Seeds for Life will benefit food insecure communities

Home-grown gardeners in Graaff-Reinet, and more specifically Kroonvale, are already reaping the benefits of the Seeds for Life pilot project that was launched here recently.

Seeds for Life provides free seeds, compost, gardening guidebooks and hands-on training to help vulnerable families establish home gardens, regardless of the location or geographic conditions. The pilot project was launched by African Bank and local NGO INMED South Africa. The beauty of the programme is that it is sustainable and can change lives.

Local gardeners who want to join the project must reside in a low-resource community in Graaff-Reinet and be nominated by other stakeholders, such as a school, church, community centres or other community members.

Candidates should be unemployed and at risk for household food insecurity. They must have an interest in establishing a household garden and be committed to maintaining a vegetable garden and agree to attend training sessions by INMED South Africa and other continuous learning opportunities. Candidates must also be willing to share resources amongst other groups and community members.

Project participants of the project in Graaff-Reinet will also establish a Seeds for Life Stokvel, which will promote and encourage gardening, especially edible gardening, by providing a unique opportunity for any prospective food gardener to receive seasonal seeds, seedling trays, grow medium, training and training material - with the added benefits of social support and interactions.

The pilot phase of the Seeds for Life project in Graaff-Reinet will extend until November 2021.

Pieter Aries (second from left) with the compost he received tor his garden.

The Seeds for Life project that was launched in Graaff-Reinet, all began with Koos Gradwell from Kroonvale who approached INMED South Africa for assistance with his home garden.