The DA launched the first of their pioneering food gardens last Tuesday, April 8, in the Delport informal settlement.<\/p>\n
DA Gauteng caucus leader Jack Bloom obtained sponsorship for this food garden as part of the DA’s long-running “Don’t forget the forgotten” campaign, in Gauteng.<\/p>
The food garden is fenced off and features overhead awnings to protect the fruits and vegetables being grown there.<\/p>\n
The vegetables planted for the launch include spinach, cabbage and lettuce.<\/p>
Food garden expert Themba Mthethwa was present throughout the process of setting up the garden.<\/p>\n
“A unique feature of this project was the use of old tyres to grow vegetables in the gardens of individual shacks,” said Mthethwa.<\/p>\n
He was on hand at the launch, to demonstrate how to grow vegetables in the tyres.<\/p>\n
This is the first of many food garden initiatives that Bloom hopes to establish in informal settlements all over Gauteng.<\/p>\n
“I am very pleased to launch the first of what I hope will be one of many food gardens built in informal settlements throughout Gauteng,” he said.<\/p>\n
“According to a survey by the Gauteng City Region Observatory, one in five Gauteng residents said they skipped a number of meals over the past year, because there was no money to buy food.<\/p>\n
“Thirty-seven per cent of respondents said that they ate far fewer than three meals a day.<\/p>\n
“These are very worrying figures, that should concern us all.<\/p>\n
“Only 3.6 per cent of Gauteng residents grow their own food, a figure that can be boosted dramatically by household agriculture.<\/p>\n
“We need to do more to promote sustainable food gardens, by involving the private sector and people of expertise and goodwill.<\/p>\n
“Old tyres are a valuable resource in growing vegetables, as has been demonstrated.<\/p>\n
“We need to pay more attention to nutrition in boosting the health of Gauteng residents through a government, business and community partnership.”<\/p>\n