Monthly Archives: October 2015

Please note that this is a tweaked version of a report and agreement on a personal project of mine…. ive tried to keep the ideas in place….

Introduction
This document is meant to communicate to the Sports Club the plan, and intention for the construction of the Energy Exchange garden at the club grounds.

To establish and grow a garden, without funding, takes more time, lots of dedication and listening. Tasks such as building up the soil, planting of seeds and plants, garden design, harvesting, selling and getting organic certification have happened anyway… right through winter 2015. This in itself is miraculous to many people.

Vision

This vision statement is given to describe the vision for the future of the Garden.

1. The Sports Club garden will be a space of love and wonder, learning, listening, connecting, nourishment and joy for all members of Sports Club. The produce of this sustainable organic garden will be the freshest healthiest possible  pick it with me, when in abundance  to support a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.
2. The garden is set up using only permaculture techniques. This regenerates the soil back to a pristine organic state without exceeding the fertile condition to safeguard the health and healing properties of the fruits, vegetables and herbs.
3. The garden will create a beautiful place to engage club members and attract more people from surrounding suburbs in an inspirational place where they have access to locally grown food, medicinal plants and affordable workshops at good prices for their health and environmental benefit.
4. The garden will supply edibles that can be harvested firstly to volunteers, and as trade for seeds, plants and other materials. ……… shows keen interest in becoming permanently involved as far as volunteer labour goes. (Please note that without funding, being reliant on seedy saturdayz trades, I cannot guarantee what the garden can supply anyone. I do however have faith that it will produce what those who assist in it need, as no garden I have ever done has not done this for me.)
5. The garden will provide medicinal plants and herbs to Netanya in the future for her product range.
6. Joining a co-operative or creating a food hub in the area will be advantageous to the community and surrounds, as it will allow jhb urban farmers to distribute their produce through shops like ………………setting up a kiosk at the club for this purpose. This requires funding or joining a co-operative such as …………., which is a banking system without interest, and are willing to assist in setting up a greenhouse and kiosk.

Achievements

Establishing of the winter garden
The garden contains a variety of plants which can be found in the annexures of this document. These plants also have been adding value as being medicinal, edible, maintaining and adding to the health and fertility of the soil, creating fertiliser and anti-pest and anti-bacterial sprays.

The growing movements of ‘overgrow the system’, ‘grow food not lawns’ and ‘Food is free to all’ is taking root in the community and surrounds, in fact, all over the world. This means that eventually large food sections in our Pick n Pays will either be provided for locally or completely eradicated, as more people are now growing food and trading. From experience in community farming in urban environments, the problem was distribution, not lack of produce.  Let the community bring in the food, and grow ourselves if that is what you want me to supply the members its can be done using jhb urban farm produce in a kiosk at the club.

Ivy
The ivy area is partially layered over with hugelkultuur. To be continued with volunteers.

Compost
Construction of a compost site, near the storage and staff house.
Training of two members of the staff to maintain the composting (or just watering the piles), or employing two labourers once every two weeks to turn the compost piles and layer bokashi.

Pest Control
Big hugel has been conquered, no more rats.

Weed Control
Most weeds are medicinal, and controlled by removing them root and all after the rains. Cardboard is layered underneath each bed, making it difficult for weeds to push through and take over.
Plants that attract bugs are introduced to attract bugs that eat weeds. Ecosystems restored or created, enhancing quality of soil and yield of harvest.

Organic certification of the garden
Netanya was approved by PGS, and granted a certificate for Naturally Grown Produce. This certificate will be reviewed in winter of 2016 again, after 36 months of farming the land it is deemed rehabilitated and Organically Certified. What does PGS certification mean? PGS South Africa operates according to the guidelines for Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) as defined by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).
“Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) are locally focused quality assurance systems. They certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange.” (IFOAM, 2008)
PGS represent a real alternative to third party certification, especially adapted to local markets. Thousands of small farmers who grow organic produce are unable to certify their products. Many established organic producers are certified by third party certifiers. It is the system most countries require for organic certification. Third party certification can be quite costly and requires onerous record-keeping and infrastructure beyond the means of most small farmers.
THE STANDARD: Growers are assessed according to a set of Basic Production Principles. These principles are based on the AFRISCO Organic Standard and in compliance with PGS requirements in the South African Draft Regulations. It must be noted that PGSSA has no relationship with AFRISCO and that AFRISCO neither supports nor endorses PGSSA. The choice to use the AFRISCO Standard as baseline is due to the fact that the standard is in general use across Southern Africa and is accredited by IFOAM.

Connecting/Networking

I have brought in …………….. to advise and they are happy to have me as an agent that makes use of the product that usually goes to community farms. This process of sourcing restaurants in the Green – strip, and waiting approximately 3 – 4 weeks for food waste to ferment, will determine the time of re-starting the layering of the compost. In the interim, shade cloth can be erected and successive workshops organised.

Netanya has traded for or self seeded everything in the garden. Only compost was purchased and is still short by about 80 cubes. Cost is estimated at R900 per cube if delivered, one avenue where funding is required if the garden is to be completed over a short period.

Awareness and Education – START A BLOG
A record of all activity is available in blog posts on the Art of Permaculture page of Netanya’s blog www.artofcraft.co.za

Garden Planning

What will be done
• The garden will be completed (plants are in the annexure)
• The ivy area will be layered over with hugelkultuur and various edible and medicinal plant seeds raked into it, aloe varieties and alfalpha to be planted on the slope and transplanted into bags over 6 months replaced by edible and medicinal plants.
• Community involvement – 8 permanent volunteers who assist in creating a record of all activity in the garden, which will be used to design a model for small families to be self-sustainable off the size of land allocated
• Community involvement through networking (share and like on facebook), journalists in area can write articles, use of community green waste if compost can become what it can become, also bokashi, allotment gardens can be set up to supply club and restaurants in the community
• Continued use of recycled waste from the bar (planters still in the back of my mind)
• Suggested fundraiser talk of taboo surrounding owls and medicinal infusions
• Netanya will focus of planting food for assistants and herself, as well as medicinal herbs and plants for her income only.
• FAIR TRADE and RESPECT at all times.
Activities to be done

Short term, within 3 months

Engage the community by offering more workshops and interactive gardening days with a tea garden in the garden.

Soil testing for PGS

Irrigation extended hose or sprinklers
Tool shed/storing tools, supplies, materials.
Drying herbs

Shading area
Signage: what is what, maybe some simple garden rules, guide participants e.g. no unsupervised children allowed or Im a plant I have properties ;-)

Connecting area
Picnic table for teas and gathering
Middle term, within 6 months

Fruit trees
Set up complete

Long term, 36 months

Bringing the garden to full capacity, self seeding plants, food forest attributes established

Rain water harvesting

Eco village hub – food collection boxes, kiosk, greenhouse

Organic certification

Planning

The Sports Club Involvement

The Sports Club Benefits
Attractive food and medicinal herb garden onsite
Healthy food
Organic medicine
Place of connection and community involvement
Organic waste recycling
Positive publicity
Eco – Friendly

The Sports Club Involvement
Continuation of the use of the land allocated, and waste for 36 months
Newsletter and Gazette reports connecting with members

Composting site
Please advise whether your staff have the capacity to maintain the piles with approximately 2 labourers 1 day a week or if I should seek a means to employ labourers to maintain the piles, and offer to take community green waste into the compost area so people can come drop off stuff and pick up compost or trade for materials they are short of in their own piles at home. We need a lot of soil for the grounds…. Either two people get paid or it becomes a workshop space, doing the same thing over and over, or its kept a two-man job for at least 6 months, then compost can become a product from the garden to club members.

Annexures
Planted To be planted Companion Plant
Angelica x 1 Angelica x 7 Hellebore, Ferns, Epimediums
Alfalfa
Amaranth White and Red Corn, Tomato, Onion, Potato, Strawberry
Aniseed x 8 Coriander, Broccoli, Various Plants
Apple Mint x 8 Brassicas & kale
Asparagus x 8 Dill, Coriander, Tomato, Parsley, Basil, Marigold, Comfrey, Strawberry
Broadbeans Corn, Sunflower
Baby Marrow x 8 corn, beans
Basil x 1 Basil x 7 Pepper, Tomato, Marigold, Asparagus, Oregano, Petunias
Bright lights spinach red Succession crops / rotation Cabbage, Celery, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Strawberry, Faba Beans
Bringal x 8 Bush beans
Bright lights spinach yellow Succession crops / rotation Cabbage, Celery, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Strawberry, Faba Beans
Black radish Succession crops / rotation Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Carrot, Cucumber, Lettuce, Melons, Peas, Squash, Nasturtium, Chervil, Melons, Parsnip, Spinach, Broccoli
Borage x 2 Borage x 6 Tomato, strawberry, fruit orchards, Squash
Bunching Onions anything
Calabash x 30
Catnip X 1 Catnip x 7 Eggplant, Beet, Pumpkin, Squash, Hyssop
Cinnamon Tree x 3
Calendula x 50
Chamomile German Cabbage, Onion, Cucumber

Creeping Sage x 1 Creeping Sage x 7
Comfrey x 10 Comfrey x 30 Avocado, Asparagus
California Poppy
Feverfew x 3 Feverfew x 5
Fennel x 2 Fennel x 20 dill
Foxglove x 8 Apple, Potato, Tomato
Garden Mint x 1 Garden Mint x 20 Tomato, Cabbage, Beets
Garlic Rose, Carrot, Tomato, Beets, Raspberry
Green Sorrel x 1 Green sorrel x 5
Gotu Kola – Centella x 8
Horse Raddish x 8 anything
Hops x 8
Jerusalem Artichoke x 10 Asparagus, Sunflower, Corn, Tarragon
Kale Succession crops / rotation
Red winter kale x 8 Thyme
Kohlrabi Beet, Onion, Oregano, Mint, Sage, Thyme
Liquorice root
Lovage x 1 Lovage x 7 Cucumber, Asparagus, Bean, Beet, Brassica, Onion, Leek, Peas, Potato, Lettuce, Squash, Zucchini, Corn, Tomato
Lazy Housewife / Contender Beans x 20
Lemongrass x 2 Lemongrass x 6
Lettuce Mix x 30
Lemon Verbena x 1 Lemon Verbena x 7
Lemon Balm x 1 Lemon Balm x 7
Mustard Succession crop / rotation Cabbage, Brassica, Radish, Brussel Sprouts, Turnip, Collard, Kohlrabi
Meadowsweet
Mugwort x 1 Mugwort x 7
Mullein x 1 Mullein x 9
New Zealand Spinach Cabbage, Celery, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Strawberry, Faba Beans
Naustersium x 2 Naustersium x 6 variety Cucumber, Radish, Squash, Broccoli, Cabbage, other vegetables, fruit trees
Oregano x 8 Squashes, peppers, cabbage
Purple Carrots Pepper, beans, chives, garlic, basil
Peas Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Carrot, Corn, Cucumber, Radish, Turnip, Celery, Chicory, Spinach, Parsley
Pelagonium Mint x 8
Parsley x 1 Parsley x 7 Tomato, Asparagus, Carrot, Rose, Onion, Chive

Purple cauliflower x 6 Succession crop / rotation Oegano,sage, spinach, onion
Potatoes Variety x 50 Bush Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Flax, Horseradish, Marigold, Peas, Petunia, Onion
Pineapple Sage x 8 Carrot, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Rosemary, Cabbage
Pineapple mint
Peppermint
Rose Scented Geranium x 1 Rose Scented Geranium x 7 Cabbage, Corn, Grape, Rose, Tomato, Peppers, Eggplant
Rosemary x 4 Rosemary x 5 Carrot, Cabbage, Beans, Sage
Rue x 8 Rose, raspberry, blackberry
Rocket x 1 Rocket x 7
Spaghetti Squash x 8
Sage x 8
Stevia x 1
Shallots
Sun hemp Cover crop
Spekboom x 20 Spekboom x 30
Artemesia Southernwood x 8
Salad bernette x 4
Tree Tomato x 8
Sweet Potato variety x 20
Swiss chard x 20
Wilde AlsArtemesia African Wormwood x 1 Wilde Als x 7
Wheatgrass x 6
Wild tomatoes
Viola x 2
Yarrow x 9 Yarrow x 20 Bee balm

A paradigm shift is defined as a fundamental change in an individual’s or society’s view of how things work in the world e.g the shift from heart to brain as the seat of thinking or feeling. I am sure we have all experienced such shifts, a few times, in our lives.  Another paradigm shift came for me this week, after meeting regarding an approximately 20 page report and amended agreement with the management of Pirates Sports Club.  I had already spent about two weeks, deterring the anxiety into positive energy by moving tyres and mulch and transplanting as I waited for this response…. a response that determines the volition of my success to a degree.

I have tweaked this report and removed the agreement, it is available here - for anyone wanting to spare our sports grounds and clubs the degradation that I see in so many overgrown bowling clubhouses in the cities or simply if you want to start working toward a way to create community anywhere, do give it a read.

Pirates management has advised that an agreement is in place to flatten the garden entirely  and AstroTurf it.  I am requested to give a termination period i.e. how long plants already seeding need to complete their cycle and to transplant the entire garden anywhere else – a suggested area is the composting bay we were supposed to get going on this weekend.  They fully support what I am doing, and will gladly give me a space.  An agreement will have to be re-evaluated over the next week.  I did request that my circle and couch can stay, with just lavender in one wedge and just mono-crops in the wedges… and the members who have the AstroTurf take over in place, have not yet seen my document, so I was told it would be sent to them…. in the meantime I will begin a new garden design, choose an area more wisely and begin to bag items this Saturday – so they can at least root in bags for a bit, before being transplanted again.  Please come by if you wish to assist.

I am also putting my head together with landscaper Jess Rankin, and we came up with Scaping Cultures …. CHECK IT OUT ;-)  Scaping Cultures is a heartfelt expression in a random moment, the result is fantastic energy to just do more of this regardless of land issues.

ScapeCultFront

ScapeCultReverse

Who knows where this will lead, but I am still growing tisanes and food for myself and assistance – at least for another 36 months.

Thank you Pirates – always growing ;-) The use of this land has saved or changed my life in many ways.  I learnt that alot of what I apply, hear or see makes sense, and is actually concluded by studies of things in this world e.g permaculture.

I am working on being in the garden more consistently during market hours at the Pirates Sports Club, inviting public and club members to join in and learn, and trade in the garden.  I understand that people got a bit confused as to where I was for a bit, because I was not around as consistently for a while in the market.

This weekend, I managed to put an awesome young landscaper Jess Rankin at my table.  I was in and out the garden all day, and got alot done regardless of only two people coming in to see me in the garden.  I was gifted with an Avo tree, and traded 4 x Hopi Blue Corn seedlings for 6 packs of Rocket, Pak choi and Rainbow Spinach.  I think people need to realize that trading is not charity.  Charity is awesome, but if we are going to create a community with a system of fair trade and equal wealth distribution ever then we really need to re- evaluate our ideas on what trade is and what value is based upon.  A seedling is worth R3 maximum, it aught to be traded for something to that same value.  I agree, some things are ridiculously under-valued or over- priced so to speak, but that is an entirely different tangent.

I do, appreciate the charity and gifting of seeds and plants and especially COMPOST always.  Thank you for these beautiful plants ;-)

Come say hello in the garden, join in, bring some compost if anyone has…. 57 members in this group and ???? I am pleased that two awesome volunteers have returned from their travels, and are keen to assist again… welcome back James and Louise.  At least from this point, its not just wheeling and sifting soil but some interaction and learning going on too.

This is Jess – big thank you Jess, I hope community support grows not only for my stall and the garden, but for every trader at the Jozi Real Food Market every Saturday too.

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So many people want what is there but not many seem to be taking note of what their support really means.  It means the market can sustain regular stall holders, so that bread or tea or Indian food you tried and boasted about, and returned for months later and couldn’t find and complained about not being there at the market saying the market sucks actually is there every weekend… BUT it starts with buyers being as consistent as traders.

Lets get healthy, strong, free and abundantly sustain our communities together.  Lets stop speed reading, liking, sharing, saying yes, giving our power to social media and start DOING

LOVE AND LIGHT <3

During the last Seedy Saturday, before this one, one of my customers over the past months came into the garden to tell me about a group of people wanting to brainstorm a bit about Urban Farming at a dinner.  I welcomed the idea, and I invited myself to the dinner.  The dinner was held at the Solid Green offices in Rosebank, and the entire office seemed keen on volunteering at Pirates…. This is what we did…

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HUGELKULTUUR on top of the ivy… it starts with slashing away the new growth, using a machete is easiest or if you have an awesome hoe like mine, that is even better ;-)

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In between all the talking, I managed to pop in a few more pieces of garlic and some Hubbard squash seedlings.  The coffee lady gave the volunteers a flask of coffee to share, and baker man Jeffrey from the Jozi Real Food Market donated a variety of baked goodies as well.  Big thank you for that, I am missing the market missions, and if you have not been to this market, tried this bread and coffee yet then you are missing out too.

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Marloes, the owner of Solid Green, jumped in and planted a few Jerusalem artichokes, once the materials for the hugelkultuur ran out.

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And, what was supposed to be in the end was rather random in between – as I wanted to say thank you, and there was definitely not enough spinach for that just yet, I handed over one of my calabash art pieces to Marloes…  I was very happy that they liked it, and presented it as another idea for empowerment from gardens.

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All in all some Spinach did get traded for two assistants, who started nibbling at it immediately ;-)

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