A simple donation of seeds is changing the perspectives of hundreds of pupils at Motherwell primary schools as they recently started developing vegetable gardens boasting potentially thousands of rands’ worth of fresh produce.
Elundini Full Service Primary and Dumisa Primary recently became the first two beneficiaries of a newly established partnership between the Mark Headbush Foundation and the Pretoria-based Garden of Life Project.
A little over a week ago the organisations spent the morning at Elundini Primary, teaching pupils and community members how to grow veggie gardens using simple resources at their fingertips, such as cooldrink bottles, egg boxes and tyres.
Elundini Primary principal Ntsikie Bono said on Monday the potatoes, spinach, cabbage, onions and beetroot had become the pride of the school’s 855 pupils.
Headbush said the two schools were the first of several Motherwell schools where the project would be conducted, transforming previously barren parts of the premises into blossoming vegetable gardens.
“The foundation seeks to work in partnerships with other like-minded institutions to protect children from the negative effects of poverty and inequality,” he said.
“[This is] so that they can become more active members of their communities and be able to contribute to the development of a more prosperous and equitable society.”
This programme focuses on the development of children through the training, development and implementation of basic farming skills that are supported by agri-technology.
The objectives are to create an awareness in children about the need for farming as a sustainable source of food and to encourage self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship.
Bono said the project was very beneficial, particularly at her school where a large number of pupils experience learning barriers.
“It is an amazing project, not only because it is producing vegetables to feed the pupils but it also incorporates elements of biology, life skills and maths in the sense of counting,” Bono said.
“It has also had a profound impact on pupils with learning barriers. They are so proud of the growth that has taken place as a result of their work.
“Every day the pupils are excited to see the progress of the crops and nurture the plants. It is very rewarding for them.
“And with regard to other pupils, it has instilled a sense of entrepreneurship in them, understanding that while they may not have hectares of land at home they can still be selfsufficient by growing vegetables in small spaces for their homes and selling the excess.”
Garden of Life executive director Steven Barnard, who is implementing the project on behalf of the Mark Headbush Foundation, said a simple packet of spinach seeds which costs R18 could make the enthusiastic veggie gardener up to R8,400.
“Following our discussions, Mark [Headbush] discovered there are 123 schools in Motherwell and his dream is to have a functional vegetable garden in each of them. But we need additional sponsorship.
“Our goal is to make people realise there is no need for poverty in this nation, by changing their mindset from ‘I want a job’ to making their own jobs – which is taking place, as these kids took to the project like ducks to water.
“If you take one packet of spinach seeds for R18, you will get 200 seeds which gives you 200 plants with seven leaves each,” Barnard said.
“A bunch of spinach sells for about R7 in the township.
“So 200 plants times R7 is R1,400. And each plant can be harvested six times, so about R8,400 per packet.”