What is community gardening/farming?
Community farming, or community-supported agriculture (CSA), is a collaborative model for local food production and community involvement. Individuals or families financially support a local farm at the season's start, receiving a share of its produce. Typically employing organic and sustainable practices, community farming reduces carbon footprint and enhances biodiversity. It strengthens social ties through events and workshops, increases understanding of food systems, and addresses food insecurity by offering fresh produce or donating the surplus to food banks. Ultimately, community farming promotes sustainability, social equity, and local economies while providing fresh food and fostering community bonds.
Fresh produce from community gardens benefits the community.
The history of community farming in South Africa
Community farming in South Africa is a complex narrative involving agricultural practices, social movements, and political changes. Originating from indigenous communities, it involves sustainable methods deeply connected to the local environment.
Before European settlers arrived in the 17th century, various tribes engaged in communal farming, sharing resources and labour to cultivate crops like millet, sorghum, and maize. These practices fostered social cohesion and ensured community survival, with land viewed as a communal resource held for future generations, promoting stewardship.
Colonial powers in South Africa introduced private land ownership during the Dutch and British periods, displacing indigenous communities and disrupting traditional farming practices. The land was appropriated for commercial agriculture, prioritising profit over community sustenance, affecting both agriculture and the social fabric.
During apartheid, community farming struggled due to policies marginalizing black farmers and restricting land access. Laws like the Group Areas Act displaced black communities from fertile lands, increasing food insecurity and economic disparity. Nevertheless, many relied on traditional knowledge for subsistence farming.
The end of apartheid in the early 1990s was pivotal for community farming in South Africa. The democratic government prioritized land reform and restoring land rights, promoting community-based agriculture for economic empowerment and food security, with support from organisations and NGOs for sustainable practices and local food systems.
Community farming is vital in South Africa. It addresses food insecurity, creates jobs, and promotes sustainability. It combines traditional and modern practices, using technology to boost productivity and tackle climate challenges. This movement reflects cultural heritage and the struggle for land and food sovereignty, fostering identity, solidarity, and hope for an equitable future.
Examples of Community Gardens in Gqeberha
1) Walmer Links
The first community garden I want to highlight is situated at Walmer Links Flats. The three main beneficiaries are Xoliswa Roqo, Xola Goqo and Mrs Ngwenya. These members were trained by Zolani Booi in Farming Gods Way. All three, with some help from some additional family members, work the entire garden and share produce at harvest time. The members use what produce they can to feed their families and sell the remaining items for an additional income.
Mrs Ngwenya seems to be the main motivator for the garden, working alongside her son on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Xola and Xoliswa contribute their efforts on Saturdays, while Zolani dedicates time to mentoring the group on Saturdays.
One challenge the members faced was the lack of funds to purchase seedlings. Jeremy from Africa for Christ intervened by buying the initial seedlings for the garden, and Imizi, the owners of the flats, have agreed to fund additional seedlings. So far, spinach, spring onions, beetroot, potatoes and green beans have been planted. The most recent planting took place in the first week of November.
Planting took place a month ago. Photos supplied by Zolani Booi
2) Walmer Downs - Aurora
Paddy House Garden at Aurora - Walmer Downs
The idea of starting a community garden came about after Selmari Potgieter, the Programme Manager at Aurora, believed that some of the more capable residents of Paddy House would benefit from a vocational programme to acquire useful skills.
The three vocational streams identified for the residents were -
1) a shredding paper service to generate an income flow, where customers pay per kilogram to shred their paper,
2) hospitality and cooking skills,
3) starting and tending to a community garden.
Each resident was allocated to one of these three streams according to their abilities and interests. Consequently, six residents attended a Farming God's Way course at Joy to the Nations Church in Walmer. After completing the course in 2023, the residents were given a plot of land near Paddy House to establish their garden.
Six residents were each allocated a piece of land to cultivate vegetables, with each person responsible for their section of the garden. Farming God's Way supplied green beans, beetroot, spring onions, and spinach seeds. All the participants experienced pride and joy when the seeds grew into vegetables they could hand over to the hospitality team, who enthusiastically used them to prepare a hearty soup for all the residents at the home to share. The garden's success had a positive impact on the residents. This was followed by two more rounds of planting and successful harvests.
The residents typically spend three mornings a week working in the garden. This activity has created many far-reaching benefits for participants beyond simply acquiring the new skill of growing vegetables. They have developed a greater sense of responsibility and self-respect. Additionally, the gardens have led to small cost savings for the hospitality teams, as they receive some free fresh produce from the gardens.
In 2025, funding has been secured from Lotto to create a larger and improved garden for the residents of Paddy House. The long-term goal for this new garden is to involve the entire Aurora community. The garden will serve a dual purpose. The first section will be a sensory garden designed for children to explore various textures and scents. Additionally, the vegetable garden will be expanded with guidance from the Paddy House gardeners and their assistant, Jackson.
Some of the delicious soups the Aurora Hospitality group created using the Paddy House Gardens vegetables. Photos provided by Selmari
Wise Owl Lifestyle sends Aurora best wishes for the new gardens and will keenly observe their progress.
Aurora Introduction Video
Aurora also offers a shredding service to the public
Purpose and advantages of community farming in the 21st century
In the 21st century, community farming is crucial for tackling social, economic, and environmental issues. It strengthens food security by enabling local communities to grow their own food and reducing their dependence on industrial agriculture and supply chains. This method improves access to fresh produce and empowers individuals while fostering independence and resilience.
Community farming strengthens social ties within neighbourhoods by encouraging collaboration in shared gardens. It promotes social interaction, education, and skill-sharing, creating supportive networks that enhance community cohesion and foster a sense of belonging. The community garden provides a tangible way for individuals to connect and build friendships, especially in an era of urbanisation and isolation caused by digital communication.
Community farming enhances environmental sustainability by promoting biodiversity and reducing the carbon footprint of food production and transportation. Organic farming and permaculture improve soil health, water retention, and local ecosystems. It also encourages sustainable practices like composting, rainwater harvesting, and crop rotation, benefiting the environment and educating participants on how sustainable living works.
Community farming strengthens local economies by supporting food systems, boosting businesses, and creating farming, processing, and distribution jobs. These farms also serve as educational hubs, offering workshops and training in agriculture, nutrition, and entrepreneurship, building skills and inspiring a new generation committed to sustainable practices.
Conclusion
Community farming in the 21st century promotes food security, strengthens social bonds, enhances environmental sustainability, and stimulates local economies. It addresses challenges like climate change, urbanisation, and economic inequality, serving as a tool for building resilience, empowerment, and sustainability among communities.
Although this article highlights just two community gardens, numerous gardens are emerging throughout Gqeberha and across our nation. This trend is driven by individuals who strive to make ends meet and find a way to provide nutritious food to people on a tight budget. Even prisons are motivated to lower their incarceration expenses by starting prison community gardens, which enable prisoners to gain new skills and reduce their impact on the community while serving out their period of incarceration.
Community Gardening can even benefit prisoners.
Sources
1) Interview with Riesl Fick (General Manager) and Selmari Potgieter (Programme Manager and Occupational Therapist), both of Aurora Gqeberha
2) A WhatsApp interview with Zolani Booi, Farming God's Way coordinator at Joy to the Nations Church.
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