South Africa: Urban farm thriving in the middle of Bedfordview suburb
Johannesburg – As part of the Bedfordview Safety Forum, an urban farm has been opened in the middle of the residential suburb.
By Anna Cox
IOL
Jan 21, 2021
The 1 500m² “farm” has 600m of running produce.
The produce is completely organic with her leaving certain weeds and plants to keep the soil fertile.
She even had four allotments, small pieces of the farm where people live in high-rise buildings with no gardens, can come and do their own gardening.
Heeb is also growing oak trees which are vital to the environment.
“We willingly accept donations of bags of fallen oak leaves which create a problem for the city as they block storm water drains. If people and gardeners can collect them we willingly use them as compost,” she said.
Heeb works closely with the facilities at the Italian Club – two schools, and old-age home, a restaurant and the club itself.
“We do all their recycling for our compost, but most importantly we teach children in the two schools the importance of gardening. They use old yoghurt tubs and we give them age-appropriate seedlings which they are taught to take care of. Then they come and plant them in our farm and they really enjoy it,” she said.
Of the produce, 20 %to 40% goes to food exchange programmes or is sold, 40% to donations and 20% left for the worms and birds, she jokes.
