beautiful free-range eggs.
Streetscapes
A programme designed to support the homeless, providing an income, skills and a dignified way to rebuild their lives, Streetscapes has transformed two unused pieces of city land into flourishing, fertile vegetable gardens. At their Roeland Street garden market stall, the public can buy ready-to-go, freshly-picked produce weekdays until 3pm and Saturdays from 9am to 12pm. Streetscapes have recently broken ground on a third garden in Vredehoek in partnership with the City of Cape Town, Friends of Rugley Road Park, and Renewal Institute, with fantastic support from locals and irrigation from a nearby natural spring. They’re currently fundraising to complete the infrastructure.
Soil for Life
Since 2002, Soil for Life has made it their mission to help those in impoverished communities feed themselves by giving them the skills and knowledge to grow their own productive and sustainable food gardens. Soil for Life’s garden and training centre in Constantia (behind Peddlars) is open weekdays and Saturday mornings selling seasonal organic vegetables (freshly picked while you wait and enjoying a cup of co¬ffee), as well as seedlings from their nursery, compost and plant boxes. They offer courses and workshops, proceeds from which all go to support their community development programmes.
Umthunzi Farming Community
084 835 9970
umthunzifarmingcommunity.co.za
Streetscapes
083 700 6064
khulisa.org.za/streetscapes
Soil for Life
021 794 4982
soilforlife.co.za
