OUTDOOR
Healthy People
on a Healthy Planet
Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) is a social enterprise that over the past 23 years has become South Africa’s lead greening
organisation addressing sustainable development through climate change action, food security and greening.
Companies looking for effective Corporate
operatives to manage their projects, these days
Social Investment, Enterprise Development or
all planted on farms.
Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment
Farmer Eco Enterprise Development, FEED
initiatives need look no further. All this is
Africa, develops organic farmers on organic
achieved through FTFA’s six programmes -
farms with land infrastructure development,
Trees for All, Trees for Homes, Bamboo for
training and mentoring that supports farmers
Africa, FEED Africa, EduPlant and Food Gardens
and out growers to ultimately run their projects
for Africa. These aim to achieve healthy people
as independent businesses. Each farm is
on a healthy planet where there is enough for
planned to suit the environment it is started in,
all forever!
taking into consideration water supply, climate,
of surplus. These principals ensure that all life
landscape and the community. To date five
systems continue and multiply, people have
FTFA, greens, educates, offsets carbon
farms are already selling organic produce into
access to resources needed for their existence
emissions and transforms schools, community
the mainstream market.
and waste is reinvested into the system to
Through the Trees for All programme,
centres, and communities into wholesome,
recycle into usefulness. Many communities
more sustainable environments. Trees for All
and schools apply for assistance to develop
responds to the thousands of applications
permaculture (natural) food gardens through
FTFA receives for trees from neglected schools
Food Gardens for Africa. FTFA raises funds to
and communities. Individuals and companies
assist as many of these as possible through
sponsor or donate trees and receive certificates
the provision of training and resources. This
for themselves, or as gifts for others.
programme is essential for ensuring food
security and sovereignty in the future.
Trees for Homes provides fruit and
Spin-2-Zero is a cycle team that aims to
indigenous trees, training and awareness
to residents of barren and dusty townships.
spread eco-awareness while decreasing
Education and support for homeowners is
carbon footprints. As part of the Spin-2-Zero
provided by trained Community Educators who
team, cyclists help FTFA plant trees in poor
are paid stipends through follow-ups through a
communities across South Africa who do not
year from planting. Trees for Homes improves
To do its part to enhance food security,
have trees and thus cannot enjoy their many
quality of life, provides fruit and contributes
poverty alleviation and skills development,
benefits. FTFA is on a mission to spread the
to the development of sustainable human
FTFA started the EduPlant schools greening
value and gift of trees into these communities,
settlements.
and food gardening programme. This
and Spin-2-Zero is one way to do this.
Bamboo for Africa supports communities
programme is the best in its class, providing
FTFA recently launched its new website
by planting bamboo that offers exciting
educator and community workshops,
which has an interactive feature where each
opportunities for carbon offset, clean energy
educational materials and is also a biennial
user is able to plot how the planting of their
production and enterprise development,
competition. EduPlant is currently supported
trees. This feature was kick-started by the
allowing communities to enter the Green
by Engen and the Woolworths Trust. Thousands
Arbor Challenge where individuals, schools,
Economy. This programme is the first of its
of schools across South Africa benefit from
companies and communities are encouraged
kind to be registered internationally through
this effective initiative as members of the
to plant more trees throughout the year,
the Verified Carbon Standard. FTFA receives
EduPlant team visit their communities and
culminating in Arbor Month. Each tree is
applications from disadvantaged community
host workshops on how to plant and maintain
counted on FTFAs tree counter, plotted on
groups and sponsors wishing to offset carbon
permaculture food gardens and trees to
a world map and contributes to the over 4.2
or contribute to enterprise development
improve local nutrition and encourage more
million trees already planted since 1990.
donate funds to procure and deliver plants and
sustainable land and resource management.
training. With help from SEDA, FTFA advises
and assists these communities to form co136
HARDWARE AFRICA 2014
Permaculture includes three core principals;
care of the earth, care of the people and return
For more information, please visit
www.trees.co.za