FREEING PEOPLE FROM HUNGER
Growing To Give is a registered 501c3 non-profit that
develops projects and partnerships to free people from
hunger across the country and around the world.
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The Garden Route of the Western Cape in South Africa enjoys a Mediterranean Oceanic climate, which is intrinsically temperate and mild all year round. Summers are warm to hot, and winters are cool. Second only to Hawaii, the Garden Route is acclaimed for having one of the mildest climates in the world.
The Garden Route is a popular and scenic tourist destination located along the southern coast of South Africa, stretching from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to Storms River in the Eastern Cape. It is known for its beautiful landscapes, diverse vegetation, and numerous activities.
The route covers a distance of about 300 kilometers and passes through several charming towns, including Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, and Wilderness. Along the way, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean, rugged coastline, lush forests, and rolling hills.
Some of the popular attractions along the Garden Route include:
TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK: A stunning coastal park that offers visitors the opportunity to hike through indigenous forests, cross suspension bridges, and view impressive waterfalls.
KNYSNA HEADS: A dramatic set of cliffs that flank the entrance to Knysna Lagoon, which is a popular spot for water activities such as kayaking and paddleboarding.
CANGO CAVES: A series of limestone caves located near the town of Oudtshoorn that feature impressive stalactites and stalagmites.
BEACHES: The Garden Route boasts a number of beautiful beaches, including Victoria Bay, Wilderness Beach, and Keurbooms Beach, where visitors can swim, surf, and sunbathe.
WINE ESTATES: The region is also known for its wine production, with several estates offering tastings and tours.
Overall, the Garden Route is a must-visit destination for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and those looking to experience the beauty and diversity of South Africa's southern coast. However, in the aftermath of the pandemic and ongoing water scarcity caused by a never-ending drought, towns and villagers struggle to feed themselves and their families.
Despite the region's natural beauty, frequent droughts are having a significant impact on local food production.
The farming sector has been particularly hard hit, with small holder farmers that produce 90% of the fresh produce) facing water restrictions, crop failures, and reduced yields. This has led to food shortages, price increases, and job losses, which have had a significant impact on the local economy and communities.
In response to the crisis, the South African government has implemented various measures, including water rationing, investment in infrastructure to increase water supply, and promotion of water conservation practices. However, the drought and water scarcity continue to pose significant challenges to the agricultural sector and local food production.
Exasperated, farmers are exploring new technologies and practices that can help them conserve water and improve the efficiency of their operations. This includes adopting drip irrigation, using drought-resistant crop varieties, and improving soil health to retain moisture. Growing To Give Crop Circle Farms & Gardens are the perfect solution for increasing local food production while conserving water.
Umthiqua – which means land of grace, is a South African agroforestry business. The company reclaims stressed parcels of land and repurposes them as improved food and forest land holdings to benefit local producers and communities across the Western Cape. Umthiqua utilizes regenerative plant growth technologies to create sustainable, environmentally compatible economic enterprises that create much needed employment, raise timber for international markets and grow nutrition-rich agricultural products that provide sustenance for local communities.
In South Africa, Peace Gardens and Botanical Gardens are more than just spaces for relaxation and enjoyment of nature; they are vital for fostering social change, sustainability, and community wellbeing. The introduction of water-smart agricultural technologies in these gardens is essential. By using innovative methods like Crop Circle Gardens and Tomato Volcanoes, these gardens can optimize water usage, crucial in a region where water is a scarce resource. These technologies not only conserve water but also improve the health and yield of a variety of plants, making them ideal for the unique environmental conditions of South Africa.
The concept of Community Gardens in South Africa, particularly under initiatives like Growing To Give, is transformative. These gardens are not just about growing plants; they're about nurturing communities and promoting wellbeing. By incorporating water-smart technologies, these gardens ensure sustainability and a continuous supply of diverse crops. This approach is pivotal in feeding local communities and educating them on sustainable practices. The gardens serve as serene spaces, similar to Zen Gardens, where people can engage in mindful agriculture, connecting with nature and learning about environmental conservation.
The integration of water-smart technologies simply by planting a garden represents a significant step towards broader social change in South Africa. These community gardens act as living examples of how sustainable practices can be effectively implemented. They educate and inspire the community to adopt similar practices in other areas, extending their impact beyond their immediate surroundings. By demonstrating how different plants can be sustainably grown, these gardens play a crucial role in global efforts to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability, becoming symbols of hope and collective action. for people and their communities.
The company will create homesteads where a farmer is invited to partner with Umthiqua to learn new agroforestry skills and adopt regenerative practices to manage the land. The homesteads will feature a tiny house living concept and small space, low water use Crop Circle Agriculture. Umthiqua wants to advance small plot farming as a lifestyle that will define the future of agrarian parks in South Africa.
Crop Circle farms and gardens are the predominant technologies used to grow both food and trees. Crop Circles use less water, half the land and grow twice the food compared to conventional plant growth methods and techniques. Of particular interest to Umthiqua, is to grow super-foods like blueberries, nuts, collards and kale along with assorted vegetables such as watermelon, squash, peppers and tomatoes that are staples of the South African diet.
Water use is vitally important to South African farming and has become a precious and limited resource. Water rationing everywhere may become a reality soon. The implementation of Crop Circles ahead of such an event would be wise.
Crop Circles are also used to grow trees; to reclaim land damaged from erosion or fire, to re-establish native species, to create an understory ecosystem or develop a commercial timber wood enterprise.
Planting trees can have a significant impact on addressing drought, soil degradation, and climate change in South Africa. Trees play a critical role in mitigating the effects of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen, which helps to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the air. In addition, South African trees can also help to prevent soil erosion and degradation by stabilizing the soil and retaining moisture. This can be particularly important in areas that are prone to drought, where the soil may be dry and prone to erosion. Planting trees can also have a positive impact on local ecosystems, by providing habitat for wildlife, supporting biodiversity, and improving air quality.
There are many initiatives and organizations in South Africa that are focused on planting trees to address these issues. For example, the Greenpop organization runs a Trees for Zambia project, which aims to plant trees and promote sustainable agriculture practices in the region. The Green Legacy initiative is another example, which seeks to plant millions of trees in Ethiopia to address soil degradation and promote food security. Growing To Give is planting Crop Circle tree farms designed to rapidly build vibrant ecosystems that are in danger of collapsing across South Africa.
Individuals can also get involved with Growing To Give in our tree-planting initiatives by volunteering with Growing To Give South Africa or planting trees in their own communities. By working together, we can help address the challenges of drought, soil degradation, and climate change in South Africa and throughout the continent.
Growing To Give and Umthiqua are collaborating to build these homesteads to help South Africans farmers, particularly women, build a better life and gift a portion of what they grow to those that need it most in the communities where they live.
During South Africa's first hard lockdown the panic around food security for people living on the breadline drove a group of local Knysna professionals to action.
There are too many children and adults in our community who do not have access to sufficient nutritious food on a daily basis. When Growing to Give investigated the impoverished community of Brackenhill- we found that a small group of women, with hardly any income themselves, had started a soup kitchen. They told us that the soup kitchen was initiated because of their concern for the children who were going hungry too often. They also told us that their soup kitchen often lacked access to fresh vegetables The State of the South African Child report by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund found that 14% of South African children go to bed hungry every night, and 27% of children under the age of three experience stunted growth due to a lack of nutrients and vitamins. Source - The State of The South African Child report by Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund As the Covid 19 pandemic has proved, food parcels are not sustainable as there is no guarantee that they will be regularly available.
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