Suikerbossie Park, a celebrated community garden in Protea Village in Brackenfell, was one of 60 community food gardens across Southern Africa that participated in the Checkers’ Market Day last week.
As doors opened at Protea Heights Checkers on Thursday, shoppers streamed to the stall to get their hands on the organically grown fresh vegetables.
Launch
Since its launch in 2017, Market Day has provided community food gardens with access to the retailer’s large customer base, as well as a platform to generate income, and showcase their dedication to sustainable agriculture.
Market day
“This Market Day marks an exciting milestone for us as it’s our first time participating, and we are thrilled to share our harvest with the public,” explains Mandy Leibbrandt from Hopi Agri, an affiliate of the Suikerbossie Park garden.
“Being part of this garden for the past three years has been an incredible journey, growing not just fresh produce but also a strong community of 50 dedicated members. More than just a garden, this initiative is a vital step toward food security.
“We harvest monthly and distribute food to those in need, ensuring that our efforts directly support the community. This opportunity allows us to expand our reach and strengthen our mission of promoting sustainable agriculture and food accessibility.”‘
Food security
The initiative, started by Leibbrandt in 2022, saw the transformation of a barren piece of land, roughly the size of two rugby fields in Protea Village, into a thriving food garden and urban forest, as was reported by TygerBurger at the time.
At its completion by some 50 volunteer urban farmers it sported 42 vegetable patches and 300 fruit and indigenous trees.
Supported by the City of Cape Town and the provincial agriculture department, it is aimed at providing food security in the wake of the covid epidemic.
And by June 2024 it had already provided 500 vegetable parcels to vulnerable families.
Today the garden serves as a symbol of unity in the community bringing together people from all walks of life while fostering sustainability of food sources.
