Comments on: Food Gardens On The Cards For The Western Cape? (It’s About Time!)

By: Big Issues Of The Day » Blog Archive » African Blog Review - 05/15/2008 - - 16 May 2008

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 07:29:33 +0000

[...] Mother City Living [...]

By: Pia

Pia — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:17:59 +0000

What a fabulous idea! I would love to have access to something like that… and if people grouped together, and took turns minding and monitoring, it could be quite productive (and rewarding)… I’ll write something about it asap – perhaps a few farmers read this blog

By: Gavin Bolton

Gavin Bolton — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:55:47 +0000

I have been thinking of setting up small scale allotments of about 200 square metres for keen organic vegetable gardener. The general idea would be to provide electricity, water point, and an over night type shed with ablution facility to each allotment, common use of a small tractor to prepare the soil, assistance with organic farming procedures etc. The entire allotment area would be properly fenced off with security provided. I would appreciate it if a farmer in the Stellenbosch, Franschoek, Wellington or Paarl areas would consider leasing off a section of land for this enterprise or assist with setting up this concept

By: Pia

Pia — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:58:37 +0000

Hi Fran. Yes, it’s so soothing isn’t it? I’ve just moved to a fairly small space, but even my little square metre of garden (and various pots wherever there’s enough sun) makes me feel so much more connected with the earth. And eating those lovingly grown vegetables and salads is out of this world…

By: Fran

Fran — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:24:30 +0000

I totally agree. Something very zen about the entire process of growing it yourself from the earth – and then nourishing yourself with what you’ve grown. Shows the full cycle and is an amazing little slice of the larger life cycle.

By: Pia Taylor

Pia Taylor — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:27:07 +0000

It’s amazing how much you can grow, if you just put your mind to it… Even having a few pots can yield great results (if you don’t have more space at hand). There is nothing quite as satisfying, in my opinion, as tasting the food you’ve seen grow from an itsy bitsy seed, into a full grown vegetable!

By: Rosemary Gough

Rosemary Gough — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:13:39 +0000

I have started growing a few things, and have been very pleased with the results and the savings!

By: Pia Taylor

Pia Taylor — Thu, 15 May 2008 08:17:36 +0000

There are some awesome stories about, both here and abroad.
One of my favourites is about an ‘Organic Vegetable Revolution’ going on right here in Cape Town – community food gardens, on previously unused patches of land all over the townships… organically grown. They grow to support the community, not for profits, and it’s all done in a sustainable way. What a success story!

Then there’s the urban farming project in Middlesbrough, UK, and another in the village of Martin, also in the UK. Again, disused urban spaces have been turned over to the community for the growing of vegetables and again it’s been a huge success.

And, most recently I read this article, about the growing urban agriculture movement in New York (of all places!) and the rest of the States.

Some really inspiring stuff out there!

I started my own little garden at the end of last year, and though I’m an amateur at it, I still managed to get some decent produce – and eating it is so satisfying. Now to get to the point where I can also give some away… that would be uber cool! Hadn’t considered the no-dig option… it looks rather interesting

By: Duncan Drennan

Duncan Drennan — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:09:34 +0000

Yay! That is great news, and exactly what I wanted to hear

For the last couple of weeks I’ve been coming across a lot of articles about community allotment schemes. I’m glad to see that our Cape Town is leading the way with practical solutions.

Now I just need to move my butt and get my no-dig veggie garden in place….