Food Security South Africa Project #714

Micro-farming among the poor Cape Town

by Abalimi Bezekhaya - Planters of the Home

Project Report | Feb 14, 2013
farmer valentines

By Rob | micro-farmer

Home garden in containers Khayelitsha Jan 2013

Dear Global Giving Friends , we just recieved a Global Giving Disbursement of USD 1648.51 from you, via Global Giving .

I know a few of you personally, and some have come to visit our work. so can speak about it first hand.

Firstly, thank you, thank you ! Everything truly human in life begins with a gift, and evolves towards true gifting.

With your help, the gift we give the world is that our micro-farmer movement continues to grow - over 700 new people signed up since March 2012. Take a look at the healthy crop growing in containers , created by a new micro-farmer member in the picture attached to this report!

Furthermore, the message is spreading far and wide- "urban farming makes cities sustainable" - see part 1 of the latest article featuring Abalimi in the attached link.

I dont know if its Valentines Day in your part of the world, like it is as I write this here in South Africa. Whatever the case, I hope that you and yours are thriving.

All the very best

Rob Small

micro-farmer

P.S. to those of you who have visited us and know us, and also to those of you who choose to contribute even though you may never have witnessed first hand what we do, please do write something on Global Giving ? Your words of support can be powerful

Links:

first part of good article in futurecapetown online mag

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Dec 19, 2012
"If You Can Grow Your Own Food, You Can Be Free."

By Spectra Asala | Southern Africa GlobalGiving Rep

Founder of Abalimi, Rob Smalls (Right)

Abalimi isn't just about growing vegetables; it's not just a project, but a movement to foster freedom for all through community farming.

Nearly every aspect of their programming reflects local township leadership: farming, harvesting, food education, and more are all speer-headed by the black South Africans who live in the townships (Khayelitsha, Nyanga, and the and rural settlements by the Cape Flats where many of the farming plots are based).

Founder Rob Small's bottom-up leadership philosophy really shines through via the workflow of the Abalimi movement. For instance, during my visit -- which was conducted as an official Abalimi Tour -- we first visited a plot that was currently harvesting spring onions (the largest I'd ever seen in my life!) and other vegetables; there, Rob mentioned that the women working that plot had told him about a week ago that the watering system had stopped working. When he asked them whether it had been fixed, they told him no, and he proceeded to explain to them what they needed to do to get to it. Later, he let us know that it would take a phone call from him to fix the faulty equipment, but that it was important that the women learned to be resourceful and advocate for themselves.

Abalimi takes pride on nurturing community leadership. At the core of their programming is education, supported by a referral system that links people to resources (not just related to urban agriculture, but civic engagement and local municipal government services). This is all part of Abalimi's push to empower farmers to stand on their own two feet.

As with agriculture across the board, farmers are not able to make a profit (or even make net) without government subsidies. So, the funds from GlobalGiving go towards that subsidy, reducing the cost of farming and harvesting so make it worthwhile for the community. Rob's goal is to empower enough farmers to want to produce more food so that they can take more advanced orders and sell more, which will further lower the cost of farming and increase profits for the farmers. It's certain that the funds from GG are used very thoughtfully, and strategically.

The most inspiring part of the visit was meeting the woman who runs the Abalami training center (where they sell seeds to new farmers and offer training so that they can get started). She started out as a farmer, and is now such an expert that she trains other people to train farmers. From her work as a farmer, she has been able to purchase a car, send her children to school, and live a very comfortable life. Rob insists this is attainable for anyone who desires it, even in urban farming. And is constantly working to drive that message home to young people.

"If you can grow your own food, you can be free. You can earn money, drive a decent care, provide for your family. You won't have to ask the government for anything. That is real freedom."

Marking Your Plot!

Packaging the Vegetables for Delivery

Young Horticulturist Volunteers at Abalimi

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Dec 11, 2012
Abalimi news!!!! Christmas hellooo & New Yr "blues"

By micro-farmer activist | micro-farmer activist

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