Self Sustainable Micro Vegetable Farming for Communities and
Households
Slide 2
THE PROJECT MANAGER OF A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN
ORANGE FARM, SOUTH OF JOHANNESBURG. WITNESSED PARENTS DYING OF AIDS
AND THEIR CHILDREN BEING SENT TO OTHER FAMILIES TO BE CARED FOR BY
SETTING UP A VEGETABLE GROWING PROGRAMME, HE HELPED THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO FEED THESE CHILDREN AND PROVIDE THE PARENTS WITH
NOURISHMENT THAT GOT THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET AND CARING FOR THEIR
OWN CHILDREN AGAIN THESE EXPERIENCES BECAME THE MOTIVATION FOR THE
GARDEN OF LIFE PROJECT
Slide 3
WHAT IS THE GARDEN OF LIFE? The Garden of Life is a
micro-farming project which focuses on teaching people of all ages,
genders and cultures the basic skills of becoming self-sustainable
through vegetable farming. This project teaches the skills of
raising vegetable crops on a small scale in areas which would be
deemed as unsatisfactory for crop development. Through the
utilization of a very basic hydroponic type technique, micro
farmers can be self sufficient and plant sustainable crops within a
period of 8-12 weeks.
Slide 4
Slide 5
FROM TAKING A 2 LITRE COLD DRINK BOTTLE TO A SUSTAINABLE
VEGETABLE GARDEN IN 10 WEEKS BY USING 11 EASY STEPS
Slide 6
The Garden of Life has a multi-impact approach. These include:
1.Self sustainability through the planting and harvesting of
vegetables for self use and selling. The creation of community
based businesses 2.A strong spiritual message related to the Story
of Mpho and the Garden of Life, as the little boy placed his faith
in God to bring help to his family. 3.Development and encouragement
of entrepreneurial skills 4.Environmental conservation through the
use of waste plastic bottles, egg trays and newspaper for compost.
5. The story of Mpho and the Garden of Life also supports the
integration of the family as a unit. 6.There is also a strong
nature conservation message as the story points out the advantages
of using your natural surroundings in order to grow organic
vegetables.
Slide 7
KIDS HAVEN CHILDRENS HOME SUNSET RANCH GAME FARM PERSONNEL
BRENTVALE PRIMARY
Slide 8
Slide 9
50m 40m FENCE GATE CHICKEN RUN AFFORDABLE HOUSE FRUIT TREES
CATCHMENT DAM (WATER FROM ROOF AND WASTE WATER) NURSERY/ TOOL SHED
SECURITY HEDGE (THORN BUSHES) GROW SQUARES PLANTED IN WEEK 1PLANTED
IN WEEK 2PLANTED IN WEEK 3 PLANTED IN WEEK 4PLANTED IN WEEK
5PLANTED IN WEEK 6PLANTED IN WEEK 7 PLANTED IN WEEK 8PLANTED IN
WEEK 9 PLANTED IN WEEK 10PLANTED IN WEEK 11PLANTED IN WEEK 12
Slide 10
COMMUNITY STORE EMPLOYEES LOCAL SPAR CLIENTS COMMUNITY BASED
VEGETABLE GROWERS COMMUNITY BASED MICRO CO-OP IBO (INDEPENDENT
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY OWNER INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANISATION) TRAINED IN
GARDEN OF LIFE MICRO VEGETABLE FARMING PROGRAMME, LIFE SKILLS &
BUSINESS SKILLS MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME INDEPENDENT SUPPLIER AGREEMENT
PROVIDES STORE WITH ORGANIC VEGETABLES. BUYS SEEDS FROM STORE.
COLLECTS FARMING MATERIALS 1.TRAINED IN GOL, BUSINESS SKILLS &
LIFE SKILLS 2.PURCHASES SEEDS FROM LOCAL. STORE 3.GROWS SEEDLINGS.
4.TRAINS INDEPENDENT GROWERS 5.SUPPLIES IBO VEGETABLE GROWERS WITH
SEEDLING PLANTS 6.QUALITY CONTROL OF GROWING PROGRAMME 7.SUPPLIES
LOCAL STORE WITH VEGETABLES AS PER REQUIREMENT AND ORDER 8.OTHER
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES E.G. CHICKENS COMMUNITY BASED MICRO CO-OP
IBO (INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY OWNER INDIVIDUAL OR
ORGANISATION) PROVIDES SEEDLINGS SUPPLIES GROWN VEGETABLES 50% 0F
CROP PLASTIC COOLDRINK BOTTLES, EGG TRAYS, NEWS PAPERS FOR GOL,
SEEDLING GROWING AND COMPOST LOCAL STORE
