Get the wheels turning with community gardens
“
If you give a man a fish , you feed him for a day . If you teach a man to fish , you feed him for a lifetime .
”
By Jaynashree Ellary , PPS Senior Communications Specialist
Food security is a primary concern worldwide , particularly in large parts of South Africa . Even where people have access to food , high inflation pushing the price of especially fresh fruit and vegetables sky-high has left many South Africans no choice but to opt for unhealthy food .
It is easy to suggest that this problem can be overcome only if people were to donate money to charities distributing food . But that would be giving the proverbial fish to communities and not teaching them to fish . Nor can many people who would like to help afford such contributions .
A practical solution to the problem is that people can give time to teach others skills that would allow them to “ fish for life ”. Sharing of knowledge and , yes , if possible , money can go a long way in starting up projects that can add value to communities . One such initiative could be starting up vegetable gardens and growing produce in rural areas and even in built-up areas .
A creative way of “ building ” a vegetable garden – regardless of location – is to use old car or truck tyres . These can be used in various ways and even be stacked to prevent the veggies from being eaten by possible smaller roaming animals . Potatoes , spinach and
30