Starting a Permaculture Food Garden With Pride n' Purpose

Daniel shares seedlings with community members

PRIDE AND PURPOSE, VIRGIN UNITE AND DANIEL CHITUNGO (FOOD AND TREES FOR AFRICA) START A FOOD GARDEN AND PLANT TREES IN NEWINGTON VILLAGE On the 23rd of April 2009 community members of Newington Village near Sir Richard Bronson Private Game Reserve in Mpumalanga Province came together at their nursery that they named Pride and Purpose to start a food garden, construct a building for the children as well as create a play center, with the help of the delegates from Pride n’ Purpose and Virgin Unite. The project was sponsored by Virgin Unite through Pride N’ Purpose and the community members saw it fit to name the project after the sponsor. The Food & Trees For Africa’s Senior Project Officer, Daniel Chitungo led the establishment of a permaculture food garden and planting of trees in the nursery yard. The local headman (Induna) Mr Knight Nyathi was asked to call the local community members so that they work with the visitors and he happily did so. In a few minutes more than 30 local women, men and children gathered to work with the visitors. Vegetable beds of different designs were made, compost applied, mulch applied onto the beds and vegetable seedlings were planted. The mature vegetables were intended to feed the children at the nursery as well as orphans and vulnerable children, community members with terminal diseases and those affected by poverty in the village. Shade trees were also planted around the premise. It was a hive of activity as the planting of vegetables and trees was done with the community members and the delegates learning skills from the FTFA Senior Permaculture Project Officer. Community members were excited to receive vegetable seedlings to go and plant at their own homes (see photo). Lindsay Hanekom, Manager of Pride n’ Purpose said, “I cannot even begin to explain the GREAT feedback we received about Daniel!” These were some of the comments from the delegates “What a great man of the earth!” “This gentleman is a true present day hero – coming into communities, imparting with knowledge that is being used for sustainable projects.” “Wow – he just waltz in here, gives great knowledge and passion on his gardens and then waltz out going onto the next project to save the world.” So a very BIG THANK YOU from all of us at Pride ‘n Purpose and Virgin Unite for your great passion and love for what you do Daniel! – You alone are truly making a difference. These were the closing words from the Pride n’ Purpose Manager.