As food prices soar and access to fresh produce dwindles, a local initiative is stepping up to address these pressing concerns. In Orange Grove, Johannesburg, a project is set to transform a neglected piece of land into a beacon of sustainable agriculture and community health.
Dunnett Herbs, the brainchild of Dr Macleod Dunnett and entrepreneur Kirsty Swanepoel, is leading the charge to revive Orchards, a former orchard now poised to become a hub for permaculture. This involves a holistic approach to agriculture that emphasises sustainability, biodiversity, and water conservation.
On Sunday, 25 August, Dunnett Herbs will host a workshop in Orange Grove designed to empower the community with the skills to create their own self-sufficient food systems. This hands-on event will provide practical guidance on setting up urban and suburban gardens, with a focus on enhancing food security and promoting environmental sustainability.
Dunnett, who is also the resident doctor at Tara Rokpa, a North West Buddhist retreat centre, envisions the hub as more than just a garden.
He says, “The hub plans to cater to the health and wellness needs of the community through a series of initiatives – including permaculture workshops, consultation spaces for doctors as well as a retail venue for health-related products.”
Kirsty Swanepoel, director of Dunnett Herbs, highlights the broader impact of the initiative. She says, “The overall vision is to create a space that fosters education, job creation, skills sharing, sustainability and overall community health.”
Tickets for Sunday’s workshop in Orange Grove are available on Quicket, and participants can look forward to joining a community-driven movement toward greater food security and sustainability.
