This presentation will cover...This presentation will cover...

Permaculture

Durban Botanic Gardens Permaculture Centre

The Mila Project

The Food Garden Network

Bev Ainslie

PermaculturePermaculture……

…is permanent agriculture.

…is a way of living and growing food by copying nature AND

working with nature.

…encourages biodiversity.

The three ethics underpinning permaculture are:

Care for the Earth

Care for People

Fair Share

If you create a food garden based on ways found in nature, by listening and watching carefully how

nature works, you will be playing an important role

in repairing the earth.

Durban Botanic Gardens Durban Botanic Gardens PermaculturePermaculture GardenGarden

Schools Food Security Project – The Mila Project

(Grow)

Imagine Durban Demonstration Project

StakeholdersStakeholders

Bev Ainslie and Brenda Mhlungu

Durban Botanic Gardens

Khanyisa Projects

Beneficiaries

Cato Crest Primary School

Glenridge Pre-Primary School

Main GoalsMain Goals

Sustainable vegetable gardens

School Nutrition Programme

Permaculture food gardening booklet

Workplan & TimeframesWorkplan & TimeframesJan Feb March April May June July Aug

Needs Analysis

Install Irrigation

Develop Permaculture Gardening Booklet

Start and maintain the vegetable garden

Hold weekly practical training session

Supply school vegetables

Evaluate

A Cato Crest follow-up: 25th September 2010…

ChallengesChallenges

Few mechanisms set in place to ensure project/garden will continue beyond the funds/intervention.

Lack on mentorship beyond the “funded” project.

Gardens in close proximity of each working in isolation.

Resources simply supplied by the project and little relationships built up with local suppliers.

Challenges particular to schoolsChallenges particular to schools

The focus is with one particular group of learners and the rest of the school is either unaware of the project and/or uninvolved.

No/little integration into the curriculum.

Knowledge and skills leaving primary schools; no follow-through to high schools.

Difficulties around organising holiday programmes and therefore ongoing maintenance of the garden.

Food Garden Network Food Garden Network -- AimsAims

Promote:

Food gardening & urban greening

Permaculture principles (biodiversity & human wellbeing)

Integrate indigenous and food plants

Relationship building

Sharing of knowledge, skills, talents & resources

Training and support

NB: Long term support approach with key node schools/communities/organisations

Food Garden Network Food Garden Network –– Aims to Aims to promotepromote……..

ActivitiesActivities

Meet monthly for practical training workshops

(Botanic Gardens and on-site)

Role of FGN CoordinatorRole of FGN Coordinator

Promote & market permaculture food gardening

Develop & maintain a vibrant & happening city food garden network with regular meetings

Develop a resource & suppliers list to support developing food gardeners

Identify food garden champions in local neighbourhoods across the City

Refer interested gardeners to permaculture courses offered at the Durban Botanic Gardens Permaculture Centre and other City initiatives

Role of FGN CoordinatorRole of FGN Coordinator……

BenefitsBenefits

Food security

Healthy eating habits

Sustainable environmental practices

Promotes active learning, linked to the curriculum

Food Garden Network update: 9th September 2010 ……

Healthy meals, sprouts and micro-greens……

29th October & 5th November Container Gardening at the Corner Café

26th November - Clive Greenstone on Rooftop Gardens at Abalone Place

Community Outreach – Addington Primary….

Mkhulha House

Malacca Road

Mkhuhla

Addington

Glenwood GG

Corner Cafe Malacca Rd

Tree Tops

Manor Gardens

Glenridge

Cato Crest

Network