Gardening in the heart of Johannesburg - inspiration to create food gardens

A dumpsite in the Johannesburg inner city has been transformed into a 1-hectare food garden supplying fresh vegetables to children and HIV-positive people, in a project demonstrating the enormous potential of urban agriculture, reports SA Good News.

The Siyakhana Food Garden Project in Bezuidenhout Valley Park was set up in 2005 on an infertile patch of rocky and clay-filled ground donated by Johannesburg City Parks. Over the years various permaculture and soil conditioning techniques have transformed the land into a productive mini-farm that is home to an orchard of fruit and nut trees, an abundance of vegetables and a large herb garden.

Today it supplies a steady supply of fresh vegetables, herbs, grains and legumes to nine child welfare organisations, as well as to those giving home-based care to the HIV-positive.

http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/agriculture_land_reform/farming_in_the_..." target="_blank">Read the full story.

P.S. You can also create a food garden in your own yard. You don't have to have to have a big yard or live in rural areas. Check out images from my garden, which I also maintain in the heart of the city, and let it to be watered mostly by rain water.

First harvest of spinch and green beans. The great thing about spinach is that it keeps growing back, so neighbours also get to eat without my family running out:-)

Cabbage was very easy to grow, and survived two hail storms.

The green leaves from pumpkin are very delicious and nutritious. And they'll grow all over, as long you have space.