The Masilimeni ("let's plant") training project formed the focus of Umthathi Training Project's recent World Food Day celebrations.
The training focuses on five methods of gardening, namely, keyhole, container, tower (or bag), trench beds, medicinal plants and trellis.
Members of the Grahamstown community and staff members from Umthathi attended the event on a plot of land behind the organisation's Extension 7 premises on Friday morning.
The Masilimeni ("let's plant") training project formed the focus of Umthathi Training Project's recent World Food Day celebrations.
The training focuses on five methods of gardening, namely, keyhole, container, tower (or bag), trench beds, medicinal plants and trellis.
Members of the Grahamstown community and staff members from Umthathi attended the event on a plot of land behind the organisation's Extension 7 premises on Friday morning.
Sicelo Dyira, Umthathi's community liaison officer, told Grocott's Mail that Sunday was World Food Day.
"It is one of our efforts – teaching residents about the importance of gardening," said Dyira. "Our intention is to have residents grow their own organic food."
Facilitator Xolela Qinela taught the residents how to make a tower garden. Qinela said a tower garden was ideal when one didn't have a large amount of space in one's yard.
"It's easy to reach, even if your height is small, and you can use dirty water in watering," he said. Instead of using a net, an old orange bag can be used, he said.
"We plant spinach on the sides of the tower garden and the onions in the nucleus of the garden," said Qinela.
Samuel Ntlebi Primary School principal, Dumakazi Myimane, told Grocott's Mail she would take everything she learnt back to her pupils. "We will use these different methods of gardening to do our own gardens," said Myimane. She said the training was very informative.
"I am happy that I have something no one can take it from me," said Myimane, who said she could hardly wait to plant vegetables in her yard.
Another Umthathi facilitator, Xolani Mountain, spoke about container gardens. He said even people living in flats could grow these. He said top soil and manure were used to make container gardens.
