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For nearly 50 years this plot was a dump site; before the community turned it into a thriving sustainable garden
BO-KAAP
Garden thrives on dump KAYLYNNE BANTOM KAYLYNNE.BANTOM@MEDIA24.COM
B
o-Kaap residents are excitedly reaping the fruit of their labour with their community gardening project, The Koestas Waqf Food Garden. The project was started by Sustainable Garden, a non-profit association, in a bid to address issues of food security and community safety during the initial stages of the national lockdown. Soraya Booley, founder of the project, says due to the lockdown, many Bo-Kaap households lost an income, particularly in the tourism and accommodation sectors.
She says she engaged with the community and suggested that they start a food garden to assist needy residents. They identified a derelict piece of land in Upper Pepper Street. Booley says, for nearly 50 years, the plot had become a dump site and a common hang-out place for criminals. She adds that they later discovered that the land was Waqf property. She explains that Waqf is an Islamic endowment to address issues like poverty, hunger and basic human needs. “Waqf land belongs to Allah, therefore it cannot be sold to developers. It is meant for the upliftment of the community,” explains Booley. She explains why they named it The Koestas Waqf Food Garden. “At one point it was home to squatters, but they were driven
off the land by a mean gang, who called themselves the Costas; who then used the land as their gang territory. “This is how this land got to be known as the Koestas (given the local dialect).” Booley says in August more than 50 women in the community came together and helped with the clearing of the site. She explains that it took them about 15 days to clean the site. Booley says their aim was to make the garden mobile by planting all their crops in tyres. Through the efforts of Sustainable Garden Bo-Kaap, and in a short space of three months, the Koestas has become a safe space where the community women gather to grow food. “We have also already trained 50 people on how to start organic home gardens via permaculture methods, and each of them can now make a
potential saving of R36 000 per annum, growing their own food at home.” According to Booley growing a vegetable garden can benefit a family of five for five years. She says the women were elated with their first harvest in November. “We have spinach, carrots, lettuce, mint, brinjals (aubergine) and beans. We also have beetroot and a herb garden.” According to Booley the plot, that was once a dreadful sight, is now a haven for the community. She explains that daily activities are taking place at the garden. “On a Wednesday we have ladies’ Islamic school and on a Sunday we all meet up there and have some Koeksisters.” Similar garden projects have been started in the area to make the Bo-Kaap more sustainable.
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