The iGardi Project works to build water-wise gardens and educates communities on how to grow and sustain food a garden in the Western Cape
Using recycled materials like wooden pallets, the iGardi project produces water-wise food gardens for communities in need.
The iGardi Project was started by Call 2 Care as a way to develop water-wise veggie gardens that would ensure the diversity of food and nutrition in underprivileged communities. The project hosts educational programmes within communities to ensure that everyone is able to build a veggie garden.
They are taught at the schools they are in, to ensure that the children connect with where their food comes from and workshops are held in communities to ensure maintenance and sustainability of the project while teaching community members how to build a veggie garden at home.
“Our water-wise vegetable garden boxes are a unique and effective means of growing vegetables. They are self-contained raised beds with built-in reservoirs that supply water from the bottom up – ensuring minimal maintenance by only requiring watering every 2 to 3 weeks and achieving a massive water saving of up to 70% annually.”
“The use of self-watering food gardens are particularly important in South Africa where water resources are limited.”
Siluncedo Day Care centre is one of the latest beneficiaries in the care of the iGardi project located in Hout Bay. Thandeka, the mother and principal of the programme, is dedicated to providing a safe space for all the children in her care. She offers them a positive foundation for them before their primary and secondary years.
One of the challenges she faces regularly is providing good nutritious meals to make sure the children are able to focus throughout the day.
That is why iGardi stepped in to offer a great solution, a food garden filled with wholesome vegetables to use to feed the children at the daycare. Plus it is water-wise, saving the daycare money on water usage. You can see the team in the image above with the finished beds waiting to be filled with nutrient-rich soil and seeds to start growing.