A beautifully manicured vegetable garden lies beyond the busy playground at Masisebenze Combination School in Tembisa. Miriam Phalatsi, a dedicated teacher, tends this patch, which embodies the system of permanent agriculture, with enthusiasm. Permaculture strives for agriculture that is ecologically sound and sustainable in the long term, which means it does not pollute the environment and is economically and socially viable.
”I see permaculture as the solution to poverty and food security for our communities,” says Phalatsi. ”This garden alone is an investment in many people’s futures.”
The garden was started in 2003 when Phalatsi noticed that pupils were often absent from school because of financial problems at home, while an increasing number of children were having to take on the responsibility of heading up households. She set up a feeding scheme at the school to provide pupils with a hot meal twice a week. These meals now include vegetables grown in the school’s garden.
”We needed to make sure that these kids were at least getting one good meal a day without having to spend money they don’t have,” she explains.
The pupils are encouraged to work in the garden during their free periods and on weekends. Phalatsi proudly tells us that a group of 35 pupils has displayed such a keen interest in the project that they no longer see it only as their primary source of food, but as a possible future career. This is not just about growing veggies — pupils learn how to plant in combinations that keep away the creepy-crawlies and reduce the need for pesticides. For example, planting cabbages, onions, carrots and garlic close to one another makes it difficult for pests to prey on veggies.
The project also aims to reintroduce traditional herbs such as African wormwood (umhlonyane), an age-old remedy for treating flu, headaches and fevers, and to re-educate people to use them carefully and cautiously, says sustainability consultant Florian Kroll.
The school’s permaculture garden flourished when pensioners and unemployed community members offered their assistance in maintaining it. Each community member now ”owns” a part of the land they cultivate and either sell the produce or use it to feed their families.
”I help the others with the designs for their garden, so they know which vegetable or herb they can interplant with what,” says pensioner Patrick Katiso. ”I feel empowered again that I can add to something.”