Phoenix, Chatsworth and Avoca gardens grow hope amid food pressures - IOL

Yaseen Adam grows spinach which is provided to the community of Chatsworth.

AS FOOD prices continue to squeeze household budgets, community organisations and schools are turning to an age-old solution - growing their own vegetables - to help fight hunger by providing vulnerable families with access to fresh produce. 

Dr Muni Kooblal, a board member of the Phoenix Child Welfare Society, said they started a Food Security Programme after the Covid-19 pandemic, when the organisation saw the continued impact of food insecurity on vulnerable families.

“During the pandemic, the society was one of the organisations accredited to operate mobile services. We assisted more than 30 000 families with food hampers. When the restrictions ended, we wanted to move beyond emergency food relief and find ways to empower the community through sustainable food security initiatives. In 2023, we developed two programmes: hydroponic tomato production and open-field crop production,” said Kooblal, who is also the programme coordinator. 

With donor support, the programmes were established with 10 full-time staff. 

“The hydroponic project produced about 3 000kg of tomatoes, while the open-field project included crops such as cabbages, brinjal, spinach and chillies. More than 12 000 families benefited from access to vegetables through these initiatives.” 

Kooblal said the decision to establish the garden was driven by the reality that many families were struggling to afford sufficient nutritious food. 

“Rising living costs, unemployment and household financial pressures have made it increasingly difficult for vulnerable households to meet their basic needs. We aimed to create a practical and sustainable response to food insecurity while encouraging community participation, skills development and self-reliance.” 

Dr Muni Kooblal, a Phoenix Child Welfare Society board member and coordinator of its food security programme, shows the tomatoes that they have been growing.

Kooblal said food insecurity affected a wide range of people, including families with children, single-parent households, unemployed adults and pensioners. 

“Their challenge is not simply having something to eat, but having regular access to fresh, nutritious and affordable food. This highlighted the need for sustainable food-security initiatives that complement emergency food relief.” 

He said that like many community food-security initiatives, the garden required ongoing resources to remain productive. This included access to reliable water, seeds and seedlings, compost and fertiliser, agricultural equipment, security, maintenance and sufficient human resources. 

Kooblal said they wanted to increase their size and productivity to assist more vulnerable people, and teach others to grow some of their own food, even in limited space. 

“Food security is about dignity. Every family should have the opportunity to have a nutritious meal without having to choose between food and another basic necessity.” 

He said their seed bank programme supported future planting by making quality seeds available for subsequent growing seasons. This enabled them to maintain continuity in food production while encouraging sustainable agricultural practices.

“It also creates an opportunity for volunteers and community members to learn about seed collection, preservation and responsible use of agricultural resources. A reliable supply of seeds means that one harvest can contribute to the next growing cycle.” 

The society will distribute seeds to more than 50 pupils from about 60 schools in Phoenix on October 16. 

Yaseen Adam, the founder of Legendary Earth, a non-profit organisation, started a food garden in Chatsworth in 2022. 

He said many families in Chatsworth lived on grants and could not afford basic food items. They now provide fresh produce to the community at large and a home for the disabled. 

They are currently growing spinach. 

“Spinach is easy to grow in our soil; it does not need too much maintenance, and it can be eaten as a full meal. It is also nutritious. Seeing individuals receive spinach that we grow is rewarding,” he said.

Adam said they planned to expand the garden.

“We want to grow a variety of vegetables and be able to feed more families.”  

Ashlin Ellan, a teacher at Avoca Primary School and Pat Reddy, North Durban Honorary Environmental Officer of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, together with pupils, in the school’s vegetable garden, which supplements their nutritional programme.

Ashlin Ellan, a teacher at Avoca Primary School and chairperson of the Green Buddies Environmental Club, said the school vegetable garden, started in 2023, was one of the club’s key initiatives. 

The garden was started as part of its Arbor Month programme, aimed at teaching pupils about environmental sustainability while addressing food insecurity.

“We also wanted pupils to understand where their food comes from; to experience the process of growing vegetables themselves; and we wanted the product to help supplement the school's existing nutrition programme.” 

Ellan said the school served a diverse community, including pupils who experienced socioeconomic challenges.

“Food assistance remains important because some pupils come from households where access to sufficient nutritious food can be difficult. A hungry pupil may struggle to concentrate, participate, and remain engaged in lessons. It is difficult for a child to focus completely on learning when one of their most basic needs has not been met.” 

He added that their vision was for the garden to become a sustainable and outdoor environmental learning centre.