In Khayelitsha and Nyanga, two townships nestled on the outskirts of Cape Town, a quiet revolution is taking place. Community vegetable gardens, brimming with spinach, carrots, and tomatoes, are incorporating indigenous plants into their cycle.
The community organisation, Abalimi Bezekhaya and Happy by Nature, recently teamed up to provide an introductory workshop for farmers on indigenous herbal first aid.
“This is an important part of our cultural heritage, which often gets lost in the urban environment,” said Vatiswa Dunjana from Abalimi Bezekhaya
The workshop empowered farmers with valuable knowledge and skills. By learning about medicinal plants and their uses, farmers were equipped to address common health issues effectively.
“This course addresses basic first aid including 13 medicinal plants, preparations, as well as the growing, harvesting and propagation of these healing plants,” said Dunjana.
This holistic approach to health not only addresses immediate health needs but also promotes sustainable farming practices and self-sufficiency within the community.
“The Khayelitsha and Nyanga Garden Centres both have medicinal gardens and sell these plants to the local community,” explained Dunjana.
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Collaboration to champion indigenous plants
By pooling their resources and expertise, Abalimi Bezekhaya and Happy by Nature were able to provide a comprehensive and impactful workshop.
Happy by Nature, based in Cape Town, has a long-term vision to reintroduce plant medicine into mainstream healthcare, said Jimmy Symmonds, co-founder of Happy By Nature.
“We develop training targeting healthcare professionals including traditional health practitioners. The first step takes the form of a foundation course in indigenous plant medicine, which equips the healthcare professionals with the knowledge and resources they need to run herbal first-aid workshops in their communities.”
To date, Happy by Nature have conducted two workshops in partnership with Abalimi Bezekhaya, with traditional health practitioners that have completed the training leading the workshops.
“We introduced them to about 13 indigenous herbs that are easy to cultivate and safe to use. These herbs are very beneficial for many first-aid problems.”
Each attendee also received a training manual and some medicinal plants from Happy by Nature, to grow at home.
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