Nestled in the bustling township of Kaalfontein in Johannesburg, Ponelopele Oracle Secondary School has embarked on a unique mission to keep its learners engaged and well-fed while nurturing their green thumbs.
Thanks to a generous contribution from McDonald’s South Africa, the school has cultivated a newfound passion for gardening among its learners, aiming to not only teach them essential life skills but also to grow fresh produce that can benefit both their families and the wider community.
The significance of gardening is consistently emphasised by the staff members. Cultivating this skill at an early age is deemed even more crucial.
Fresh produce replaces sweets and ice cream
Kabelo Rampedi, the grade 8 economics, management sciences and English teacher, has been supervising the food garden activity within the school. She views teaching learners this fundamental life skill as paramount.
“The entire project is aimed at instructing learners on how to grow their own food instead of relying on stores. Our approach is to encourage them to go home and inform their parents that, given the state of the economy, it is better to cultivate our own food,” she explains.
“Here at school, as part of the curriculum, EMS learners have a market day. Rather than selling just sweets and ice cream, learners can offer their fresh produce to parents at a more affordable price.”
Rampedi elaborates that dedicating effort to the food garden has the potential to teach learners the art of providing for their families. If there is a need, the food garden can produce enough to feed both their families and other learners through the school feeding programme.
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Reaping the rewards
The school received support from McDonald’s after the learners emerged victorious in a gardening competition against other local schools in the area.
Their prize included a newly built vegetable garden, seedlings of tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and concrete borders for the garden. McDonald’s staff members also delivered a presentation on the fundamental skills of gardening, which the learners have been able to implement. A Jojo tank was also supplied to assist with water storage and watering of plants.
Learning a valuable life skill
For Rampedi, it is crucial that her learners understand they do not need to establish a large farm but can utilise their backyard, old tires, and nearby boxes. By making use of the new skills they are acquiring at school, the learners should be capable of starting their own gardens and eventually generating a profit from their produce.
“It’s all about being resourceful,” she says.
“It is important for them to realise they can use readily available materials to begin a garden. We really want to nurture their creativity and encourage them to think outside the box. It is essential for them to understand that they can grow their own food. Starting a food garden is quite straightforward; you can start it anywhere, even in the back of your room.”
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Impact on learners’ lives
For the learners, it has been nothing short of enjoyable. Afternoons following lessons see the backyard garden of Ponelopele Oracle teeming with learners in their red and white uniforms as they explore and learn.
Here, they engage in various activities such as basic planting skills, watering, fertilising, and tending to crop growth. The crops are now their responsibility, but according to Rampedi, they also serve as a source of food for community members.
Community members can also purchase our crops at a reduced price, she adds, and the profits will be used to buy school uniforms for learners in need.
“They will be growing healthy food that they need and can even consume themselves,” she says. “We’re also striving to instil healthy eating habits in our learners.”
Pest control has been the primary challenge hampering the progress of the garden. Currently, the garden stands unprotected against harsh weather conditions, birds, and rodents, which are prevalent in the township environment.
Rampedi explains that since the garden was established in April, rodents have devoured their seedlings, causing disappointment among the learners.
“It can be disheartening for the learners when we plant, and the next day, the seedlings are gone,” she says. “We aim for our crops to contribute to the school’s feeding program, but it is unfortunate that we have not seen much success in our planting efforts. This is our fourth attempt but we are not giving up.”
Impact on the community
Nonetheless, principal Nelshinzwane Edward commends his learners for their resilience, confident that their enthusiasm and positive energy keep them in the garden despite the challenges.
“The learners are proactive; they come in the morning to record progress and return after school to weed the garden,” he says. For him, it is all about reviving the culture of gardening in his community, which has waned over the years. He plans to do this through the learners who have enthusiastically embraced the challenge.
He tells Food For Mzansi that the school strategically located in a township area where much of the population faces disadvantages can influence community members as well.
A fun approach to learning
“The learners genuinely learn how to cultivate their own food. Some of them are unaware of where vegetables come from, so it is exciting for them to be out there. They learn how to fertilise the soil, tend to the garden, water the plants, and more,” he says.
“We wanted to involve our community, to feed the family members of our learners. Some of them are unemployed, so they volunteer to care for the garden and even share their expertise with our learners. They mostly come over the weekend to assist.”
“It’s truly exciting to witness the learners fully engaged in the garden.”
For Thabiso Ndlovu, a grade 9 learner, the garden is a place where he gains practical knowledge and experience about how a garden operates. He has learned how to plant seedlings, water the plants, and remove weeds.
“I genuinely enjoy this; it is very pleasant, and I feel a connection between myself and the plants and I believe it keeps me out of trouble,” he remarks. “I have also learned that plants are living beings, and I can provide for my family. If I care for them, they respond and grow, which is very rewarding.”
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