Garden of hope. The first phase of the Garden saw the planting of eight fruit bearing trees and 8 vegetable planters. The Garden of Hope was designed and is being implemented by Camps Bay Past Pupil, Ben Getz from Urban Harvest. He gave an introduction to edible gardens and helped learners to plant the first vegetables yesterday. Also present to plant the first vegetables in the Garden were Camps Bay High School Principal, Louis Mostert and Camps Bay Ward Councillor, Nicola Jowell.
Get’z company
Getz’s company, Urban Harvest, has been involved in a number of successful edible garden projects across the Peninsula. It includes Gardens in Khayelitsha, Tafelsig, Woodstock and Wynberg. Said Getz, “We believe that by enabling people to grow and harvest their own food, we are ensuring a healthier, happier and more sustainable way of life for everyone. We make food gardening fun, easy and hugely rewarding.”
Added Getz, “It feels like I am coming full circle now with an organic Edible Garden at my old school. I am looking forward to working with the Camps Bay students and community. Also passing on my knowledge, creating future gardeners.”
Donations
Said Mrs Cara Kahn, Head of the Camps Bay High School Alumni Association, “This first phase of the garden is entirely funded through generous donations from members of the Camps Bay High School Alumni Association. Donations also received from current Camps Bay High School families. Our funding approach has been unique. The school will be creating opportunities within the Garden for past pupils to remember classmates and friends who are “Gone Too Soon”. Our past pupils and current families can donate towards the funding campaign which is hosted on Quicket. We still have over R100 000 needed to complete this project. If anyone would like their donation to go towards remembering a certain past pupil, they mention that pupil’s name when donating. Undoubtedly we can ensure they are remembered in the Garden.”
First vegetables
Said Camps Bay High School’s Principal, Mr Louis Mostert, “The Camps Bay High School Garden of Hope has been in the pipe line for a while. We are thrilled to have now planted the first vegetables in the first phase of the garden. Our school ethos is strongly rooted in serving our community. We always believe this starts right here in our back garden! Camps Bay always look for opportunities for our learners to give back. We want to instil a future love for service amongst all of them so that they can go on to be productive members of society. They must always think of the needs of their community, before self.”
Said Getz, “For this first phase, we have planted high yield vegetables. It will be able to be harvested in a relatively short period of time. As the garden develops, we will be able to add further vegetables and herbs that are best planted at different times of the year. We want to create a garden with a good variety of vegetables, herbs and fruit. We need the students are kept interested and excited by their project.”
Learners
Vegetables planted by learners yesterday included red lettuces, green lettuces, beetroots, turnips, table celery, spinach, leeks, green cabbage, broccoli, carrots, radish, yellow pear tomatoes, black cherry tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, sweet basil, rosemary, marjoram, oregano, common thyme, curly parsley and flat parsley.
Added Kahn, “We still have a further 3 phases to complete our Garden. We appeal to our community to please donate towards making it a reality. Every R100 makes a huge difference and all sponsors will be acknowledged. The next phase we will be working on is the very important wind break. It will buffer the garden against the harsh Camps Bay South Easter. In Phase 3, we will be planting a further 8 fruit trees and 8 vegetable planters. In our final Phase 4, we will be finishing the garden off with an outdoor classroom as well as some integrated planter benches.”
Heart of Camps Bay High
Concluded Mostert, “We have no doubt that the Garden of Hope will become the new outdoor heart of Camps Bay High School. We are excited about the opportunities presented to our learners. They will be able to learn about sustainable and organic food gardening, a valuable skill in any community. We are also looking forward to using the harvests from the garden to support members of our community who have food security issues.”
If you would like to remember someone in the Camps Bay High School Garden of Hope and to donate towards the project, click on the link to go to the funding page: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/143858-camps-bay-high-presents-garden-of-hope/?ref=events-list#/
PHOTO CREDIT: RAEES BEN – GRADE 11, CAMPS BAY HIGH SCHOOL
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