The farms we visited are part of an NGO called the Greater Orlando
Environmental developmental group, which focuses on producing organic and permaculture
gardens. Permaculture is only 80% organic as they make use of paper and
cardboard which is not organic.
They mix garlic and chili to use as pesticides, which is
organic as there are no chemicals used.
The farmers forum helps the connection between the farmers,
it is a platform where they can share knowledge and information. They are
business based and encourage the farmers to make money to support themselves
financially.
We have been socialized into buying shop food. We don't have
to grow our own food anymore which has created a generation that does not know
about our own environment. We don't know which plants have what nutritional value
or what their medical benefits are. Instead of using our gardens to grow plants
that can help with things like headaches, rashes and burns we go buy products
from pharmacies to heal it, when that is not the most natural or organic way.
Since organic farming can take a while to grow and produce
crop, they have to make sure they have plants all year round. They do this by
having a chart that tells them exactly when to plant what and how long it
takes. This creates a sustainable garden, they can also harvest and keep some
crop, which helps meet demands of consumption.
They want to focus on creating a local interest in the
crops. They want to sell the vegetables and plants to the locals and not to
shops. This creates a bigger profit and it also encourages organic local
businesses, which helps create sustainability in the long run (food miles). The
nutritional value also decreases with age, and it you buy it fresh it will be
better for your health.
They want to create a spiritual, cultural and social
connection between plants and they community.
They make use of raised beds. This is when they dig a whole
and start to layer it with organic matter and then top it with soil. This is so
that when they plant the seedling, the roots will grow easily in the organic
matter and it will have lots of nutrients and not have to struggle. They then cover it with mulch - this is so
they only have to water it every other week and it locks in the moisture and
nutrients.
At the second farm
The farmers market will be held there. They want stalls and
benches along the plant so people can go sit and interact. They also want branded packaging for their vegetables.
They sell their spinach for R5 for 1kg, and anybody can just
come and buy it straight from the farms.
They also give their food to the feeding scheme and it gets
prepared into food for the children at the schools.
When they harvest the plants and vegetables, they keep it in
a fridge to keep fresh, they need a bigger fridge to keep a bigger stock.
They can also make jams, pastes and dried herbs which will
help them get rid of more stock and get more income.
They could possibly incorporate street vendors later, by
providing crops for them to sell.
Marketing material to appeal to higher end class as they can
afford to spend more and pay for organic jams etc.
The farmers forum needs more farmers to join their community
to create sustainability. The more farmers they have the more they can farm,
produce and sell. It creates a collaboration where they can all sell their
produce form one place to create a sustainable economy.
Third farm
This farm was much more technology based and had a lot more infrastructure
set up. They have greenhouses and have heaters for the plants in winter.
They supply hawkers with plants to sell they provide the
feeding scheme, as well as provide food to the old age home and for any
funerals nearby.
Adcorp sponsored in 2005, they built the structures and sent
them for training.
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