Steenberg couple Agnes and Paul Leaner took part in the Soil for Life home gardening programme.
Soil for Life, a non-profit organisation that trains people how to grow their own food, is starting a new training programme.
The 12-week home food gardening programme starts next month. It will teach you how to build a food garden in a small space.
“We’re changing our communities one person and one garden at a time by encouraging people to create green fertile spaces in poorly sourced areas," said programme coordinator Sandi Fortune.
The organisation also teaches people how to make their own compost, fertiliser and natural pesticides.
“Covid-19 was a big eye opener, and a lot of people realised the need to create their own gardens and grow their own food to become healthier, and many people realised the therapeutic benefits of gardening so we are happy to share the knowledge,” said Ms Fortune.
The organisation has trainers in Retreat, Delft and Mitchell’s Plain. Training takes place once a week and will start mid-February.
Retreat trainer Natasha Deleeuw, 42, did the home-gardening programme in 2013. At the time, she was unemployed, caring for her mother and son off a single pension grant.
“Growing our own vegetables and herbs helped us a lot, and we, especially my sickly mother, became healthier because we were eating healthier.”
Ms Deleeuw encouraged others to join the programme.
“With the economy being what it is and produce becoming more and more expensive every day, it is so helpful to grow your own produce because you’ll save money, and the food you’ll provide will be healthier and tastier than the food you buy at stores - I guarantee you.”
To register for the programme, call Natasha at 072 837 2011 or Sandi at 073 159 2128. There is once-off sign-up fee of R40.
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