Public food gardens are becoming a welcomed sight in many communities; they offer a source of food for people who may be too proud to ask for help.
Johannesburg, South Africa (15 July 2020) – The Ikhala Trust in Port Elizabeth is celebrating a sidewalk garden in Melville, Johannesburg. The trust shared the image of a sidewalk lined with eight raised beds.
Sidewalk gardens are a great way to offer help to others while allowing people to remain anonymous in their need. For some, asking for help can be a point of pride.
Back in 2017, we shared the story of Johan Scott, a retired policeman from Heidelberg, South Africa who started a vegetable garden on his pavement after his cauliflower was stolen. He realised that there were people that are hungry in his neighbourhood, so he decided to cultivate an even bigger garden on his pavement to feed more people. The story went viral because it was such a simple act of kindness.
These days, more people are in need than ever before so the concept of a sidewalk garden is even more appealing than ever before. Many are collaborating together to start food gardens as a way to feed entire communities and they are the stories we are loving.
Ikhala Trust hopes that everyone will do something; to start where they are and each person to try feed one person.
A group dedicated to Sidewalk Food Gardens SA has been launched where people are celebrating each other and the gardens they see all over South Africa. If you have a garden or know of one, you can join the group here.
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