September 2025.

What started as a small initiative to address food insecurity during the Covid-19 pandemic has today grown into a successful community-driven programme that is empowering schools and families with the skills to grow their own fresh, nutritious produce. The Perdekraal East Wind Farm’s Food Garden Project has expanded from just 20 gardens at its inception to over 90 growing food gardens across four communities in the Witzenberg area, feeding hundreds of families.

Ceres Secondary School, one of the beneficiaries of this programme, has integrated its food garden into the school’s agricultural curriculum, offering learners valuable hands-on experience. The vegetables harvested are used in daily meals prepared for the school’s feeding scheme as well as the hostel. Any surplus produce is sold at local supermarkets, creating a small but meaningful income stream for the school.

“Through the food garden, our learners have gained practical agricultural knowledge, developed new skills, and deepened their knowledge of seedlings, animals, and plant growth seasons. Not only has soil cultivation and plant care improved, but the community also benefits as the vegetables are donated to food schemes and hostels,” said Mr. G Pharo, a school teacher at Ceres Secondary School.

This annual programme continues to make a positive impact by helping to reduce household grocery expenses and provide skills to grow their own fresh, nutritious produce. With rising food prices and limited access to healthy food options, these gardens have become a lifeline for many households, Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres, and community facilities.

“As this project grows year after year, we are not only cultivating gardens but also resilience, self-reliance, and stronger, healthier communities,” said Gwynne-Lee Borcherds, Economic Development Manager for Perdekraal East Wind Farm.

The Food Garden Project is maintained by beneficiaries themselves, with professional training and ongoing support from Ikamvaletu Tunnel Farming, a local agri-enterprise and implementers of the programme. With the donation of a variety of vegetable seedlings and seeds, the wind farm supports 50 gardens, while Ikamvaletu contributes to 43. Beyond food production, the gardens also offer therapeutic benefits, providing individuals and families with a sense of purpose, wellbeing, and environmental responsibility.