Business support for community sustainability programme
'We want to educate the country to move from a mindset of just looking for a job to creating their own small scale businesses'
MEMBERS of the Nawe Zifunze Disabled Association (NZDA) participated in the Garden of Life Home Farming workshop last week, presented by the Institute for Rural and Community Development (IRCD) and sponsored by local business SME Air Conditioning Richards Bay.
The workshop aimed to introducing the concept of self-sustainable micro farming to the Mzingazi community as a local economic development initiative.
Garden of Life facilitator Steven Barnard introduced a simple technique which teaches people the basic skills of vegetable farming.
‘This programme teaches people how to create their own garden within eight weeks by using waste materials. Residents of all ages can start their own vegetable patch and provide food for their families.
‘You do not have to have a degree in agriculture. You just have to get up and work and you will be rewarded with a crop,’ Barnard said.
‘We want to educate the country to move from a mindset of just looking for a job to creating their own small scale businesses.
‘Through this partnership we would like the Nazidi Skills Development Centre for Disabled, which is an initiative of the Nawe Zifunze Disabled Association, to become a centre for agricultural development as well.
‘Through the use of a basic hydroponic type technique, home farmers can harvest their own vegetables within a period of 8 to 12 weeks.
‘Our focus is a multi-impact approach which aims to save and make money and promotes a strong message of nature conservation and environmental conservation through the use of waste plastic bottles, egg trays and newspapers,’ said Barnard.
All those who have participated in the programme are encouraged to share the message with others in their community and promote the vegetable garden initiative.
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