Garden of Hope is Growing!

If we are to escape poverty, we must learn to eat from the ground. That is what the research says. So, the garden of hope at iKhaya is a fundamental programme which we are focusing on in 2024. 2023 has been fruitful, but momentum and results have been slow.

A few months ago, a group of local ladies came for a tour of iKhaya. Amongst that group was a champion called Bonita Carr.

Upon arriving at our garden at the top of iKhaya, she was blown away but the scale of our veggie gardens and inspired to ensure that it’s a success.

She has officially become our garden programme champion and has since secured us partnerships with permaculture experts, provided trainings for some mamas of iKhaya children who want to be a part of the programme in soil, compost and all the nutrients plants need to succeed.

She has secured us partnerships with local organic farm “Love in a Bowl” who have advised us on creating our own two compost heaps and they provided us the starting components, of which we have now had our first batch of homemade compost came through!

She ALSO has gotten us a quote for a borehole as the lack of rain up here is the main cause of failed crops. The quote came out at R80,000, so if anyone is reading this and knows of a funder that is passionate about water security in townships, please send them our way!

We have an epic relationship with a local restaurant here in Hout Bay, called “The Pelican” and they are sending us their food waste each week to help us with our pursuit to regenerate our land with our compost.

All in all, this programme now has incredible traction and momentum. We have a circular economy here at iKhaya, with local restaurants food waste, feeding our soil, which produces veggies for our kitchen and to sell, and then the proceeds of which will go towards our garden team. So much love to Bonita, Groa, The Pelican, Phila, Nomvula and the Garden Mamas!

If you are passionate about seeing this project become self sustainable, we are looking to raise R5000 a month for one year (R60,000) by which time our experts believe we will be self sustainable! Please get in touch via email with me here.

Thank you so much.