FOOD GARDEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

In South Africa, access to nutritious food remains a challenge to many. Home and community food gardens can help alleviate food insecurity and also foster economic empowerment in local communities. Volunteers can make a real difference to the programmes below.

FoodForward SA is the largest food distribution organisation in the country, connecting a world of excess to a world of need by recovering edible surplus food and distributing it to community organisations that serve the poor. This NPO recently launched a sustainable food gardening initiative to enhance food security and sustainable farming practices. With a food garden tunnel situated at their warehouse in Landsdowne, Cape Town, participants are able to learn new skills. To achieve this, the organisation grows its own seedlings and once the vegetables have been harvested, the produce is distributed to local beneficiaries in the area.

Soil For Life is based in Constantia, Cape Town, and welcomes the help and support of both local and global volunteers. By training and supporting individuals who want to grow food at home, as well as groups of gardeners involved in school and community projects, food gardens emerge in what were once bleak and barren environments. Since launching in 2002, more than 8250 people have learned how to develop and sustain productive home and community food gardens.

Good Hope Volunteers in Oranjezicht is an urban farming project promoting sustainable farming, education and health. It is a non-profit project founded by volunteers, and the volunteering ethos is central to everything they do. In addition to providing fresh produce, the farm serves as an outdoor classroom for all ages and is open free to the public six days a week. It hosts school visits and guided tours, pick-your-own harvests, workshops and Heritage Day events, keeping the community engaged and the farm active.

The Botanical Society of SA invites volunteers to help conserve flora. While not strictly centered around food gardens, it enables those with ‘green fingers’ to get involved in conservation and education initiatives. These include becoming custodians of endangered wildflowers, supporting horticultural staff or leading garden tours. Another worthy programme is collecting seeds of indigenous plant species as part of a collaboration with The Millenium Seed Bank Partnership.

Sustainable food garden programmes serve as powerful tools to promote local food production, enhance nutrition, foster community empowerment and build self-sufficiency.

www.foodforwardsa.org

www.soilforlife.co.za

www.goodhopevolunteers.com