A report is just out from Food and Trees For Africa (FTFA) regarding the Permaculture Food Garden that was started by a community in the township of Soweto. The project is benefitting from a US$1000 prize won by Earthwalker Paul Coleman from the Wiser Earth’s Earth Day Living Contest and donated to them.

“A volunteers day was recently held, the garden was boosted with plants and seedling, mulched and composted and training in permaculture was given. I have always been impressed by FTFA’s great work and we have twice led large group tours from Japan to help them in create gardens and plant tress, in places they are very much needed,” says Paul Coleman.

FTFA selected a project called “Tshedimoso Home Based Care Centre”, which is based near Soweto, as the beneficiary of this grant.

It was started by a group of 55-plus year old citizens who are very committed to helping improve the lives of those in their local community. Last year, thanks to support from a local school who gave them a plot, they were able to start a food garden. In October 2011, Nedbank Capital IT & Projects assisted Tshedimiso Home Based Care to do this as part of a company volunteer initiative. The initiative included the donation of a Permaculture Starter Pack (PSP) level one and 60 trees.

This food garden feeds the school, the members and the community. FTFA decided that a volunteer day would be held, at the Care Centre, to commemorate World AIDS Day and provide much needed support, adding value to Paul’s gift. The volunteer day took place on 2 December 2012.

Objectives are:
To contribute to greening, climate change action, sustainable natural resource management,
Permaculture food security and organic farming;
To create awareness of the benefits of environmental improvement activities amongst all communities of southern Africa;
To contribute to local economic enterprise, sustainable development, enhanced environments, capacity building and skills development.

FTFA has distributed almost 4.2 million trees, planted 140 hectares of bamboo sites, and facilitated the creation of thousands of natural food gardens and some organic farms for the poorest. FTFA launched the first South African Web based carbon calculators and established the Climate Hero Awards, as well as the Carbon Protocol.

Food gardens require support over a three year period, to ensure participants receive the necessary training and assistance throughout the seasons.