Urban farming has changed the agricultural landscape globally. Tanya van Stade, the founder of Seeds For Life, shares more about their organic urban farming initiative and distribution rights on BioAge Certified Organic fertilisers in the Western Cape and Northern Cape.
The practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in and around urban areas is a major contributor to economic development in Mzansi.
Seeds For Life’s primary cooperative started off during the Covid-19 pandemic with subsistence gardening.
“We started with drying our own seeds, planting and sharing our harvest with neighbours, friends and family.
“The cooperative came to life when we extended to a community vegetable garden. We grow and sell organic vegetables to our local community at affordable prices. Which is much less than conventional produce,” Van Stade says.
Seeds For Life is a one-stop shop where you buy seeds, seedlings, organic certified fertiliser, and organic vegetables.
Importance of organic urban farming
According to Van Stade, what is of utmost importance to them as a cooperative is that they thrive with sustainable development goals in mind. She mentions with pride that the goal is to address hunger in the country.
“Organic urban farming is a healthier option when you grow your own crops without the use of chemical fertilisers – in other words, conventional methods. Organic farming speaks to the sustainable development goals, especially goal number two which addresses zero hunger,” she says.
When you produce your own food, it battles poverty and reduces expensive production costs.
BioAge rights to distribute in two provinces
The owner of BioAge, Reuben Rampersad, headhunted Seeds For Life to be one of the official distributors for his product range.
“We obtained sole distribution rights in the Western Cape and the Northern Cape Province, including exports to African countries,” says Van Stade.
She adds that the BioAge product, Nitro-Gro, is produced on international standards and the K-booster is well underway for successful certification.
“The product range Nitro-Gro and K-booster was developed in South Africa based on international standards. Our Nitro-Gro is certified by EcoCert in France and the K-booster is in the registration process,” she explains.
BioAge is currently national and there are distributors in other provinces.
Benefits of the fertiliser
Van Stade excitedly expresses that BioAge is a proudly South African product that improves soil fertility whereby elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are put back into the soil during the growing cycle.
“What is amazing about the product range is that it is suitable under any climatic conditions. Nitro-Gro drastically increases your plant’s photosynthetic properties. It increases vegetable yields, and it assists in general plant health.”
The K-booster is an organic biostimulant. It is scientifically developed on nanoparticle technology. The plant-product interaction enhances plant growth, seed germination, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to abiotic factors and fruiting /flowering development.
The product range can be used on all farming systems: commercial farms, subsistence farmers, hobby farms, veggies gardens, flower beds, fruiting trees, ornamental plants and trees.
Products are currently available at Brights hardware stores in Western Cape.
Making it happen
Van Stade advises people to start with what they have, but it is also important to ask others for counsel. To build a community, it is important to trust the people in the community. For this reason, Van Stade is grateful for her community that has helped built Seed For Life.
“We would like to thank a few key people: Mr Godfrey Domingo from the City of Cape Town for guiding the team in the right direction; Elize Hattingh, sustainability specialist in South Africa for her mentorship. And of course, BioAge for the opportunity to become a distributor,” she says.
They are also grateful to BEE Electrical and Projects in van Riebeeck Road Kuilsriver for their continuous support, agents Mater Pluviam Holdings in Tzaneen, and Agro-Smart Enterprises in Stellenbosch for their passion, dedication, and commitment towards building the brand.
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