Urban Agriculture and Nature Conservation

Greetings GG Friends!! 

I hope this missive finds you well and hale in these marvellous, turbulent Times.

We are busy launching Abalimi centres in the Eastern Cape (former Transkei Ciskei Apartheid Homelands) from where most of our Target Group in the Townships of Cape Town hail. All on the smell of an oilrag, I might add. As is our style. Since these centres are being launched by existing and retired staff, who love farming so much, that they voluntarily set up Abalimi centres in the Home Villages, deep in the Rural areas, where they were born. And where they aim to be buried!! 

Of course, ever since we began in 1982, these wonderful folks who we serve, the majority of whom are drawn from the Xhosa nation, have been backwards and forwards between Cape Town and their Rural Homes regularly, taking what they learn in Cape Town back with them. Until now, however, we did not manage to set up any centres there. But the farmers have been demanding that we do!! So, we are.

Unemployment and cash starvation are almost 100% in the Rural Areas, sending millions of aspiring people into the Cities every year to look for jobs. But our 35-40% National unemployment rate remains steady. With national elections coming up next year, there is a surge of Government support, but this is all for chemical poison farming. And we are Organic. 

So, we do need help. But remember, what we get done on R100, the Government spend R10 000 (+) on. They simply cant believe what we do,  on so little. We punch way beyond our weight in Gold. As always.

Its just that there is such huge money behind Big Food system chemical posion GMO farming,  as the only solution to world food problems. With almost zero recognition that over 50% of the worlds poor in the Global South, barring in war and extreme weather events, feed themselves quite well, de facto organic, with almost zero help from State.

And are healthy and strong, but cash poor. This is an established scientific fact, but because this informal economy does not pay taxes, or generate riches on a grand scale, it is utterly ignored. In SA, we call it the Second Economy. And it is Thriving. I currently live in it, in Khayelitsha, among our Target Group. And a major part of it is supply of fresh fruit and veg to the table.

In the Eastern Cape, things are more dire. Only the old, new mothers and the very young tend to stay on. But the land is dark with fertility, there is good seasonal rain and there is literally money underfoot. If people revive their Home Gardens there. 

We recently toured three of these remote areas...the Amatola Basin villages, the Umtata Villages around Misty Hills near Port Saint Johns and the Kings Villages in the area of Lady Frere. 

In each of three selected villages, in these areas, we are setting up Abalimi Home Garden support centres, run by ex staff members voluntarily as part of their own community support thrust.

And we intend to ensure that simple easy solutions are put in place to get the Home Kraal Gardens going. They have own manure, they have the space (Home gardens can easily be 500m2 around the homes) and they have the rain.

Anything grows there!! Now, its a matter of capturing the rain to irrigate the gardens and suppying basic tools, equipment and above all training and inspiriation from these new centres. And all the rest will follow.

A Good Green Revolution. As we have sparked in the City.  Will now take place in their Rural Homes. And multiply like wild fire. Over time. Its a sure thing. We know what we are doing.

So, your support now also enables this extension of our services to Our People in the Rural Areas, where they are born and where they go home to be buried.

I aim to improve my communication with You All, in the nearest possible future. While we do operate mostly on fresh air, we do need some cash to do some things, like buy bulk tools, some start-up seed, subsidise training and outreach and so forth. 

So, watch this space. And Thank You. One and All. For your interest and loyal support over the years. Without You as Friends and Partners, where would we be? Please spread the Word. That alone is a major help.

God bless. Its almost Christmas again, so I feel qualified to mention the Numinous.

All the very best

Rob

P.S. If in Cape town, anytime, come visit. we will bend over backwards to accomodate you. Tho over Christmas, a lot of our farmers are back in the Eastern Cape, leaving their city farms fallow till they return.And most of our staff are also on leave. But I am usually around and will always try to make a plan. Thats what we do best in Afrika and South Africa...we make a plan. No crisis dismays us. No obstacle discourages us. We love cracks in the System. They are only new opportunities for advancement. We are a true pioneer can-do nation, similar to America in a way.