Philakahle Gardens

Tuesday 10/3 was possibly the highlight of my trip so far. Went on six visits with Mamsey to families in the Green Point area who have or are establishing gardens. Took some vieo footage on my camera as I spoke to women who all are benefitting from the gardens. The first lady Sbongeli was amazing. She spoke about how the vegetables she grew helped maintain her immune system and although she had a patch she was extending it as she had a large fenced area. She also ran a little crèche for 24 kids whose families paid A$3.20 a month for five mornings a week. She certainly did not do it for the money. Each visit was a drop off of fencing material and it was clear rhe equipment was delivered in “intalments” commensurate With effort to date on preparation of the ground. A trench method is used to retain soil moisture due to the dry winters. Five more visits across unformed paddock tracks. Another memorable one was the 39 yo HIV+ woman looking after her deceased sister’s four kids and the yield she obtained from a small tomato patch with tomatoes that we would have yanked out as over their productive life. She was being helped to establish a large plot. These gardens were amazing and it is not until you see them, modest as they are and see the empowerment and difference they make in people’s lives before you can appreciate how powerful these are as a tool in maintaining people to lead purposeful lives.