Starting food gardens became priority for us to support end supplement feeding schemes at schools we support. In 2010 we created a tyre food garden at Henry Nginza Primary School. At the beginning of 2011 a permaculture food garden was started at Mboniselo Primary School (including a permaculture workshop), whereafter a Food Garden Forum was formed between teachers and parents from the schools we support. After the formation of the Forum, 5 additional gardens were (re)started by the schools themselves, and another garden created at WB Tshume by Mazars on Spring Day 2011 (click here for more details on who helped start these gardens). Since then we have researched and engaged around permaculture food gardens in order to increase sustainable livelihoods.
Calabash Trust thus aim to deliver an intensive permaculture programme, incorporating asset based community development (ABCD) principals and tools. Permaculture is the design and maintenance of agricultural productive systems, which combines the land and people in such a way that it enables the supplying of their food, energy, shelter and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. Asset based community development is an inclusive approach to community-based development that appreciates and mobilizes individual and community talents, skills and assets (rather than focusing on problems and needs). By combining the two programmes, permaculture can be adapted to the urban environment as they are similar in principle, powerful in practice and community-driven. Additionally, both programmes focus on strengthening a local economy. In line with our vision for schools becoming centres of learning for the whole community, we will create a platform for sharing within the school, for the community, also strengthening parental skills. The implementation depends on when funds become available, but we will start with what we can in the meantime.
