THIS EMAIL WAS SENT 19 NOV BY WINNIE - GOOD UPDATE ON THE HOME GARDEN PROGRAM
November 19,
2013
Hello Ed
Things are so irregular on my side! I have just returned from Fort Beaufort Procom where I took my laptop, for the technician to show me how to carry out a few tasks. He had not installed a printer, and it is such a roundabout process – I must phone him from home so that he can begin to install it, by giving me instructions over the phone. This is the route I must follow, because I could not take the printer to the shop. I am all nervous about carrying instructions over the phone because my mind is no longer alert.
I have got the latest Bank Statement 19 November, and it shows R19 616. 13 transferred on 31 October by you. Thank you Ed, thank you to Mate, for the never failing support. Tim has already been paid for his visits 11 – 14 November. Artwell is visiting from 20 – 22 November, and he will receive his payment from the Balance.
The groups feel that it will be more worthwhile for the visits to be resumed in March, because November – February is a busy time for most families. They attend to family rituals and get ready to send children to schools. And these are the hottest months of the summer; there is not much activity in the gardens, except harvesting what is growing now.
An overall assessment shows that most gardens have better crops growing this year than previously, and my guess is that the new knowledge and training received by the members has benefitted them well. This brings me to the requests for some wire and poles in respect of Jonini. May we (Committee) grant Jonini their request for wire and poles as indicated in my last email to you? I am sorry to see all the work done on the communal garden going to waste, because the garden needs better security. I think the Balance will be about R10 000 after Artwell’s pay has been deducted. Perhaps Jonini could receive the 12 poles for R538. 85 and the diamond mesh for 1 549.94 at this stage. If it cannot be done, Ed, we accept that.
But let me try to give a picture of what I know, and what I have seen:
Tim’s groups – Mazotsho, Sompondo, Lalini and Frances - know how to make a swale to harvest water in the gardens. They know the value of mulching, and the relationship of organisms in the soil to the plants. They know that an ideal garden must be full of a variety of plants because they are interdependent, and only natural materials like aloes, ‘nuka-nuka,’ may be used to combat destruction of plants by weeds and organisms. The talk has been rife about the damage caused by moles and mice, and simple natural remedies have been suggested. Members have been shown how they can start new plots using an A-Frame, which requires just three pieces of timber. Besides the everyday questions that Tim has taken time to answer and elaborate upon, members have gained lasting information from the films he has shown about people progressing from informal gardening to permaculture.
People spare little thought now to the idea of selling produce. Rather, they aim to produce far more than is required for the welfare of the family. Similarly, everyone is aware of the danger of buying fertilizer and the commercial sprays to combat insect damage or fertilizing the soil. They appreciate the results of using wood ash, bones and manure for improving soil and plants. The planting of fruit trees and other trees for protection of the gardens and medicinal value has been stepped up, thanks to the
wonderful financial assistance offered by prof. Kanuika. The people gladly and gratefully pay the half price, and Mazotsho and Sompondo lead the groups in this
regard.
I wish to commend Tim’s dedication to the people of Frances in particular, who are rising from zero to gardeners keen on permaculture. The youth of Frances hunger after knowledge and an opportunity to produce food themselves. When one remembers that Frances and Jonini have a small population that is mostly Aids stricken, besides the fact that they tell a woeful tale of persecution in their original villages, it just becomes compulsory to help them find themselves. Frances has a couple of strong elderly
men who gained a passion for gardening from the seeming “ill-treatment” by previous masters on the farms. Their knowledge and skills complement Tim’s training and inspire the rest of the people. Today, each young person and some older women have created their own plots in the communal garden under Tim’s guidance, and they are grateful that they joined the project.
Similarly, Artwell’s groups - Kwezana, Majwareni, Sigingqini, and Jonini- are better equipped with information and practical experience than before. Artwell was quite busy demonstrating the creation of nurseries and whole groups were occupied with planting various crops that Artwell brought with him. Everyone appreciates the art of producing seedlings which other groups may purchase from the growers at reasonable prices.
Compost making has been demonstrated, and the failure of one group to maintain a compost helped to show important results that taught the group more about the value of taking care of it. Artwell used the ABCD approach he passionately believes in, emphasising the fact that a community should have a solution to its challenges, not the facilitator in the person of Artwell. Consequently, the men at Jonini offered to help the women have a plot for vegetables, and harmony reigned.
Artwell has worked hard to train the members in setting up their communal garden at Jonini and plant crops, which is one reason there is a real need to secure the garden with fencing in parts. All the groups have a communal garden in which they work with a healthy team-spirit, and they invite Artwell to visit their individual gardens to monitor progress. Where there is a surplus of a crop, sharing takes place, rather than sale of the extra produce.
The Majwareni group is in step with the other groups, because their communal garden feeds a number of people, and the members welcome Artwell with open arms.
The films Artwell has shown helped to motivate the people towards a more forward- looking approach, because Artwell follows up with the actual practical work relevant to the picture.
Yes, there has been the unpleasant aspect of poor attendance at meetings, or new faces appearing at different times. At the same time, there has always been a core of the group working with the facilitators at any given time, so that knowledge and skills were imparted, in spite of the attendance setback. It seems the people are sifting themselves into those who are genuinely hungry and sick, and those who are just plain lazy. This is my personal view. Among the whole lot are old people who cannot do much for themselves, but whose hearts respect the effort to improve their lot. We keep those in the membership roll, and they will not die of hunger.
There are young men (about 6) at Frances, who are members of the project, and who have nothing to hold on to. One of them - Siyanga – is back from hunting for a job. He has repeated his request for material to start a small garden to feed his sister’s children and himself. He earns food by helping other people in their gardens. I mention this young man to illustrate the serious need for the project to continue no matter what.
What remains for the gentlemen is to take rounds and inspect the gardens to see if their training and demonstrations work. A closer level of friendship has been built up over the time, and the facilitators communicate with the members of a Village Committee at any time to arrange visits.
Let me stop at this point, Ed, and leave you to chew all the above.
The only discouraging bit of news is that the Procom Technician wants me to take both laptop and printer to Fort Beaufort – his attempt to connect via Alice town has failed. This is making me older by 10 years each time!
Love
Winnie
2013
Hello Ed
Things are so irregular on my side! I have just returned from Fort Beaufort Procom where I took my laptop, for the technician to show me how to carry out a few tasks. He had not installed a printer, and it is such a roundabout process – I must phone him from home so that he can begin to install it, by giving me instructions over the phone. This is the route I must follow, because I could not take the printer to the shop. I am all nervous about carrying instructions over the phone because my mind is no longer alert.
I have got the latest Bank Statement 19 November, and it shows R19 616. 13 transferred on 31 October by you. Thank you Ed, thank you to Mate, for the never failing support. Tim has already been paid for his visits 11 – 14 November. Artwell is visiting from 20 – 22 November, and he will receive his payment from the Balance.
The groups feel that it will be more worthwhile for the visits to be resumed in March, because November – February is a busy time for most families. They attend to family rituals and get ready to send children to schools. And these are the hottest months of the summer; there is not much activity in the gardens, except harvesting what is growing now.
An overall assessment shows that most gardens have better crops growing this year than previously, and my guess is that the new knowledge and training received by the members has benefitted them well. This brings me to the requests for some wire and poles in respect of Jonini. May we (Committee) grant Jonini their request for wire and poles as indicated in my last email to you? I am sorry to see all the work done on the communal garden going to waste, because the garden needs better security. I think the Balance will be about R10 000 after Artwell’s pay has been deducted. Perhaps Jonini could receive the 12 poles for R538. 85 and the diamond mesh for 1 549.94 at this stage. If it cannot be done, Ed, we accept that.
But let me try to give a picture of what I know, and what I have seen:
Tim’s groups – Mazotsho, Sompondo, Lalini and Frances - know how to make a swale to harvest water in the gardens. They know the value of mulching, and the relationship of organisms in the soil to the plants. They know that an ideal garden must be full of a variety of plants because they are interdependent, and only natural materials like aloes, ‘nuka-nuka,’ may be used to combat destruction of plants by weeds and organisms. The talk has been rife about the damage caused by moles and mice, and simple natural remedies have been suggested. Members have been shown how they can start new plots using an A-Frame, which requires just three pieces of timber. Besides the everyday questions that Tim has taken time to answer and elaborate upon, members have gained lasting information from the films he has shown about people progressing from informal gardening to permaculture.
People spare little thought now to the idea of selling produce. Rather, they aim to produce far more than is required for the welfare of the family. Similarly, everyone is aware of the danger of buying fertilizer and the commercial sprays to combat insect damage or fertilizing the soil. They appreciate the results of using wood ash, bones and manure for improving soil and plants. The planting of fruit trees and other trees for protection of the gardens and medicinal value has been stepped up, thanks to the
wonderful financial assistance offered by prof. Kanuika. The people gladly and gratefully pay the half price, and Mazotsho and Sompondo lead the groups in this
regard.
I wish to commend Tim’s dedication to the people of Frances in particular, who are rising from zero to gardeners keen on permaculture. The youth of Frances hunger after knowledge and an opportunity to produce food themselves. When one remembers that Frances and Jonini have a small population that is mostly Aids stricken, besides the fact that they tell a woeful tale of persecution in their original villages, it just becomes compulsory to help them find themselves. Frances has a couple of strong elderly
men who gained a passion for gardening from the seeming “ill-treatment” by previous masters on the farms. Their knowledge and skills complement Tim’s training and inspire the rest of the people. Today, each young person and some older women have created their own plots in the communal garden under Tim’s guidance, and they are grateful that they joined the project.
Similarly, Artwell’s groups - Kwezana, Majwareni, Sigingqini, and Jonini- are better equipped with information and practical experience than before. Artwell was quite busy demonstrating the creation of nurseries and whole groups were occupied with planting various crops that Artwell brought with him. Everyone appreciates the art of producing seedlings which other groups may purchase from the growers at reasonable prices.
Compost making has been demonstrated, and the failure of one group to maintain a compost helped to show important results that taught the group more about the value of taking care of it. Artwell used the ABCD approach he passionately believes in, emphasising the fact that a community should have a solution to its challenges, not the facilitator in the person of Artwell. Consequently, the men at Jonini offered to help the women have a plot for vegetables, and harmony reigned.
Artwell has worked hard to train the members in setting up their communal garden at Jonini and plant crops, which is one reason there is a real need to secure the garden with fencing in parts. All the groups have a communal garden in which they work with a healthy team-spirit, and they invite Artwell to visit their individual gardens to monitor progress. Where there is a surplus of a crop, sharing takes place, rather than sale of the extra produce.
The Majwareni group is in step with the other groups, because their communal garden feeds a number of people, and the members welcome Artwell with open arms.
The films Artwell has shown helped to motivate the people towards a more forward- looking approach, because Artwell follows up with the actual practical work relevant to the picture.
Yes, there has been the unpleasant aspect of poor attendance at meetings, or new faces appearing at different times. At the same time, there has always been a core of the group working with the facilitators at any given time, so that knowledge and skills were imparted, in spite of the attendance setback. It seems the people are sifting themselves into those who are genuinely hungry and sick, and those who are just plain lazy. This is my personal view. Among the whole lot are old people who cannot do much for themselves, but whose hearts respect the effort to improve their lot. We keep those in the membership roll, and they will not die of hunger.
There are young men (about 6) at Frances, who are members of the project, and who have nothing to hold on to. One of them - Siyanga – is back from hunting for a job. He has repeated his request for material to start a small garden to feed his sister’s children and himself. He earns food by helping other people in their gardens. I mention this young man to illustrate the serious need for the project to continue no matter what.
What remains for the gentlemen is to take rounds and inspect the gardens to see if their training and demonstrations work. A closer level of friendship has been built up over the time, and the facilitators communicate with the members of a Village Committee at any time to arrange visits.
Let me stop at this point, Ed, and leave you to chew all the above.
The only discouraging bit of news is that the Procom Technician wants me to take both laptop and printer to Fort Beaufort – his attempt to connect via Alice town has failed. This is making me older by 10 years each time!
Love
Winnie