I have been setting up a stall every Thursday at the Bryanston Organic Market for about 2 months, and am in month 4 of working the land traded for at the Pirates Sports Club in Greenside. The aim of the garden was to grow herbs and medicinal plants to use in the infusions I make and sell at the Jozi Food Market. I am grateful for the intervention and path that I have walked with Farmer John and his wife Yvette. Both have assisted me in getting into the Bryanston Organic Market, with transporting stock and me from time to time. As part of this market, actually I am not sure why, a committee of people came to see the Pirates Garden. The result was a PGS certification, my Pirates garden is approved as “in transition” because it has not been farmed organically for more than 36 months. So… HERE IT IS (I am not sure why I cannot make this LINK open in a new tab)
PGS Certificate Netanya Naude 2015 06 29
In Yvettes’ words… 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.
This also means you will always get AWESOME TISANES AND TEA from me, no matter which market I am at 
I have 47 different plants in the garden so far, there are more than one of some of them Somehow community involvement is beginning and I am being led to where this garden will lead along with it, it seems<3
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