Gogos get going in Bathurst township gardening project
“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.”