The Makana Story

The Makana Story

Once upon a time,A long time ago in a land far, far away,

a concept was born and its name was SUS.

SUS grew up to be an activist and challenged man’s abuse of the ecosystem and set out on a path to restore the balance.

This is our story ….

Background

More than half of the world’s population is already living in towns and cities and urbanisation is accelerating, especially in Africa and Asia. At the same time, human activities have crossed or are about to cross the critical ecological boundaries of the planet.

Cities are therefore facing major challenges in maintaining and restoring the ecosystem services on which they depend for their functioning, while also securing equal access to natural and man-made resources among the growing number of urban citizens.

Challenge to ecosystem services

SWEDESD Response

The Supporting Urban Sustainability (SUS) Programme is a ground-breaking

initiative developed by the Swedish International Centre for Education for

Sustainable Development (SWEDESD).

The programme is focused on ecosystem services approaches to poverty alleviation (ESPA) in urban

settings.

ESPA seeks to tie together experiences of social and environmental programmes in

order to tackle poverty alleviation in a more holistic manner, recognising the interdependence between humans and

nature. Interdependence between humans and nature

Makana Response

A team of five delegates representing a

diverse mix of organisations from

Makana who will bring their varied

expertise to develop a pro-poor green

economy scheme that will attempt to

address this challenge.

Taking up the Challenge

Makana Team

• Mrs Marlene Mitchener, Director Umthathi Training Project

• Ms Nthabiseng Moche,

Masters Student Rhodes University, ELRC

• Ms Zimasa Nduna,

Manager Agricultural & SMME’s, Makana

Municipality

• Mr Kwanele Mbangi,

Superintendent Parks & Recreation,

Makana Municipality

• Mr Ntobeko Nyengane, Environmental

Facilitator, Makana Youth Community

SUS regional engagement workshop Arusha May 3rd-4th 2011

In May the Makana team joined delegates from the Municipalities of Mangaung and Arusha for a regional workshop in Arusha, Tanzania.

Learning about one another

Mapping present trends in our cities

Identify & Initiate ESPA-schemes

Teams were tasked to explore possibilities where they could identify, initiate or further develop ESPA-schemes in their respective cities.

Exploration Workshop

Varied emotions during brainstorming and discussions

ESPA Relevance

Endeavour: Poverty alleviation and to reduce pressure on planetary boundaries.

Reaction:Restoration of a culture of agriculture.

•Poverty alleviation through improved livelihood and income possibilities through farming.

•Organic agriculture methods

•Introduction of medical plants.

•Ensure water quantity & quality by water harvesting.

•Bring in different forms of cultivation.

•Clean air by tree plantation

Collaborative Learning & Reflexive Forms of Governance

Acknowledging the concept of reflexive governance by

continuously evaluating the methods we are using.

By collaborating and learning from others negates the need to reinvent the wheel.

Makana Response to Inquiry

In addition taking into consideration

the existing poverty, high levels of

unemployment, lack of easy access to

affordable, fresh food and the future

food demand in the Makana area there

is an urgent need for investment in

sustainably managed agriculture that

would demonstrate that ecosystem

health is essential to long-term food

security and to promote sustainable

livelihoods where agricultural

production and resource conservation

positively reinforce each other.

Our city is facing major challenges in maintaining and restoring the ecosystem services on which we depend for our functioning.

Sustainably managed agriculture

Residential Sweden 6 – 17th June 2011

To further collaborate, explore and produce project plans on how to initiate and further develop the project.





Guerrilla Farming

Guerrilla gardening

Visby Castle

Pollination

Inspirational Visits


Guerrilla gardening

Developing the stake holding underpinning our inquiries.


Brainstorming and summary of project inquiry


Developing project plans ... Output ......

Strategic Inquiry

Question

What can we do to

restore a culture of agriculture

for the benefit of the poor

in Makana?

Answer

Enabling the poor thereby

placing livelihood and food

security

in the their hands

Our Vision

Our vision is for an ever

increasing number of people

having the passion and

necessary skills to develop

sustainable food gardens that

will support their health and

livelihood security

Everyone gets involved

Our Mission

Our mission is to increase the

quality of life of the poor in

Makana by establishing

income generating,

sustainable agricultural

nodes that support the

surrounding community by

providing affordable, fresh

vegetables and other useful

plants for medicinal, cultural

and environmental purposes.

Poverty Alleviation

Project Rationale

The cultivating of sustainable

community, school home or

farm food gardens and forming

agricultural nodes is the most

direct way for many poor

families to improve their access

to a variety of micronutrient-

rich food and to generate a

much needed income thereby

improving their quality of life

and livelihoods.

Project Objectives

To establish three income

generating, sustainable

agricultural nodes that

support the surrounding

community by providing

affordable, fresh

vegetables and other

useful plants;

Each agricultural node will

consist of one community

garden surrounded by ten

home gardens;

Project Objectives

To green our city

particularly by introducing

valuable indigenous plants

to the gardens and

surrounding landscape;

To protect indigenous

medicinal & traditional

plants that are becoming

endangered;

Project Objectives

Plant the seedlings

Sheet – Wet paper Blanket - Manure

Comforter - Grass

To introduce

environmentally and

practically sustainable

cultivation principles

and practices that

result in an integrated,

diverse and productive

land-use system and

can cope with the

adverse effects of

climate change

Project Objectives

To establish gardens that

are not labour or cost

intensive and are

appropriate to members

of the community who

are elderly, frail or

disabled and do not have

a great deal of money;

Project Objectives

To encourage job

creation and for

community members to

engage in secured

diverse livelihood

strategies.

To encourage the

protection of and

develop an

understanding of the

importance of

ecosystem services.

Progress to date

Because our strategic inquiry is a new project within the Municipality the majority of our time has been spent on:

Setting the framework for the project

Identifying project supporters

Identifying participant supporters

Identifying potential agricultural hubs

Identifying funders

Phase I - Preparation

Different Skills

Strong Teams

Ability to change

The right ideas

Action Plans

Communicating

Solid preparation


Developing Action Plans

Objective Phase Action Output Budget Timeline Responsible Comments

Establish 3 Agricultural nodes

One Establish a project plan

Detailed plan of action

In-kind Umthathi

Completed by 3rd June

Marlene Completed

One Prepare a power point presentation

Presentation for potential stakeholders and funders

In-kind Umthathi

Completed by 3rd June

Marlene Completed

One Identify Garden Stakeholders

A cohesive group of garden enthusiasts

In-kind Rhodes, Makana, Umthathi

Completed by end of August

All Completed


Acquiring Land - Application for lease of commonage land

Makana MunicipalityAtt: The Municipal ManagerP.O. Box 176Grahamstown6140

[email protected] Dear Ms Ntombi Baart Application for Lease Agreement for Agricultural Purposes Supporting Poverty Alleviation by Facilitating Educating and Training to the local Community in Organic Vegetable and Indigenous Plant Cultivation


SURVEY QUESTIONS02 SEPTEMBER 2011

What is the current status of you home garden?What do you intend doing with the garden site you get?How important is it to have your own garden?What would you like see happening in your garden?What do you need to make your garden flourish?What kinds of vegetables do you plant?What kinds of vegetables do you wish to plant?What kinds of nutritional value do your derive from these vegetables?How does eating healthy help you and family?What is your future plan with your garden?How committed are you to having a garden?What kind of assistance do you need to improve your garden?Explain how you understand and use Permaculture vegetable production, including intercropping and organic pest control in your garden?How have you been able to help someone or a group by having a garden?

SURVEY RESULTS

Feedback on survey conducted for individuals growing vegetables in their homes and individuals not growing vegetables in their homes.Goal & MissionThe goal and mission of the project is to grow the number of people having necessary skills to ensure their food, health and livelihood security through a culture of agriculture for the benefit of the poor.Data CollectionThe selection of the garden homes for the purpose of the pilot phase project was carried out in three areas within Makana. Thirty (30) potential home gardens in total were identified for sampling. The three areas covered: Ext 7, Tanki 1, Tanki 2 and Sun City. In each area, ten (10) homes were identified, and these combined both homes growing vegetables and those who were not. Out of the ten homes, only four were not growing vegetables even though Umthathi had trained them as recently as January 2011. The reason given mostly is that they do not have proper fencing to prevent the neighbour’s chickens, goats, cows and donkeys from invading their gardens.


ABSTRACT: The objective of the questionnaire was to determine the needs, desires and current nutritional status of the participants within identified areas and households within the local community of Makana.

FINDINGS:The survey response suggests that all six individuals with gardens indicate that the current status of their gardens is “green” and growing well.All individuals with gardens indicated that they had been trained by Umthathi Training Project.The individuals indicated that they would like their gardens to grow bigger and bring out the best harvest. They also indicated that they wish to grow different types of vegetables. One of them mentioned that he would like to expand his garden and be able to supply for other people.

Reflective notes and Recommendations:In the light of the above findings and conclusions, it is recommended that for the purposes of the SUS pilot project, and the inspirational site visit that only five homes on Xhora Street with gardens are specifically focused on. These will link with the commonage just behind Umthathi, which is also on Xhora Street and walking distance from each other. Considering time constrains on the first day of the regional workshop on 01 November 2011, it will not be practical to drive to either Tantyi or Sun City.


Stakeholder Meetings


Participants Selection and MOU


Lease granted behind Umthathi House in Ext 7

Project Phase II - Implementation

•Training

•Site preparation

•Cultivation

•Harvesting

•Income Generation

•Job Creation

Phase II - Implementation

Training Programme


Securing the agricultural node in commonage area

1 Hectare land fenced with funding from NLDTF


Installing a container for tools & equipment


Erecting a Wendy house for product development and sales house


Preparation and ploughing of site


Collecting Natural Resources


Water Harvesting



Home Gardens...The beginning of poverty alleviation ...


Home Gardens...


Establishing the Xhora Street Agricultural Node


Agricultural Node: Linomtha Community Garden - Breaking Ground


Agricultural Node: Linomtha - Income Generating Community Garden


Use of natural resources


First beds and indigenous plants and trees


Big Clean up – Youth Environmental Group & Linomtha


Our first workshop at the Agricultural Hub

Food prices - from crisis to stabilityPrice swings, upswings in particular, represent a major threat to food security in developing countries. Hardest-hit are the poor. According to the World Bank, in 2010-2011 rising food costs pushed nearly 70 million people into extreme poverty.

16 October 2011 – World Food Day


Our first workshop at the Agricultural Hub

16 October 2011 – World Food Day


Agricultural Hub – Xhora Street


Home Gardens entrants

Review Workshop

SUS regional workshopGrahamstown

1st and 2nd November 2011

Delegates from Mangaung and Arusha join the Makana team in Grahamstown for a regional workshop

Makana Supporting Urban SustainabilityMakana Supporting Urban Sustainability

Strategic Inquiry

Pilot Phase

Strategic Inquiry

Pilot Phase

Residential W

orkshopsResidential W

orkshops

Regi

onal

W

orks

hops

Regi

onal

W

orks

hops

PreparationPreparationImplementation

1 Node & 5 Home Gardens

Implementation 1 Node & 5 Home

GardensInformation Gathering

Information Gathering

FormulateFormulate

PlanPlan

3 income generating

agricultural nodes

3 income generating

agricultural nodes

10 home gardens in each node

10 home gardens in each node



Research, surveys & Findings

Research, surveys & Findings

Identify Funding Sources & Resources

Required

Identify Funding Sources & Resources

Required

Identify Home & Community SitesIdentify Home & Community Sites

Train Facilitators

Train Facilitators

Group Selection

Group Selection

Training and DevelopmentTraining and Development

Participants 10 Umt & 10 Xhora StreetParticipants 10 Umt & 10 Xhora Street

Preparation & DevelopmentPreparation & Development

LinomthaCommunity Garden

LinomthaCommunity Garden

Training and showcasing the individuals and

group

Training and showcasing the individuals and

group

Site selection UMT Commonage

Site selection UMT Commonage

Erecting infrastructure and

security

Erecting infrastructure and

security

Assembling resources & funding

Assembling resources & funding

Establish 5Home Gardens

Establish 5Home Gardens

Reflection on pilot project through individual stories, challenges and successes

Reflection on pilot project through individual stories, challenges and successes

The way forward for the next 2 projects

Youth Driven

Rural Inclusion

Ward Councillors

Well documented

All participants unemployed

Municipality IDP

Clear roles & responsibilities

Review Workshop

Day 1: Looking back – what have we done and what have we learned?

09:00-10:00 (1) Introductory session10:00-10:30 Break10:30-12:15 (2) Developing our learning history12:15-13:15 Lunch13:15-15:00 (3) Most significant change15:00-15:20 Break15:20-16:00 (4) How will we continue to collaborate and learn?16:00-19:00 (5) Inspirational visit to SUS site19.00 Dinner

Day 2: Looking forward - what remains to be done?

09:00-09:30 (6) Introduction09:30-10:30 (7) Telling the SUS-story10:30-10:50 Break10:50-11:45 (7) Telling the SUS-story continued11:45-12:00 (8) Commons display: urban agriculture12:00-13:00 Lunch (including commons display)13:00-14:40 (9) Detailed and emerging planning14:40-15:00 Break15:00–17:05 (10) Feedback from critical friends17:05-18:00 (11) Reflection18:00 Close

agenda

Review Workshop

Most Significant Changes (MSC)

Review Workshop

Sustainable diverse livelihood nodes making green economy and food

production feasible

Strategic Inquiry Change

Review Workshop

1) Asking the right question at the right place and you will get the right project

2) “In our life time” we rushed to implement, didn’t take time to set up processes

3) Take time to stop and ‘smell the roses’ - embrace your successes

4) Don’t fall into a dark pit of negativity

5) Our project is a living entity and has a life of its own, give it freedom of expression

6) Change is inevitable – welcome it and make it work for you

7) For every action there is a reaction therefore make a positive action and you will get a positive

reaction

Most Significant Moments / Milestones (MSM)

Review Workshop

As with all good stories there is a sequel, …

Our way forward

Project Phase III – M & E

Monitoring and evaluating will form an integral part of the project life, as it will shape the bases for the future development of the project.

Critical Friends - Questions?

WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED OUR STORY

THANK YOU FROM THE

MAKANA TEAM

Documents

The Makana Story