Submitted by: Joshua Buchalter  

Move over Farm to Table. Trash to Table is the new sustainable food movement! 

Sparking Minds, an NPO in Concordia, Knysna, focuses on the social and educational development of the youth in underprivileged communities. They also take a hands-on approach to feeding the community. This amazing initiative manages to feed 100 children three times each week. #ImStaying member, Joshua Buchalter, teamed up with Sparking Minds and together they are the driving force behind the sustainable food project. Converting a rubbish site into a veggie garden! Yes! You read it right! A veggie garden!  

Relying on donations had become a growing concern in light of the community soup kitchen’s unpredictable future after Covid-19. They needed to ensure the  soup kitchen has a continuous supply of fresh produce. Together, this inspiring team unmasked piles of rubbish – the bits and pieces of unwantedness. And nurtured the soil to provide growth and hope in their community. 

“There are countless issues of social inequality and social injustice within my community, country, and the world we live in,” says Joshua. 

Joshua wants to make a lasting, positive change. Alleviating hunger within the community is his first project to begin making a difference. 

With the help of the community, they set out on a three-week ‘operation clean up’. Simbongile Majoqo, a member of the community, worked tirelessly alongside Joshua, adding his knowledge and muscle to the project. Here’s how it happened.

Step one – removing all the rubbish

Step two – flattening of the land

Step three – collecting compost from a local farm

Step four – securing the 300 square metre, soon-to-be veggie garden, by putting up a fence

Step five – finishing touches to start planting seedlings

The start of something new

On 10 June 2020, the first seedlings were excitedly planted!

This initiative will not only assist the soup kitchen in becoming more independent and sustainable, it will prevent them from closing. In addition, the surrounding community will be able to purchase the surplus produce. This is an important contribution to food security. They received an incredible amount of support from many people. A plaque will acknowledge every person that went out of their way to help make this happen. 

As a community working together, this soup kitchen hopes to continue feeding all the children it does now. And Joshua plans to expand his initiative to other communities around the country. 

‘One veggie garden at a time. Together, we can provide growth and hope in our communities.’


Feature Photo Credit: sparkingmindssa.org

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