Talk of the Town

Gogos get going in Bathurst township gardening project

- Mike Loewe This article originally appeared in the Daily Dispatch

“Foodscapin­g, one garden at a time!” is how Makhanda and Bathurst artist Tori Stowe described a joint project between suburbanit­es and township residents at the Seven Days Creche and Church in Nolukhanyo, Bathurst.

Ndlambe municipali­ty, which includes Nolukhanyo, endures a 61.7% unemployme­nt rate, and 50% of the population earn less than R1,660 per household, according to the 2016 Stats SA community survey data-scraped by Wazimap. Sixteen percent of people earn zero.

Stowe, famous for her material print, fine art and creative objects from her shop, The Corner, in Bathurst, posted a photograph taken in 2021 and one taken last Thursday.

From bare earth, a profusion of edible and eye-pleasing plants and foliage has taken hold.

“The project is now entirely independen­t of us. People are planting their own seedlings, harvesting their own seed,” she said.

Her post showing before and after pictures drew 400 likes, 50 shares and 72 positive comments.

Stowe, also a prolific and well-read Facebook writer, said: “Now that the school, creche and clinic gardens are running independen­tly, Nolukhanyo Grow has a new mission!”

She said the idea had come from a church member Anesu Chitura, who dedicated his Sundays to helping the elderly with their food gardens.

“So, boom! the Gogo Project was born!

“We have identified 10 household food gardens that we can help and we’re going to tackle them one by one: with fencing, providing seeds, seedlings, food vines and trees, plus flowers and succulents.

“Compost, manure, fertiliser and assistance with working the land and getting the plants establishe­d.”

The project would customise, focusing on the individual and specific needs of each property, she said.

“Many of these gardens have been with our programme since 2020, so we know that the interest and commitment are there.

“In our experience this

means that success is guaranteed. An amount of R250 per garden will cover our costs for each as, thanks to Monique and David Vajifdar and friends, we’re fully stocked, funded and equipped to do this.

“However, in assessing each property we have seen other needs (and expenses) which fall out of what we do.

“For example, two of the houses don’t have steps to the front door.

“I asked for a quote from a local builder, and he said it would cost R4,500.

“So this week I am trying to raise that amount as our first focus garden is that of Mrs Angeline Xali.

“She has a thriving little veg garden, which we’re going to fence and stock as described above, but we’d love to give her steps so she can sit up there with coffee and survey her work, and the views of the village below.”

She called for funds, and two days later posted a joyful: “Thank you, you wonderful people! Ms Xali is going to get her steps built next week. I met builder Ayanda Richards at the site yesterday; he's grateful for the work in these quiet times, and is going to start on Monday.”

She thanked four suburbanit­e women for “for making steps towards a brighter future for Mrs Xali!”

“In the meantime we cleared a new area for mielies, onions and potatoes, planted a row of flowers and herbs above the veggie garden, and some succulents along the front fence.

“We also supplied shade cloth, big bags of compost and fertiliser to three neighbouri­ng gardens who are also in our Gogo Project.

“We were approached by another gogo two houses down,

who is fighting a battle of veggies vs goats.

“She said she got a handful of seed potatoes from us last year, so she cleared a patch, and they grew so beautifull­y that she got hooked on gardening and subsequent­ly bought a whole range of seedlings from Peddie and she’s loving it — except for

the goats and chickens!

“We have an appointmen­t to check it out next week.

“And so we grow. Huge thanks again to this online community that makes these things happen.”

 ?? Picture: SUE MACLENNAN ?? BRIGHT FUTURE: Lina Kileka, right, chats to community activist Tori Stowe in the Ndesi family’s garden in Nolukhanyo, Bathurst, recently.
Picture: SUE MACLENNAN BRIGHT FUTURE: Lina Kileka, right, chats to community activist Tori Stowe in the Ndesi family’s garden in Nolukhanyo, Bathurst, recently.
 ?? Picture: TORI STOWE ?? GREEN GROWTH The Seven Day Adventist Creche and Church where one of 83 food gardens is thriving in Nolukhanyo, Bathurst.
Picture: TORI STOWE GREEN GROWTH The Seven Day Adventist Creche and Church where one of 83 food gardens is thriving in Nolukhanyo, Bathurst.

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