Women living and working on farms around Stellenbosch have started harvesting their own sustainably grown produce, promoting food security and financial independence.
This is according to Madelein Herwil, the head of a food gardens initiative at the Women on Farms Project (WFP).
“The food gardens have had a huge impact on the women,” said Herwil, the facilitator of the food garden training programs.
Last year, the WFP team trained about 80 women to start and maintain their own agro-ecology food gardens, said Herwil. WFP supplied these women with non-genetically modified seeds and gardening equipment, and taught them how to make organic pesticides, she said.
“The women are mostly seasonal workers who are employed for four to six months of the year,” said Herwil. “When they are not working, they depend on social grants.”
According to Herwil, the food gardens enable women to support their families throughout the year.
“We sell most of the crops to have another income,” said Elizabeth Leeman, a retired farmworker living in Kuils River.
Leeman planted her current batch of crops last November, and her first harvest of the season was sold on 4 February in Macassar.
Bush bean crops in retired farmworker Elizabeth Leeman’s garden awaiting harvest. The Women on Farms Project (WFP) provided the gardening equipment. PHOTO: Anke Spies
The gardens sustain household food needs and also promote self-sufficiency, said Herwil.
Leeman said she saves money on grocery- and travel costs as the closest grocery store is in central Stellenbosch.
Another farmworker from Kuils River, Loraine Van Wyk, also sold most of her crops during the first week of February. Her surplus is kept for seeds or sold to community members.
“The squash needs to become yellow so that the seeds can be collected,” said Van Wyk.
Kuils River farmworker, Loraine Van Wyk, with one of the pumpkins that she grew in her self-sufficiency garden. PHOTO: Anke Spies
“The food garden training aims to have more women doing agro-ecology food gardens away from pesticides,” said Herwil.
WFP advocates for banning the use of harmful pesticides in South Africa, as it is detrimental to the farmworkers’ health, said Tina van Straten, the communications and advocacy coordinator at WFP.
The gardens exemplify sustainable farming practices that are key to agro-ecology, such as using biodegradable pesticides and keeping seeds for later harvests, said Herwil. Van Wyk also plants flowers in her garden to promote pollination.
Van Wyk said she will continue the harvest of seasonal crops, such as beans, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes, until April, when new seasonal crops will be planted.
Retired farmworker Elizabeth Leeman’s garden in Kuils River, overlooking the farm that her family lives on. PHOTO: Anke Spies