Rotary Club of Wynberg members dug in and got their hands dirty to plant a sustainable garden full of vegetables and herbs in Westlake on Saturday April 27.
The club has partnered with Women of Westlake’s (WOW) community kitchen to improve their food garden and harvest vegetables for their meals. Aunty A’s Community Kitchen relies on food donations to feed more than 200 vulnerable women, children and men in Westlake every Tuesday to Friday.
“Food security and malnutrition are a growing concern for low-income communities of Cape Town, especially post the Covid-19 pandemic. Malnutrition among learners, especially, has an impact on their education and growth, often dropping out of school to join gangs to survive,” said Wynberg Rotarian Stacy Edwards.
Ms Edwards said the Rotary district had set its sights on increasing food security in vulnerable areas through focus and investment on food gardens.
“The Rotary Club of Wynberg forms part of District 9350, which stretches from Plettenberg Bay and includes clubs within Namibia and Angola. There are 58 clubs in total. The district’s target is for each club to establish a food garden. So far, 37 food gardens have been planted.”
The Wynberg club has established a food garden committee, led by Ms Edwards, to improve the WOW’s community garden, establish a long-term watering solution and run training for the women who serve in the community kitchen.
The committee has received a donation of a 950-litre water tank and 50 bags of mulch from a Tokai hardware store, and it has plans for further projects that will widen the garden beds and improve the yield in produce.
Ms Edwards said they also used old tyres to plant carrots, cabbage, spring onions, lettuce, basil and more.
“I went to the nursery and they gave me the list of vegetables that are suitable for planting going into winter. Plus the women of Westlake gave me a list of what they needed as well. So between those lists, we bought what would thrive in winter and would most help them in terms of sustainability and use for the pots of food they serve to the people.”
WOW chairperson Anthea Thebus said the non-profit organisation was grateful for the help.
“Currently we collect the water that comes from our neighbour’s roof; we harvest butternut, chillies and celery for the soup; we get sell-by-date food from Pick n Pay and that helps fill our pots. We do not get any funding from the government, but the Lord provides daily, and I stand amazed at what he has done for us so far.”
Email admin@wynbergrotary.org.za or visit www.wynbergrotary.org.za for more information.
