community market garden
For years we've been focusing on sustainable living in the Elundini community through stimulation of home gardens and the establishment of a permaculture garden for our Day Care Centre. Agriculture and food security is one of the most important sectors that needs stimulation in the Eastern Cape. For this we initiated the Elundini Community Market Garden in March 2020.
What is a community market garden? A market garden - also referred to as a micro-farm - is a small scale production system of vegetables, herbs and fruits grown as cash crops. Crops will be directly sold to the community or nearby retailers and fresh produce markets. A green house has been erected to grow seedlings. Crops will be planted like cabbages, broccoli, carrots, etc.
In the long term the garden will grow into a professional farm whereby jobs will be created and whereby the farm will plough back to the local community through their social responsibility program.
During the Covid-19 pandemic the community market garden will supply free seedlings to all the home growers and supply families in need with fresh produce so they can eat healthily.
The community Market Garden groep will also focus on training local communities for people to become more adaptable to climate change.
Specific Objectives:
Improved soil and water regime for better crop productivity and resultant increase in income of farmers.
Increased adaptation to climate change through climate resilient farming systems and diversification such as providing seeds of tolerant varieties, organic farming and multi-cropping.
Creation of knowledge management system for climate change adaptation.
Creation of a local market for a smaller food chain.
