The world can be a food garden

Naturally Yours wellness centre started a gardening project in their own soil beds, and are spreading awareness of how garden spaces can benefit everyone. They are busy setting up a competition to be launched in Sandton soon.

The Naturally Yours food garden is a newly-established project started by tenant Jacques van Jaarsveld and a security guard in the parking lot at the centre.

Security guard Sipho Lunga maintains the gardens and harvests the vegetables daily, saying “vegetables benefit people more than flowers do.”

“It comes from my heart because I love nature and trees,” said Lunga. He explained that if he was given the opportunity, he would dedicate his time to gardening vegetables to sell to restaurants. Van Jaarsveld hopes to help Lunga get neighbouring properties and businesses involved.

The wellness centre has basil, beetroot, carrots, tomatoes, spring onions and chillies growing which are regularly harvested. Lunga is looking for more border spaces to grow more produce as he has filled all the spaces at the wellness centre.

According to the owner of Naturally Yours, Chamilla Sanua, each garden uses organic materials such as industrial hemp and heritage air loom seeds. These seeds can be harvested to replant and can be found at Keith Kirsten nurseries.

“They are not genetically modified and we will be able to take their seeds and replant them. We use organic compost and no pesticides,” said Sanua.

“Food grown in this way is much more nutritious and fresher than that found in a vegetable shop,” she added.

Sanua has noticed Bryanston has a vast number of green space surrounding offices and complexes that are not being put to optimum use. She asks her neighbours to contact her if they are interested in allowing Lunga to use the space.

She thinks it would be great if gardens had an indigenous tree planted next to a food-bearing tree, and if fruit and nut trees were planted on the sidewalks. Sanua said it would be an “excellent idea if we all became as self-sufficient as they are in Cuba”.

“Every bit of space is used to grow food. Food is grown in schools, hospitals, universities, along the streets, and on balconies. How many people cannot afford fruit and vegetables and live on white bread and coke?” said Sanua. She emphasised the importance of eating healthily and looking after your body.

“Our food is our medicine. When the people at the centre are happy and eating healthy food, they are a lot more healthy and productive,” she added.

Sanua is working on a competition that challenges businesses to start their own vegetable gardens. The competition will be launched on the Sandton Chronicle Facebook page soon.

Details: Chamilla Sanua on 08245618970824561897