In Kensington High School’s food garden, Desiree Rwida tends to a variety of crops. With McDonald’s support, it not only nourishes 1 300 students with fresh and affordable food but also symbolises community cooperation.
For Rwida, the Western Cape-based vegetable garden means picking something fresh and healthy to eat every day. She believes that freshness and health benefits are crucial for a healthy lifestyle.
Although her role at the school is primarily administrative, her passion for growing her own food has led her to become deeply involved in the school’s food garden, which she manages with the help of pupils and other staff members.
A helping hand
Speaking to Food For Mzansi, Rwida explained that the idea to start a food garden was sparked by her love for growing her own food, and she wanted the school to do the same.
“Every morning, there is always a herb or vegetable I pick from the garden to include in my lunchbox,” she said. “At home, we rely on the garden for our meals. I then thought, ‘Why can’t we do the same for the school?’ Two years ago, I initiated the school’s garden with my own funds. I began by purchasing seedlings and planting, and that’s how the food garden started.”
Today, the garden produces spinach, peas, olives, cabbage, and lettuce, with hopes of introducing more produce in the not-too-distant future.
Rwida said due to her busy schedule the food garden had experienced some neglect, but it was later revived with the support of McDonald’s, who erected a newly built garden, provided seeds and seedlings as well as trained students on sustainability and gardening practices
Food nutrition programme boost
“With the garden, the school is benefitting because the food nutrition programme gets the food from the garden and our learners eat food made from the food garden as part of their daily lunches,” she said.
According to Rwida, the school’s 1 300 pupils are being fed through the nutrition programme and the food garden plays a critical role in ensuring that nutritious meals are served to the pupils.
“McDonald’s assisted us by setting up the garden and providing additional seedlings, from which we benefit.”
Rwida emphasised that McDonald’s involvement in the school’s garden has rekindled the hope of having a fully developed garden that will one day serve the local community. Currently, only students and teachers benefit from it.
Sustainability top of mind
“The primary goal of the garden is to achieve sustainability so that we can provide food to our students at affordable prices, to the teachers, and to the underprivileged students in the community. Thanks to the garden, the school benefits, as the nutrition programme sources food from it. Our students enjoy meals made from the food garden every day during lunch,” she stated.
“I want us to consume food from our own hard work. Because I understand how vital food from the garden is, I believe that with more help, our garden will thrive. Teachers are trying to motivate the students to get involved, but this is a high school and students have more options than younger ones in lower grades.
Cooking with pleasure
Meanwhile, Ethne Booysen, the school’s cook, said having the food garden on the school premises has made her job much easier. If something is unavailable in their kitchen, they can get it from the garden.
“The garden is essential because it supplements the vegetables we purchase and adds variety to our cooking. We may not have an abundance, but there is enough to complement what we receive. It’s a great feeling to know that we are preparing meals from our own soil,” she said.
Booysen expressed her desire to see the garden produce more vegetables like onions, potatoes, spinach, and herbs. She echoed Rwida’s sentiments about getting more learners actively involved in the garden and taking ownership of it.
Education and awareness needed
Rwida said that even though agriculture is not taught as a subject in the school, she hopes that more students will join her in the garden on Saturdays to increase food production.
Rwida’s long-term goal for the garden is to make it sustainable. “I want the garden to be self-sustaining and continue to thrive even if I’m not here. That’s why it’s crucial to involve the students and incorporate it into their studies. Currently, we only have consumer studies and geography, which are somewhat related to the food garden,” she said.
ALSO READ: School food gardens inspired this #SoilSista to farm
Get Stories of Change: Inspirational stories from the people that feed Mzansi.
