urban farming

Given the state of our countries unemployment rates, trading goods or services for goods or services, or an alternative currency instead of simply just cash is very lucrative for many.  Trading laws vary, they varied, even before the existence of money or currency.   I am deeply blessed on my journey to find people who have traded the use of much land, both in Mpumalanga and Gauteng.  In Mpumalanga I have written a previous post on some of what goes on, on this farm.   Read it here for more information.

I find myself on a farm, situated approximately 7kms outside Machadodorp, nestled between a trout farm and game farms with guesthouse accommodation.  A co-owner of the land, Ane’, connected with me via an old friend and we emailed back and forth information about our visions for community and self-sustainability.  Working with ATSOU (Awakening the Spirit of Ubuntu) Ane’ found a love and passion working with disadvantaged children and ex-combattons.   She worked in many community projects and is an excellent PA to a very wealthy woman in the city.  It became a trade to do a garden, a massive garden, without any money to invest or reward me with…  We decided on a small piece of land for me to use to build a small home on.  I do not have any money income apart from consultations and the garden in Johannesburg at the Pirates Sports club was thinned out to do a few client gardens when I lost my cottage 6 months ago.  It would have ended then if it were not for a friend Peter who insisted I keep the garden and has truly stepped up to assist in the physical work of it all.  It is also an important garden because it ensures there is always food in Johannesburg growing for me and those who assist, and those who I giveaway to.  We therefore currently trade a ride through to Johannesburg once a week/every second week (to tend to my garden at Pirates and do consultations), my monthly costs (rent, electricity, washing, and three meals a day),and if necessary assistance with odd items for personal use when required, along with the use of the land to build my own home on…

The setup and duties on the farm include assisting in creating a youth camp consisting of 4 teepees and 2 large army tents.  Once we have funds to complete a small ablution and kitchen area for volunteers it will be set up and ready for camps/woofers/visitors.  Ane’s vision does not end there, she has looked at the entire region – Emakhazeni; each small town individually (WatervalBoven, Machadodorp [Dullstroom is already at tourist attraction and is therefore not included] and Belfast) and we have reached out to various departments; Municipality, Arts and Culture and the Cooperative Governance of Traditional Affairs for assistance.  We wish to implement a plan and program which can be summed up as a self-employment initiative for each area.  This involves setting up of green spaces (community gardens), tourist stalls, art and crafts developments with capacity building, incorporating ideas such as trash to treasure and fresh start to name a few of the projects in mind.  It is a highly amiable and ambitious vision.  It is also the most likely model to create community that thrives on local and naturally grown produce, medicine and cosmetics.

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I’ve worked on these gardens for approximately 6 months, and planted over 100 different edible and medicinal plant varieties.   Some in bags, some in the ground, some in trays, some in the food gardens, some in the wild…  I am still, in no way producing anything in a monoculture method. or on a mass scale. We are still experimenting; wanting to find a main crop or two…a vision of setting up a nursery in the area. I estimate another 2 years at this rate before making some serious money, but keep an eye on my Facebook pages and this blog, many things change instantly in my world.

My trade is to use my talents, to just be, which seems surreal but is quite a task at times.  It is all very exciting, very humbling, very rewarding and very much dependant on consistent effort and discipline.   It is a race against time that is no longer as we know it. Climate change presents itself, especially with drought and a recent tornado in Johannesburg.  Biodiversity is vital to both our own health and that of the earth itself.  This planet.  I am almost certain a few of us will evolve, as some plants evolve when transplanted from region to region.  The question is, whether or not we are prepared to evolve?

Much about gardening has become a dance for me, like putting away ones toys after a game.  Relayering, replacing, restoring, adding, shifting mulches….  The result is longevity and great skin.  It is a dance highly recommended to those drawn to it, but not a calling for everyone.  I came across men eating mice once, and it shocked me to core with a deep sadness at how unprepared they were, even with the knowledge of planting seed.  If anything to do a garden is a major way of taking ones power back.  IF not back from government or shop owners we dislike, or from bosses who don’t pay us enough to go on holiday often enough, then simply it is a matter of pride, in my opinion, as a garden is a good foundation for a home ;-)

Do come join me in Johannesburg at my garden for a monthly crop swap so we can add to the biodiversity of this country or visit us at the farm in Mpumalanga and volunteer your time and expertise.

see you in the garden ;-)

My winter has been filled with color, as I find my way still with all of these things I write and share herein.  I have spent 4 months and counting drifting between Mpumalanga and Johannesburg, planting and harvesting bits and pieces.  Consulting work is picking up, and paying off in more ways than one, as clients begin to show and share their harvests and joy about fresh peas and spinach, onion and tomato always there.

I still believe that food and water should be a human right, and that it is important to add value to our food security by adding to the biodiversity in our gardens and communities.  At the farm outside Machadasdorp (Mpumalanga), the garden has taken shape as shown below, throughout winter.

This was the beginning…

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I am greatful for the assistance in hoe-ing out the thicket, as I sorted the debris into braches, logs, mulch, and used it to shape and layer my beds.  Much is being used to grow soil or compost for planting.

2This is the result.  I have planted Mugwort, Basilmint, Pineapple mint, Rue, Burdock, Comfrey, Rainbow Raddishes, Marigold, Onion, Specboom and Amaranth here.

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 Just needs SOIL -the most important plant you will ever grow.  Soil is for plants what bioplus is for some of us.  My method is being tested wherever I gain clients with the consultations I have begun to do.  I have had success both on ivy, and on clay soil, also in drought.  I believe I have combined permaculture methods of sheet mulching and hugelkultuur in some cases, however in this garden elements such as the eucalyptus and pine needles are shunned.  If i were more scientifically equipped I would guess the soil ph is what is most tampered with when I work in this way, shifting layers of the earth like a dj.  To me, each part of any piece of land is different, it is a thing or language we all know and become aware of the more we engage in being part of the solution to climate change.  This part of the solution is biodiversity.

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The shadecloth donated was not enough on my first trip, but I managed to get some more on my second trip and have sewn it all together onto the tunnel, next to this spiral garden I made.  Things are already growing here too…

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As you can see, things are really growing here….

9I am in Johannesburg 7 – 9 days a month to generate a financial income.  My garden at the Pirates Sports Club is still growing, and I have chosen to share it with some people, they deserve a dedicated blog post. We hope to sustain ourselves with food and medicine from this garden and will continue to use the garden as a place for crop swaps and workshops.

If you would like to have a garden consultation, please book one in advance.  Email nntreasure@gmail.com or give me a call Netanya 072 146 9017

When I read the market opportunity part in my document, and my document in general, it is beautiful, it is an awesome vision but again it is nothing without a community that sustainably utilizes it.  I am grateful for the gifts of what I’ve needed, especially, for what seems to me the Grace of God while I worked through my anger and depression with God making this garden, for the teachings, for the second hand clothing, the toilet paper, the toothpaste, the shoes, the likes and shares on facebook, the room to sleep in, the heater in the winter, the farms I get to see… its the reason I do at times maintain this garden with very little reward.

  1. Club members over the past year and a half have been exposed to information on this garden in the club newsletter less than 5 times.  This means the market opportunity has not been utilized or tapped into.  Pirates is a sports club, and the sporting activities, wine tastings and gin and tonic evenings take precedence.  They have been very generous in gifting me with the use of the land and borehole water.  I would gladly stand at the gates and hand out pamphlets if I had the funding to make pamphlets. I am now pushing to walk and do this talk, and discussion about my vision (see the Art of Craft Mission document) with committee members and management over the next two months, and be more frequent in the newsletter, if the garden is to remain on the premises.
  2. Suburban upper class wine tastings or food, tea and wine pairing is something I would require professionals to come and present and train me if desired or just use the opportunity and add to the versatility of the ideas set out in my document as far as Pirates being a space known as a hub of community support and inspiration in all areas of wellness goes.
  3. Organic markets and farmers come together at Pirates, but one market is a success and the rest are often confused with this one, resulting in a lot of newcomers only coming through once.  The farmers stalls at markets are usually one guy selling everyone’s produce, so it is not likely to meet the farmer at a organic market, but rather at the garden swaps.  Either way all NEED SUPPORT.  I do not generate enough income to support myself, and usually pay for markets by grace… as in the fee is waived last minute or lessened and volunteers assist me in moving around once a week, or month at times in doing a market.  I therefore have little exposure.  This month I am merging with The Vintage Kitchen, and have shared and added some spice to what I produce from the garden. Elisma from The Vintage Kitchen will also assist with packaging, design and distribution.  Below are some images of our small start in the kitchen today, yes a day before the Bluebird Wholefood Market where these will be for sale ;-) big love.DSC_0058 DSC_0054 DSC_0057
  4. Health shops, co-op shops and online shops want larney packaging I cannot afford and I have not contacted or met many of the owners.  Mostly because I know that what I produce is unique and limited and they want products that are supplied in x amount on a weekly basis with x amount of profit in x amount of time …  quite frankly, if I spread out my teas at pirates now it will be another 6 – 8 months to meet a demand on a huge variety of things.  Packaging will cost, so will communication.
  5. I have registered a blogpage as an online shop and will be learning and putting my items for sale on the Art of Craft Shopping site this month April 2017.  It was set up by an IT guy who has little income, for free.  My domain name for this blog was gifted by an old friend from many years back.
  6. No one has ever contributed R500 or more, added my range of teas and infusions to their brands packaging and distribution (however my salt and tea is now added to The Vintage Kitchen collection of April 2017), and had me teach and train their growers about them, placed a link to Art of Craft on their website, sponsored an Art of Craft event, and Solid Green is the only company to have brought a group to volunteer at the Art of Craft garden.
  7. In consideration of the Art of Craft Mission document attached in PDF format free for you to download here – artofcraftmission – and the above mentioned, as well as losing the cottage I tried to make a home and business in over the past 4 months my bed and camping chair are for sale.  My offerings of doing art, making you medicinal infusions, garden consultations and reports with trading assistance still exist.  In short I do all this for the love of God, humanity and the earth quite literally.  As much as I have inspired you in your art, life, business and dreams, you have inspired me to live from my core.
  8. My phone, banking and email records, as well as the free spaces to sleep, store things, take things along randomly and loss of a beautiful cottage are testimony to what I consider a lack of support, though a few have angrily commented that I have support. I once laughed, responding that I have more opportunists than support, which I still feel is true, which is why I mainly tried to do this garden alone – for me it was my only grounding place, when I previously had no cottage or home of my own… it is and was also my downfall, as hermits own IT businesses lol not empowerment or healing ones.  I deeply apologize to society and myself daily.   Some have commented that I have inspired them, others have been empowered for short periods.  It is and always will be my intention to ADD VALUE whether I have money to pay for it to be added or practical DIY – like this garden.
  9. Lastly, I am sure I will be forgiven if I disappear out this farming scene all together, flatten and remove the plants from the garden entirely, and just make tea and do art… and grow my plants elsewhere. However, I have been changing the garden by moving things around, and planting seeds, so that it can be left alone more-so, while I ground myself and completely manifest my business here in Johannesburg.  I really do want to do a few art installations at some point before my trade time ends ;-)
  10. Thank you for continuing to show respect for the space I grow my food and medicine in.                                                                                                                                                                  Please give me a call if you would like to utilize any of my offerings or purchase my bed and camping chair 072 146 9017

SINCERELY

Netanya

For those following my story, on this blog, I have been deterred so many times just trying to be self -sustainable off the land I traded for using various systems of trade and proxy.  I figured what I loved doing the most when I worked in the company I resigned from, was actually the simple act of foraging in the garden for leaves and flowers for a tea and sharing it with my fellow workers ;-) So, when I resigned, I decided to trade for the land I use at Pirates and to firstly, grow my own food, and then my medicine or teas and share that.

Along this journey, I sold out in before the first summer of the first garden came, and had to relocate the garden, just as I was getting the tea plants to grow more, and start again.  I started again, which brought new people into the garden.  One of them is now my boss or investor or mentor, time will tell.  He has an interest in self-sustainability and living off-grid comfortably, and has invested, not only in the Pirates garden, but also out in the Lebombo / also known as the Ingwenya mountain range near the Oshoek border post of Swaziland and South Africa.  It is still on the South African side of the border, so no need for a passport if you are South African ;-)  These are some images from my first trip out there.

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The accommodation include a gas powered stove top and shower, with toilet.

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My accommodation is set in the cliff-side on a wooden deck, with draping tents as walls and a corrugated rooftop.  I have a comfortable big bed too with storage units under it.   We will be needing volunteers to assist in building more of these platforms for accommodation for a while, as this is quite an impressive few hectares of land to food forest. Please contact me if you want to assist. 072 146 9017

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Here is already sugarcane, papaya, mango, olive, litchi, berry and more growing for a few years… and the gardener has done a PDC course – which I have not, so this will be interesting as I will be farming the plants I used to make teas and teaching the people about my teas and how to connect to the garden, well hopefully, that as well, as we grow together.  Firstly, the land has been in drought for over 2 years, so we dig alot and take water from the mountain literally ;-)  I am learning alot about the earth I have danced with for so long, and deeply grateful that so many of my favorite fruits can already be tasted in December.

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This is Yarrow – used as an antiseptic in soaps and teas, can be used as a wound wash as a tea or ingested and very safe for anyone, including children ;-)

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The Lebombo Mountains, also called Lubombo Mountains  are an 800 km long, narrow range of mountains in Southern Africa. They stretch from Hluhluwe in KwaZulu-Natal in the south to Punda Maria in the Limpopo Province in South Africa in the north. Part of the mountains are also found in Mozambique and Swaziland.  This is mostly still tribal land ;-)

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Plantain – on of the edible weeds at pirates is found growing next to the river here…

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THE FOLLOWING IMAGES ARE OF THE FOUNTAIN GARDEN I WILL BE USING TO GROW MY TEAS AND HERBS IN.  I will need volunteers here too – please contact me if you are interested in spending some time learning and growing in this space with me,

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love and light

Netanya

0721469017

nntreasure@gmail.com

Westbury Youth Centre began with a dream and vision to fulfill the need for a place the community could not only call their own, but also a place that would take care of their own; take care of their future.   They have various programs to assist community, including a fantastic garden.  They strive to empower the youth and community through skills development, multimedia , community outreach and education.  Truly a place of hope, providing opportunities, developing great citizens, offering alternatives to substance abuse.

I was fortunate to meet Harry from Little Green Men in my garden at Pirates, who took me to a meeting at the Centre.  In this meeting we decided to redesign and integrate much more variety of plants, and community activities to help the garden grow.   We decided to start tomorrow, and in we went with Nklandla and Josef from the Pirates garden and began to utilize and remove waste from the space.

This is how it started…

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Along with some awesome volunteer students from the centre and community, we have been digging swales and planting seeds, redoing the entire garden and adding alot more surface area to plant in for a start.  Below are more images of progress and updates will be posted regularly on the Little Green Men website.

20160505_082726Here the guys were using waste materials to construct our gate for the potting area.

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Also made use of some of the waste creating an awesome potting area and below are the beginnings of my mind map of things to come…

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…. and so it is some areas ready for planting now early May 2016 please go to the Little Green Men page and sign up for some of the harvest at only R70 for the contents of a box and a once off fee of R50 for a box made by the school can help us get books and other items for the school and continue to grow a supply of food for the centre and community around it as well.

 The potting area in progress… 20160505_082807

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20160421_134446 If you would like to donate any plants or seedlings that are either medicinal or edible please contact me on 072 146 9017 or nntreasure@gmail.com  Thank you to Shahn from The Kitchen Garden company for some of our first plants ;-)

20160505_161437Westbury Youth Centre garden is open to the public during the week, so feel free to come pick your own veggies with us from time to time ;-) <3

Anyone interested in joining in on a Seed Swopping Saturday – please keep an eye on my facebook page called Art of Craft Interactive Gardening @ Pirates – I aim to do this from the garden at Pirates in Johannesburg, Greenside, one Saturday a month in SPRING (although, I am usually willing to trade many items from the garden when I am seen) in Greenside at The Pirates Sports Club, please send me your contact details.  072 146 9017 or come through.

In last years blog post about seedy Saturday, I posted the following, I still think it relevant for thought…

“I am learning the different perceptions many have about value and what it is based upon.  Most of us do things for the financial remuneration for those we do not know.  When it comes to doing things with love, we do things for family, friends, partners….  I think if the value system or perception that value is money changes, we can have community and organic non GMO food everyday no matter how much money we have.  I see how we put some kind of financial value on people, whereas it is worth about R4000 a month for me to tolerate disrespect of my space or mindset or spirit.  It should be a human right to grow food, to be self sustainable, yet in some countries rates and taxes go up because people grow tomatoes on their pavements.   Ive also learnt that the human capacity I have far out weighs the human ability I have, which makes it virtually impossible to ever exert all my energy in an exchange that is equal to the value of what combined perceptions have given to the way of life I would like to create … it includes underfloor heating ;-)   It has been a sad crossing over from doing more trading for space than paying a currency for space.

Anyway, the point is that this idea to gather people from the area to meet with people all over  Johannesburg who want to eat a variety of organic veg for health and longevity, people who want exposure for their businesses to raise the value of what they do in this world, people who want to assist in rehabilitating the land and river….  I am hoping this will result in getting the composting and the garden complete, eventually having the rugby games and all events at the club flowing into a space of love where exchanges, laughter, growth and sustainability are the results.”

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Anyone can come with nothing or come bringing tools, seeds, plants, cuttings to trade and/ or sell.

I can use alot of seed, trees, tools, soil to plant in etc… and Id like to continue my garden at Pirates with a community that is growing with me.

CHECK IN AGAIN FOR MORE updates

UPDATE 17/05/2015

A successful example of community involvement